Mestre Boneco is one of the three founding mestres of Grupo Capoeira Brasil. He lives in Los Angeles, where he is president and principal instructor of CBLA, the North American headquarters for Grupo Capoeira Brasil. Mestre Boneco is also the artistic director of Bencão Brasil, a non-profit Brazilian cultural organization that teaches and performs capoeira throughout Southern California and offers training scholarships for under-resourced youth.

Mestre Boneco began training capoeira at the age of 11 with Grupo Senzala in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. In 1989, after 19 years of dedicated training, he was recognized for his outstanding achievement in the capoeira community and awarded his black cord by a council of Brazil's most distinguished masters. Mestre Boneco's black cord is also recognized by the Brazilian Capoeira Federation. After receiving his black cord, Mestre Boneco, along with Paulinho Sabiá and Paulão Ceará, founded Grupo Capoeira Brasil, an organization that has become of the largest capoeira groups in the world.

Mestre Boneco (center) with Capoeira Brasil co-founders, Mestres Paulão (left) and Paulinho (right)

Mestre Boneco's 37 years of experience include teaching workshops in the world's leading universities, presenting seminars and talks at many international fitness and cultural confrerences, and the production of over 20 international capoeira festivals. Today, he supervises over 70 graduated instructors with programs in North and South America, Australia, Europe, and Asia. Mestre Boneco also supervises instructors at UCLA, LMU, and Cal State LA as well as capoeira projects in various Southern California public, private, and charter schools.

Mestre Boneco has been featured on CNN, FOX News, ABC, NBC, KTLA, Telemundo, and Univision news shows. He was featured on "Extra Hollywood" and VH1's "Hollywood's Hardest Bodies." In print, Mestre Boneco and his group have graced the pages of Men's Fitness, SELF, and The Los Angeles Times. And in the entertainment industry, Mestre Boneco has choreographed and trained actors for various motion pictures, national commercials, and stage productions as well as developed his own team of capoeira-specialized stunt men.