Our Founder
Meet the visionary who established Capoeira Mandara and continues to guide its global mission.
Luiz Gonzaga de Sá Junior
Mestre Luiz Junior
Founder & Lead Master
Born on July 19, 1981 in Colinas do Tocantins, Brazil, to parents Luiz Gonzaga de Sá and Josefa Assunção de Sá (currently living in Palmas Tocantins), Mestre Luiz Junior began his capoeira journey in 1990 in Palmas Tocantins. At that time, the city was just a year old since its foundation.
His first contact with capoeira was through a class in a football field taught by Marcos Garcia Miranda, known in the capoeira world as Mestre Marcos ‘Cabeleira’. This was part of a project for underprivileged children in the then-new neighborhood of the new capital Palmas. In 1992, he received his first graduation in Capoeira, his ‘baptism’, with godfather Mestre Soldado, one of the finest Capoeira Masters of the time.
In 1994, he represented the state of Tocantins and Tocantinense Capoeira in the Brazilian Student Games, achieving great success for capoeira and for the sport in Tocantins, ranking as the 4th best capoeirista in Brazil at that time. This result led him to participate again the following year, but in a higher category, competing among the top 10 in the competition, marking the beginning of his competitive journey in capoeira championships with various successes in state, national, and world competitions.
He began his professional life in capoeira in 1996, teaching classes to school children, forming his first group of students. As time passed, he also began teaching adults. In 2000, he joined Grupo Abada Capoeira, staying with this organization for a year. In 2007, he joined Grupo Muzenza briefly before founding his own group.
Feeling the need for a new direction in his environment and in his life as a capoeirista, on November 30, 2007, he founded Grupo Capoeira Mandara in Barcelona, Spain, after various studies. Although difficult at first, today the group is a reality recognized in capoeira society worldwide, present in several countries including Brazil, Spain, Italy, France, Angola, Germany, Mozambique, and Portugal.
30+ years of experience
A Global Journey
Since founding Capoeira Mandara, Mestre Luiz Junior has dedicated his life to preserving the rich cultural heritage of capoeira while adapting his teaching to welcome practitioners from all backgrounds.
He has established training centers across multiple continents, developed a comprehensive graduation system, and created cultural exchange programs that have transformed thousands of lives through the art of capoeira.
His commitment to authenticity, excellence, and community continues to guide Capoeira Mandara’s mission of preserving and sharing this unique cultural heritage with the world.
Our greatest achievement is not in the schools we built, but in the community we fostered – a global family united by capoeira and its transformative power.
— Mestre Luiz Junior
The Founding Story
Capoeira Mandara was founded on November 30, 2007 in Barcelona, Spain, by Mestre Luiz Junior with a vision to preserve and promote the authentic traditions of Capoeira while making it accessible to people of all backgrounds around the world.
What began in Barcelona has grown into an international organization with presence in multiple countries including Brazil, Spain, Italy, France, Germany, Mozambique, Angola, and Portugal.
Before founding Capoeira Mandara, Mestre Luiz Junior was briefly part of Grupo Muzenza in 2007 and had spent a year with Grupo Abada Capoeira from 2000. His journey in capoeira began in his childhood under the guidance of Mestre Marcos ‘Cabeleira’ and continued through competitive achievements and teaching children and adults, eventually leading to the establishment of his own global capoeira group.
