02/16/2023
Special Guest profile: Contra Mestre Varal
Born and raised in Brazil, Varal began his capoeira training at the age of 11 inside the hall of a church in his neighborhood in Porto Alegre, RS – Brazil, where Mestre Leca, a student of Mestre Indio of Bahia, and his students Rubão, Beto Loco, Reco among others, started to teach capoeira classes, changing the daily routine of this little community. These classes caught the attention of everyone in the neighborhood, especially the kids, who watched with great curiosity and admiration. Little by little, the church hall started filling up with spectators, kids and adults. And thus began Varal’s journey in capoeira. He had no idea that this art form would eventually influence his life, and develop into his own life philosophy and profession.
In 2000, Varal graduated as Professor of Capoeira by Mestre Indio (Bahia) and Mestre Reco in Porto Alegre, RS – Brazil. He continued working with capoeira in Porto Alegre, then six years later, came to California to teach, train and live with his teacher.
In May 2010, with the encouragement of his students and mentors, Contramestre Varal opened ArteLuta Capoeira Academy in Lomita, CA – USA, together with his wife Monica (Professora Harmonia), with the mission of teaching, expanding and preserving the values, history, culture and legacy of the art of capoeira – bringing people together and changing lives along the way.
Capoeira is their lifestyle. Varal says, it guides him make good choices in life and has encouraged him to be a culture carrier outside of his country, something he is very proud of. Varal started capoeira when he was a kid, and he credits it for helping him stay focused, healthy and grounded. He says, since it helped him in so many positive ways, he believes that everyone can benefits from it.
2015 marked an important milestone as the foremost leaders in our California capoeira community met and decided, as a collective, to promote Varal to the rank of Contramestre “in recognition of his merits, discipline and determination demonstrated by his pursuit of excellence in both capoeira and in character, as well as for his dedication to preserving and expanding the art of capoeira.”