The Group

The group Capoeira Gerais is known as one of the best capoeira group. It was founded in 1993. Its cradle and “headquarter” is based in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, in Brazil.
The group president and founder, Mestre Mão Branca (William Douglas Guimarães), 3rd degree Mestre, white and blue belt, was trained by Mestre Gigante from Rio de Janeiro (A.C.N.S. Associação de Capoeira Negrinhos de Sinhá).

The group is present in many cities of the country: Resende-RJ, Recife-PE, Teresina-PI, Olinda-PE, in Minas Gerais: Teofilo Otoni, Juiz de Fora, Januária, Uberaba, Paraopeba, Formiga, Paracatu, Conselheiro Lafaiete, etc.
Outside Brazil: in Switzerland (Lausanne, Vevey, Fribourg, Zurich, Neuchâtel), in Spain (Madrid, San Sébastian), in Germany (Berlin), in Poland, in Italy, in France (Paris, Montpellier, Toulouse, Avignon), in USA, in Peru and recently in Japan.

Since twenty years the group has been developing a work with underprivileged children and those affected by the Down’s syndrome. This program has excellent results. So far, many of these children are still ‘doing’ Capoeira and some of them even became Professor (teacher), Contra-Mestre or Mestre and work for the group in Brazil and worldwide.

Group events

1995: marked a turning point for the group Capoeira Gerais as it commemorates Mestre Mão Branca twenty years of work and his tenth birthday of ‘Mestre’ status.
The event was celebrated with the 1st International Festival of Capoeira Gerais, during which many students were ‘promoted’ Professor (Teacher), Contra-Mestre and Mestre.
Capoeiristes came from Brazil and many other foreign countries to participate. The 1st Capoeira Gerais music CD came out on the same year.
1998: 2nd International Festival of Capoeira Gerais took place in Belo Horizonte (BH) and gathered many Mestres from different part of the world. During the event, the CD ‘Capoeira Gerais 2nd volume’ was released.
2002: Mão Branca organized the 1st Capoeira Gerais World festival in BH, which put forward international cultural exchanges between Brazilian and foreign students.
Many courses, conferences and debates with famous Mestres were organized during a full week.
Mestre Mão Branca also promoted Contra-Mestre Veneno, Capoeira Gerais Madrid, to Mestre.


The Capoeira Gerais hierarchy is represented by different (belt) grades:
- Cordel verde iniciante / Light Green belt: beginners (1st belt)
- Cordel verde oficial / Green belt: confirmed beginners
- Cordel verde e amarelo intermediário / Green & Yellow belt: intermediate
- Cordel verde e amarelo oficial / Light Green & Yellow belt: confirmed intermediate
- Cordel amarelo (aluno graduado) / Yellow belt: graduate
- Cordel amarelo e azul (instrutor) / Yellow and Blue belt: instructor
- Cordel verde e azul (professor estagiário): Green and Blue belt: trainee teacher
- Cordel azul (professor formado) / Blue belt: confirmed teacher
- Cordel azul, verde e amarelo (Contra-mestre) / Blue, Green and Yellow belt: Contra-Mestre
- Cordel verde amarelo azul e branco (Mestrando) / Green, Yellow and Blue belt: Mestrando
- Cordel branco e verde (Mestre 1°grau) / White and Green belt: Mestre 1st level
- Cordel branco e amarelo (Mestre 2°grau) / White and Yellow belt: Mestre 2nd level
- Cordel branco e azul (Mestre 3°grau) / White and Blue belt: Mestre 3rd level
- Cordel branco (Mestre 4°grau) / White belt : Mestre 4th level

In our group, Capoeira is more than simple kicks. We go beyond the martial concept, it becomes an art. Besides being healthy, Capoeira brings mind enrichment. This is created by the harmony and energy between the capoeiristes.

With the music, essential in capoeira, ‘players’ develop their sense of rhythm, singing and learn to play different instruments such as Berimbau, Atabaque, Pandeiro, Agogô…

When learning lyrics, they meet the Brazilian history and culture, which are sometimes forgotten or pass unnoticed.
However, the group basic philosophy is: “Learn the art passing on a rich and essential culture”.