Henrique Bahia

Henrique Bahia was a capoeirista active in Salvador, Bahia, in the 1930s. He is primarily remembered as one of the four opponents defeated by Mestre Bimba in the famous 1936 challenge series at Parque Odeon in Praça da Sé, Salvador.

In early 1936, when the Parque Odeon venue was newly inaugurated in Salvador's Praça da Sé, it became a site for capoeira challenge matches and exhibitions. On February 18, 1936, Henrique Bahia fought an exhibition match against Américo Ciência (also spelled "Américo Sciencia" or "Américo Suissa" in period sources). The Diário da Bahia reported that this bout "ended with an undecided outcome". The public and press were divided on this contest—some condemned it as "a joke of a match", reflecting ongoing debates about whether capoeira angola was suitable for competitive fighting under ring rules.

Shortly after, on February 7, 1936, Henrique Bahia accepted Mestre Bimba's open challenge to all Bahian fighters. Bimba had announced through the newspapers: "I launch a challenge to everyone who practices or knows capoeiragem, as well as any other fighter (jiu-jitsu etc) – whatever they want. I will face them with my capoeira!" Henrique Bahia stepped into the ring.

The Diário de Notícias published: "O esporte nacional no Stadium Odeon, o capoeirista Bimba venceu brilhantemente seu forte adversário Henrique Bahia" (The national sport at Stadium Odeon, the capoeirista Bimba brilliantly defeated his strong opponent Henrique Bahia). The Estado da Bahia added more detail, stating "Mestre Bimba projetou o seu adversário com um pontapé no peito" (Mestre Bimba threw his opponent with a kick to the chest).

Bimba himself later acknowledged Henrique Bahia's courage, stating: "I challenged all the capoeiristas of this state through the newspapers and only the worthy adversary Henrique Bahia (who I defeated in front of a large audience) entered the ring".

Henrique Bahia was one of four opponents Bimba faced that night—alongside Vítor Benedito Lopes, Américo Ciência, and José Custódio "Zé I" dos Santos. Bimba won all four matches, earning the nickname "Três Pancadas" (Three Hits) for his devastating efficiency.