Maria Doze Homens

Maria Doze Homens ("Maria Twelve Men") was one of the earliest documented female capoeiristas, active in Bahia during the 1920s and 1930s - a time when capoeira was still criminalized and the presence of women in rodas was exceptional.

The origin of her powerful nickname is disputed in oral tradition:

1. **The knockout story**: She earned the name after knocking down twelve men in a single roda, demonstrating combat prowess that rivaled or exceeded that of male practitioners.

2. **The police confrontation**: Some say she defeated (or even killed) twelve police officers in a single confrontation - a feat that would have made her a legend in an era of brutal persecution.

3. **Training lineage (disputed)**: According to testimony recorded by Bira Almeida from Mestre Atenilo, in early 20th century Salvador there were two women who loved batuque and samba - Salomé and Maria dos Anjos - who were students of a male capoeirista named "Doze Homens". Some have speculated that "Maria Doze Homens" was a title indicating "Maria [student of] Doze Homens" - however, Maria Salomé and Maria dos Anjos appear to be separate individuals from Maria Doze Homens (Maria Felipe de Oliveira).

4. **Companion of Besouro**: Some sources list her among Besouro Mangangá's Sunday training circle alongside Paulo Barroquinha, Canário Pardo, and Siri de Mangue, describing them as "capoeira resistance fighters who trained together".

She frequented the historic Cais Dourado (Mercado do Ouro) area of Salvador - a gathering place for capoeiristas and malandros. She shared "corpulence and bravery" with Maria Felipa de Oliveira, another legendary Bahian fighter, leading some to speculate (without confirmation) that they may have been the same person.

Around 1940, Mestre Bimba reportedly taught a woman nicknamed "Maria Doze Homens" and a group of female students to participate in an international festival - though this event had no lasting continuity for women in his academy.

Writer Jorge Amado allegedly drew inspiration from Maria Doze Homens when creating the character Rosa Palmeirão in his novel "Mar Morto" - a fierce woman who humiliated the famous valentão Pedro Mineiro.

Maria Doze Homens represents an important but largely undocumented chapter in capoeira history: the presence of women in the rodas during the persecuted era, fighting alongside men in an art form that would only officially acknowledge female participation decades later.