José Paulo Dias Carapau — Mestre Carapau
12 Feb 1948, Porto Ferreira (SP) – Mar 2010, São Bernardo do Campo (SP)

Before capoeira, José Paulo Dias Carapau was already at home on the mat. He began judo at six, reached 2nd-degree black belt, and taught from 1965 to 1970. In 1968 a judo student—formed by Mestre Traíra—openedthe door to capoeira. Two years later Carapau was training with Mestre Mello in Pompéia, São Paulo, learning Angola from a direct heir to Zé de Freitas while returning the favor with his judo know-how. That exchange of disciplines—balance, timing, respect—became his signature.

In 1975 he founded Grupo Angolinha in his hometown Porto Ferreira. By 1978 he had opened another academy in Rudge Ramos, São Bernardo do Campo, and began shaping a generation with a clear classroom structure: lesson plans, rules, and a tone that mixed warmth with rigor. In 1980 he signed the Livro de Ouro as the 16th mestre recognized by the Federação Paulista de Capoeira (FPC), served as Secretary-General, and later was elected President of the Fiscal Council. He created the Mestre Canjiquinha Folkloric Championship (1982–83) for the federation and led Angolinha to a São Paulo tri-championship (1985–87), alongside wins in other festivals.

Carapau also built institutions inside his own house. He launched the group’s Directorship (1990) and the Conselho Superior de Mestres (1998) to keep continuity and collective leadership. He standardized graduações that many stillrecognize—Estagiário (blue cord with white stripe, 1985), Contra-Mestre (braided with white stripe, 1988), plus a Mirim track for children. Across four decades he graduated 43 students—nameslike Costinha, Índio, Ouriço, Piedade, Siriema, Chico, Bem-te-vi, Samongo, Esquina, Travesseiro, Cabelo, Jatobá, Lampião, Amarelinho, Pastinha, Macuco, Chevette, Toco, Tico, Magoo, Gatinha, Pancada, Pipoca, Jabuticaba, Jaca, Pernalonga, Fuscão, Cenourinha, Tomate, Colibri, Sabiá, Apache, Curisco, Pelé, Moita, Bolinha, Xerife, Angoleiro—whocarried his method into new rodas.

Ask his students what mattered most and you’ll hear the same line he repeated often: “I am not thegroup—we are the group.” That ethos explains why Angolinha outlived the man. Mestre Carapau passed in March 2010 and was laid to rest at Cemitério Jardim da Colina, São Bernardo. His legacy lives in the steadiness of Angolinha’s pedagogy, in the bridges he built between capoeira and other arts, and in a simple promise kept: grow the group, and you grow the capoeira.

Selected milestones

• 1948 — Born in Porto Ferreira (12 Feb)

• 1965–1970 — Teaches judo after earning 2º dan

• 1968 — Begins capoeira with a student formed by Mestre Traíra

• 1970 — Trains with Mestre Mello (Pompéia, SP)

• 1975 — Founds Grupo Angolinha (Porto Ferreira)

• 1978 — Opens academy in Rudge Ramos (São Bernardo do Campo)

• 1980 — 16th mestre to sign FPC Livro de Ouro; later Sec-Gen and Fiscal Council President

• 1982–83 — Creates Mestre Canjiquinha Folkloric Championship (FPC)

• 1985–87 — Leads Angolinha to São Paulo tri-championship

• 1990 — Creates Angolinha Directorship

• 1998 — Creates Conselho Superior de Mestres

• 2010 — Passes away; burial 14 Mar (São Bernardo do Campo)