Capoeira: The History of an Afro-Brazilian Martial Art

150 PASTINHA AND ANGOLA STYLE
ex-slave just like Bimba’s teacher, the presumed captain of the Bahian Navigation Company, acculturated
through 50 or 60 years in Brazil. The fact that so little is known about both Benedito and Bentinho and their
teaching suggests that unlike African derived religions in Brazil—where oral traditions do reach back to the
early nineteenth century—no such systematized and established body of traditions existed for capoeira at
the time.
While in the Navy Pastinha learned fencing, jack-knife techniques and Swedish gymnastics. His musical
skills were enhanced too: he was taught by the then famous musician Anacleto Vidal da Cunha and played—
probably the horn—in the Navy orchestra. 11 According to his own recollections Pastinha also taught
capoeira to some of his fellow sailors. He quit the Navy at the age of 20, in 1910. He then carved out a
living from a number of jobs—cleaning shoes, selling newspapers, working as a carpenter or a casino
bouncer. He opened his first capoeira school in a bicycle workshop on the Campo da Pólvora. After 1910 he
taught artisans and students living in shared accommodation (‘repúblicas’) in the surrounding
neighbourhood. 12 He therefore began his capoeira teaching long before mestre Bimba, even though again
few details are known regarding his students from this early period of his life. According to an interview
made in 1967, it seems that Pastinha aspired to live from the sale of his oil paintings, but never quite
managed to. 13
During his twenties and thirties Pastinha led the life of a typical capoeira, surviving from occasional
jobs, participating in street rodas and eventually playing the tough guy. He conceded having beaten police
officers on these occasions, because they were abusing him and trying to ‘demoralize’ him in public.
Despite his rather frail stature—he is always described as ‘skinny’ (‘franzino’)—he earned respect among
the world of the tough guys. A famous episode from the 1910s reveals how capoeira made Pastinha a
respected fighter. According to his own testimony:
There was this friend who asked me to take care of a gambling den. I went to take care of the casino.
The police chief needed me to issue a licence [with my name] to open the house. I went. They took
me to Dr Álvaro Covas. When I entered, I was in the house [office] of Dr Álvaro Covas.—Doctor,
this is the guy who will take care of the gambling den. He looked at me like that, he looked at me
right from top to bottom with contempt.—This…this boy is going to take care of a gambling den?
This kid will take care of a gambling den? My friend said:—Yes, but it is this one I want.—But this
kid cannot take care of a gambling den. He said:—Yes, Doctor, he is a boy, but he is the one I want.
The Doctor had to gave in, isn’t?—With your permission. He then turned to me and said:—What is
your name?—Vicente Ferreira Pastinha. He lifted his portfolio and pulled out all the cards:—So you
are the little tough guy I have here in my district? I only knew you from the complaint records, right?
I said, here to myself, I said: OK, I am busted. 14
Pastinha got the job and eventually entered the network of clientelism headed by the police chief Covas and
the then sergeant Cosme de Farias (see Chapter 4). During street rodas Pastinha used to be well prepared
for any eventuality. He often remembered how he always carried a little sickle that could be mounted on the
berimbau, transforming the instrument into a powerful weapon in case of a street fight. 15
Other episodes of that time relate how Pastinha threw the famous tough guy Pedro Porreta on the ground
with a head butt. 16 Yet despite his initial fame Pastinha completely retired from capoeira in subsequent
years. According to his own manuscripts he withdrew from 1912 until 1941. 17 Some authors assert that
Pastinha taught in Salvador until the 1920s or even during the 1930s, but do not provide further evidence
for their claim. 18