Mestre Sombra

Mestre Valdir graduated as a master under Master Sombra.

Master Sombra himself was a student of Master Bispo and commenced training in 1963 with the group "Grupo Bahia do Berimbau"

Guided by Master Bispo, they used to meet in Vicente de Carvalho - São Paulo, to practice the capoeira among themselves. Master Sombra, one of the youngest, undertook the mission of perpetuating and divulging their knowledge, tradition and culture. Whilst still training with "Grupo Bahia do Berimbau" he invited other capoeiristas of the time to create the "Academia Primeira Seção", located on the docks, in order to attract new students.

At that time the socio-political context was not conducive to capoeira and Master Sombra had great difficulties on maintaining the academy. In 1965, the group were obliged to move and, a few months later, to close. Over the years, several attempts were made to maintain academies, but despite all efforts they were unsuccessful, leading to a long break from capoeira by Master Sombra.

The Birth of Senzala

In 1972, Master Sombra returned and, with Paulinho Pirata and Ary, created the first "Associação de Capoeira Zumbi" in Vicente de Carvalho. In 1975, Master Sombra moved to Santos and changed the name of the association to "Associação de Capoeira Senzala de Santos".

In 1978 the association moved one last time to the rua Brás Cubas, Santos, Sao Paolo, where it is settled since then. After years of struggle, the academy finally flourished, attracting the best of the local talent. Many of the students have gone on to graduate as masters and open their academies all over the world, continuing to perpetuate and diffuse the Afro-brazilian race's tradition, knowledge and culture.