Mestre Toni Vargas

Antonio César de Vargas, known as Mestre Toni Vargas, was born on April 5, 1958, in Engenho de Dentro, a neighborhood in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He would become one of capoeira's most celebrated composers, poets, and educators—a master whose songs are sung in rodas worldwide.

Toni Vargas began his capoeira journey in 1968 at age ten, when a cousin introduced him to the art. His first teacher was Mestre Rony of Grupo Palmares de Capoeira in the north zone of Rio de Janeiro. He has described this encounter as "the chance of my life." Though his family could not afford tuition, Mestre Rony allowed him to train without paying fees—an act of generosity that would shape his lifelong commitment to making capoeira accessible.

In the mid-1970s, Toni Vargas transitioned to training with Mestre Touro at Grupo Corda Bamba in the Penha neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro. There he achieved the blue cord (cordel azul), an intermediate graduation in the Senzala belt system.

In 1977, seeking to deepen his practice, Toni Vargas joined Grupo Senzala to train under Mestre Peixinho. For eight years he trained at Peixinho's famous academy on Travessa Angrense in Copacabana, the legendary headquarters where "many bambas passed through." In 1985, Peixinho awarded him the red cord (corda vermelha)—the highest graduation in the Senzala system, signifying mestre status. According to sources, he was "the first graduated Formado" under Mestre Peixinho.

Parallel to his capoeira training, Toni Vargas pursued formal education. He earned a degree in Physical Education from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) and a postgraduate degree in dance. He also specialized in early childhood education, applying his pedagogical knowledge to develop innovative teaching methods.

In 1987, Toni Vargas was part of a pivotal moment in capoeira's global expansion. Along with Mestres Peixinho, Garrincha, and Sorriso, he spent six months in Europe, organizing workshops and the First European Capoeira Encounter in Paris—the first event of its kind on the continent. This tour helped establish capoeira's presence in Europe and paved the way for future generations of European practitioners.

As a composer, Toni Vargas has authored some of capoeira's most beloved songs, including "Quando Venho de Luanda," "Dona Isabel," "Saudade," and "Era Uma Noite Sem Lua." His deep voice and poetic sensibility have made his recordings essential listening for capoeiristas worldwide. He has released six albums, including Liberdade, Saudade, Os Fundamentos da Malícia (with Nestor Capoeira), and Quadras e Corridos. His songs appear on numerous compilations internationally, and several have been included in educational textbooks.

Beyond music, Toni Vargas has devoted over 35 years to working with children through capoeira and his educational method "Recreação Ativa" (Active Recreation), which combines music, movement, and storytelling. In 2018, he released a children's CD of the same name to support educators. He serves as head of Physical Education, music, and capoeira at a school in Rio de Janeiro.

In 2000, the Superliga Brasileira de Capoeira honored Toni Vargas as "one of the greatest mestres of the century" at a ceremony in Curitiba. In 2017, he published his first book, Fragmentos da Mandinga, which was later adapted into a music and poetry performance.

Today, Toni Vargas continues teaching in Rio de Janeiro and travels internationally—particularly to Denmark, where he conducts workshops twice yearly. He is married to a capoeirista and has three sons—Ruan, Gabriel, and Tiago—all of whom practice capoeira. He is co-founder of Ilê de Seu Peixinho in Copacabana and founder of Centro Cultural Senzala de Capoeira Memória Viva Mestre Peixinho.

Mestre Toni Vargas describes himself as "a guardian of my culture." He has openly criticized the religious discrimination and marginalization that capoeira has historically faced, advocating for preserving its Afro-Brazilian roots. He opposes capoeira becoming an Olympic sport, believing that "the Olympic model places performance above humanity." For Toni Vargas, capoeira is not just a martial art—it is poetry, music, history, and identity.