Piroca

Pedro de Alcântara da Conceição, known as Piroca, was a capoeirista and valentão of early 20th century Salvador, Bahia. He was the brother of Pedro Celestino dos Santos (Pedro Porreta), and together they dominated the Baixa dos Sapateiros neighborhood.

The book "Mestres e capoeiras famosos da Bahia" features the two brothers together with the subtitle "Os donos do quarteirão" (The owners of the block), indicating their territorial control over their neighborhood in Salvador. The Baixa dos Sapateiros, nicknamed "Baixinha", was known as a gathering place for valentões, where police cavalry squads had frequent work combating crimes committed with headbutts (churuméla) and razors.

Piroca's only documented incident appears in a December 14, 1920 report in the A Tarde newspaper. In the Taboão area, José Batista da Cruz, nicknamed "Guruxinha", was attacked with razor cuts by Pedro Porreta, with Piroca assisting his brother. The victim later died from his injuries. This incident represents the violent street culture of capoeiristas during the First Republic era, when razors were common weapons and territorial disputes could turn deadly.

Unlike his brother Pedro Porreta, whose later life is documented through court cases and confrontations with the valentona Chicão, Piroca appears to have had a less documented career. The existing records suggest he functioned as a loyal companion to his brother in their territorial activities.