Boaventura Batista Sampaio, known in the capoeira world as Mestre Boinha, was one of Mestre Bimba 's greatest disciples and one of the most respected voices in Bahian Capoeira Regional. Born in Bahia, he joined Bimba's academy at the beginning of the 1960s, a period when Capoeira Regional was experiencing its great moment of expansion and consolidation.

From an early age, Mestre Boinha showed enormous dedication to training. In his stories, he recalled that, when he went to Bimba's academy, his initial intention was to learn how to "fight". However, it only took a few months at the master's side for him to understand that Bimba's philosophy went beyond simple fighting: it was a path of education, discipline and human formation. He himself said that he received a nudge from Bimba, a decisive moment that marked his career and his vision of capoeira. In his own words:

"Mestre Bimba is a father to me. He's a father because he wasn't just a capoeira mestre to me, he was an educator and a mentor."

Boinha remained close to the mestre until Bimba left Bahia. He became part of the Filhos de Bimba group and continued to be one of the living references of the Capoeira Regional ideology. Over the years, he established himself as a key figure in preserving the traditions, ethics and technical rigor left by his master.

Living in Salvador, he was recognized for his time in practice, posture, in-depth knowledge and for having lived directly with one of capoeira's greatest names. His presence in documentaries and testimonies, such as the film Mestre Bimba e a Capoeira Iluminada, helped record the essence and spirit of Capoeira Regional for future generations.

Mestre Boinha passed away on June 21, 2017, leaving a deeply respected legacy in Bahian and Brazilian capoeira. His departure was felt as the loss of yet another bastion of culture, someone who illuminated rodas and taught not only strokes, but also human values. In the words of many, when he left, he left sadness in the circles of earth and joy in the circles of heaven.

• Name: Boaventura Batista Sampaio

• Capoeira Name: Mestre Boinha

• Start in Capoeira: Early 1960s, in Mestre Bimba's academy

• Style: Capoeira Regional

• Important roles:

  • Direct disciple of Mestre Bimba

  • Member of the Sons of Bimba

  • Defender of the ideology and pedagogy of Capoeira Regional

  • A figure of reference in Salvador

• Death: 21/06/2017