Capoeira Cordão de Ouro Association (Associação de Capoeira Cordão de Ouro) was founded in September 1st, 1967 by Mestre Suassuna and Mestre Brazilia in São Paulo, Brazil. The name "Cordão de Ouro (Golden Belt)" was inspired by a popular song at that time on the radio. It was also a nickname of a legendary capoeirista, Besouro Cordão de Ouro, who lived before the division of Capoeira Angola and Regional.
In the academy, Mestre Suassuna taught Capoeira Regional, and Mestre Brazilia taught Capoeira Angola. From there, Cordão de Ouro has spread throughout the world on five different continents, has become one of the most renowned Capoeira groups in the world.
Reinaldo Ramos Suassuna also known as "Mestre Suassuna", was born in Bahia, Brazil on July 3rd, 1938 in Ilhéus and raised in Itabuna.
Due to a physical handicap in his legs when he was young, the doctor recommended that he plays a sport that was not soccer. With his friends recommendation, he started training Capoeira.
He frequently went to the street roda where famous mestres like Mestre Sururu, Bigode de Arame and Maneca Brandão were playing,
To expand his knowledge, he frequently visited Terreiros de Capoeira da Bahia (famous place where Afro-Brazilian rites were performed) to see famous mestres like Mestre Bimba, Canjiquinha, Pastinha, Waldemar and Caiçara. His Capoeira style was heavily influenced by Mestre Bimba and Canjiquinha there.
In 1965, with the invitation of his friends, he left Bahia to moved to São Paulo to open an academy and lead the life of Capoeira. At the beginning it was very hard for him to establish himself where he was far away from his home and friends. He had to work at various jobs and went through financial difficulties. After a lot of struggle, he met some people from Itabuna that took him to Ze Freita’s Academy where he met Mestre Brasilia. In 1967, together with Mestre Brasilia, he founded the “Associação de Capoeira Cordão de Ouro”.
Today, Mestre Suassuna is one of the most important and respected mestres in the Capoeira world. He is particularly known for his creation and development of the “Miudinho.”
* For more information of Mestre Suassuna's work and group, please visit his website here.
Sânzio Corrêa Nascimento also known as "Mestre Fuinha" started Capoeira with Cordão de Ouro group in Belo Horizonte in 1992. At this time, the academy was called Raízes and the group Cordão de Ouro was supervised by Mestre Ze Paulo.
He received the title of "professor" in 2000 with Chico, Chicote, Murcego, Cisco, Reinaldo, Custódio and Metralha. He currently supervises Cordão de Ouro group in Belo Horizonte with Contra-Mestra Lú Pimenta, Professor Chuquinha and other instructors.
He is actively working on a project called "Capoeirança" in partnership with various schools in Belo Horizonte. This project is dedicated to teach Capoeira to children between 2 and 8 years old, and it has been very successful.
* For more information of Mestre Fuinha's work and group, please visit his website here.
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Contra-mestre Duas DuziasOriginally from Minas Gerais, Cristiano Silva also known as "Duas Duzias" first started Capoeira on November in 1996 at Raízes Cordão de Ouro under the instruction of Instrutor Mingau, a student of Mestre Ze Paulo. When Raízes Cordão de Ouro split, he started leading Cordão de Ouro group in Viçosa under Mestre Fuinha's supervision in 2000 with other instructors. In order to pursue his higher education, he moved to Honolulu in 2007 where he began teaching Capoeira at Cordão de Ouro Hawaii. He is passionate about sharing the culture of Brazil with the people and communities of Hawaii. He also enjoys playing soccer and surfing in his leisure time. He received the title of "Professor" in 2010 by Mestre Acordeon, Mestre Urubu Malandro and Mestre Chicote at Berkley, California. Then in Dec 2011, he received his "Contra-mestre" title in Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil from Mestre Fuinha. He currently resides in Brazil as of Oct, 2011. |
 From Left: Prof. Dente D'egua, CM Vitinho, Mestre Fuinha, Prof. Quebra Coco, CM Duas-Duzias |
