Mestre Brás Amansa Brabo

Brás Amansa Brabo was a direct student and trusted companion of Mestre Bimba, the founder of Capoeira Regional. His apelido—which translates roughly to "Brás who tames the wild one" or "Brás the wild-tamer"—suggests his reputation for handling aggressive or unruly opponents with skill and composure, a quality valued in the rodas of Salvador.

He appears in the historical record as part of Bimba's inner circle. According to Mestre Atenilo's testimony (preserved in Mestre Itapoan's writings), Brás Amansa Brabo was among Bimba's most trusted companions, mentioned in the same breath as Atenilo himself and Crispim, Bimba's eldest son. This places him among a small group of students who had particularly close relationships with the master.

In February 1982, O Globo newspaper published an article titled "Capoeira - A great controversy in the Bahia rodas" documenting the state of capoeira in Salvador. The article categorized the active mestres by lineage, listing those in the "regional" branch—"almost all direct disciples of the legendary Bimba"—and specifically naming Brás Amansa Brabo among the most prominent. He appears alongside Itapuã, Vinte e Nove, Vermelho 27, Medicina, Banduê, Capazans, Ezequiel, and Hélio Xaréu. This 1982 documentation confirms he was active as a mestre in Salvador at that time and was recognized as a significant figure in the Regional lineage.

Beyond these two references, little else has been preserved about his life. His full name, birth and death dates, and the details of his training under Bimba remain undocumented in available sources. He represents one of many mestres from Bimba's academy whose individual stories have been overshadowed by the more extensively documented figures like Itapoan, Ezequiel, and Vermelho 27. His presence in both Atenilo's testimony and the 1982 press coverage confirms his historical significance, even as the specifics of his life await further research.