Master Zequinha carries out his work with Capoeira Angola in Piracicaba, in the state of São Paulo. He began learning the art of capoeira in 1975, becoming a teacher in 1985 and receiving the title of master on two different occasions, in 2001 from Mestre Boca Rica and in 2002, at a major event in Arembepe, Bahia, from Mestre Lua de Bobó. With capoeira becoming a fad and the growing proliferation of people concerned only with the development of certain elements of this art, capoeira has increasingly been reduced to a mere physical activity.

Mestre Zequinha, after much research, with the idea of preserving rituals, customs, traditions, rhythms, and chants, founded the Escola de Capoeira Raiz de Angola (School of Capoeira Raiz de Angola) in 1996.

Mestre Cosmo was the first to open a capoeira academy in Piracicaba. There were others, but they did not have their own space. Geraldo (Gê) was the first to teach capoeira in Piracicaba, followed by João, who taught Cosmo. Mestre Cosmo was the one who truly dedicated himself to capoeira and trained the first two capoeiristas to become teachers in Piracicaba, Saruê and Zequinha.