Mestre Grandão

Antonio Marcos dos A. Reis, known in the capoeira world as Mestre Grandão, began his capoeira journey as a small child under the guidance of his father, Edvaldo dos Santos Reis—Mestre Baiano (Canjiquinha), one of the most highly-ranked mestres in Brazil and founder of the Associação de Capoeira Engenho (ACE).

Growing up within the ACE organization, young Antonio Marcos trained at the family's headquarters and participated in numerous events and shows alongside his father at prestigious Rio de Janeiro hotels including the Nacional, Intercontinental, and Meridian. He progressed through the cordel (cord) system, reaching the yellow cord level before taking a break at age 15.

At 19, he returned to capoeira in Bahia, this time at the Associação de Capoeira Mestre Bimba (ACMB)—the historic institution preserving Mestre Bimba's Regional tradition. There, under the guidance of the institution's leadership, he deepened his understanding of Capoeira Regional's technical foundations.

His training continued with Mestre Cabeludo at the Grupo de Capoeira Regional Porto da Barra, where he became a formado in 1997. Under Cabeludo's instruction, Grandão gained a deeper understanding of Regional's fundamentals, participating in and winning competitions for sequences (sequências) and cinturado balloons (balões cinturado). He also served as a judge at Porto da Barra events before eventually returning to the ACE organization to continue his father's legacy.

At 21, Grandão made his first European tour with his father, spending three months in Italy teaching classes, giving courses, and performing shows at the Castello restaurant. In 1996, he embarked on his second European tour, bringing capoeira to France, Belgium, Holland, and Germany. His subsequent tours expanded to Switzerland, Spain, Greece, and Portugal. Today, he has promoted capoeira in nine European countries and numerous Brazilian states including Sergipe, Alagoas, Pernambuco, Minas Gerais, Piauí, Rio de Janeiro, Ceará, Amazonas, Maranhão, São Paulo, and the Federal District.

Now serving as Regional Director of ACE for Bahia and Europe, Grandão coordinates nuclei throughout Camaçari and Salvador, with the organization's headquarters at the Centro de Treinamento Capoeira Engenho in Vila de Abrantes. He also works with the Secretaria de Esporte e Lazer (SEDEL) as professor and capoeira coordinator for the Camaçari coast, teaching in schools, daycares, and condominiums across neighborhoods including Vila de Abrantes, Jauá, Areias, Catu de Abrantes, Pé de Areias, Gleba H, and Cordoaria.

His social work includes the creation of "Projeto Engenho do Amanhã" (Engine of Tomorrow Project), which has served more than 5,000 children in the municipality of Camaçari. He also founded the "Orquestra de Berimbaus de Vila de Abrantes," a folkloric group showcasing traditional percussion instruments.

Grandão has organized hundreds of events including meetings, women's gatherings, lectures, video screenings, batizados (baptism ceremonies), national meetings, and master conferences. He has personally honored more than 150 capoeira mestres from across Brazil. His most notable achievement is the Camaçari Open de Capoeira, which he describes as "one of the biggest capoeira events in Brazil" and the largest in Bahia. Now in its 16th edition (2025), the event has honored major figures including his father Mestre Baiano on his 80th birthday and Mestre Canjiquinha—"a alegria da capoeira"—the spiritual grandfather of the lineage.

According to Grandão, the Camaçari Open "strengthens Camaçari's culture because it exchanges with capoeiristas from around the world," highlighting capoeira as "the only genuinely Brazilian sport." The event attracts over 120 mestres and features activities including rodas, workshops, batizados, graduations, folklore shows, and formal ceremonies.