Mestre Alfredo

Name: Alfredo Duarte Borges Neto

Capoeira Name: Mestre Alfredo

Date of birth: 24 April 1963

Place of birth: Liberdade, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil

Alfredo Neto was born on the 24 th day of the month of April in 1963. He was born in the neighbourhood of Liberdade where great afternoon Rodas of Capoeira happened every Sunday, which included participants such as great masters: Waldemar da Paixão, Caiçara, Curió and others. At the age of 12, Alfredo had his first contact with capoeira with Master King of the Senac. At the time his family did not want him to learn Capoeira.

He entered the experimental group of dance instead but eventually restarted Capoeira with Master Elisio (student of Master Sena). During his five years training with Master Elisio, he learned the importance of discipline inside and outside of Capoeira. From the age of 15 to 24, Alfredo was a member of the Groupo Folclórico Exaltação da Bahia, which took him on many travels to other states and others countries.

From the age of 18 to 21, Alfredo was a monitor of Capoeira of the Physical Department of Education DEF with Master Saci (disciple of Bimba); he was the coordinator, teaching in the Gymnasium from the Town Soldier of the Bonfim, in the College Edgar Santos and in the Clube do Zé (in Liberdade). With Master Saci, Alfredo had the opportunity of knowing great masters such as: Master Sirlando who was considered at the time as the oldest student of Master Bimba.

From the age of 17 up until 22 years old, in the College Duque de Caxias and in the Clube do Zé both in the neighborhood of the Liberdade, Alfredo met many students and made friends such as Flávio, Nilton, Ari, Ricardo, Alfredo Maguila, Marcos Gitauna, Val Boa Morte, Nei Boa Morte, Jorginho Boa Morte, Dinho Boa Morte and Amen.

In 1983 through a friend from the folkloric group, Master Augusto Angoleiro, Alfredo went to the Academy 1° of May of the Master Virgílio. There he frequented some of the Sunday afternoon rodas, and he had the opportunity to meet some Capoeiristas from the time such as René, Lazinho, Almir among others. Some time afterwards he was invited for an event in Mar Grande, of the Master Paulo dos Anjos. Alfredo was well received by everybody and by the Master Paulo, also having the opportunity of meeting Master Jaime of Mar Grande and Jorge Satelite.

At the same time he taught in the Academy Aquários, in the College Duque de Caxias and in the Clube do Zé where he received frequent visits from Master Julio Vinte Nove. Both living at the time in the neighbourhood Guarani in Liberdade, they developed a big friendship. Through Master Julio Vinte Nove Alfredo also met Master Boa Gente who taught in Campo Grande.

In the same period in his life, Alfredo often attended some classes and rodas of the master Helium Xareu and Augusto. In May of 1986 he moved to the country of Bahia in the city of Jaguaquara. In the end of 1987 Alfredo joined the Group Anjos de Angola of the Master Paulo dos Anjos. In the group he made many friendships of masters and Capoeiristas.

Together with the group, Master Alfredo organized events of Capoeira in several cities such as: Itaquara, Itiruçu, Lagedo of the Tabocal, Maracás, Jaguaquara, Jequié and in the city of Alfenas He was initiated by Master Paulo, to whom he owns most of his knowledge and he will be always grateful to him. Mestre Paulo dos Anjos guided him in the world of Capoeira in a difficult moment of his life where Capoeira Angola begun to be clearer to him.

In 1994 Master Alfredo moved to the city of Jequié, beginning new work of Capoeira as well as gymnastics and weight training. On the 09 of August 1999, his academy was inaugurated “Academy Alfredo”, with gymnastics, weight training and capoeira.

In late 2000 Master Alfredo went to Argentina to the grading event of Master Marcos Gitauna (today with the Group Topazio) although he hadn’t seen him for years. At the same time meeting again with Master Dinho and some of his students, Master Boca Rica and Master Burguês, who Master Paulo dos Anjos spoke a lot about. In this event, Master Alfredo was recognized by Master Marcos Gitauna as to whom he owed a lot of gratitude.

Master Alfredo also received a phone call from one of his students in Australia, Master Val Boa Morte who invited him for his event in Australia in April 2001. In Australia, he met again with Master Val, Contra-Master Nei Boa Morte, professor Dinho Boa Morte, and also Master Burguês and instructor Criança from Grupo Muzenza. In the same event, Master Alfredo spoke with Master Amen who lives and teaches in Los Angeles, USA. He returned to Australia in March 2002 for the event of Val and Nei and at the same time was invited to the event of Master Amen in June of the same year. At the event in Los Angeles, it was a great honor to him to be introduced to Masters such as Suassuna, Master Deputado, Master Acordeon, and he met again with Master Boa Gente and other Masters and Capoeiristas that live in the United States.

In the month of August 2002, Master Alfredo held the 1 st International Capoeira Meeting in Jequié, with the Masters Amen and Val Boa Morte, Contra-Master Nei Boa Morte (Black Eagle), Professor Jorginho Boa Morte, Contra-Master Diva, Instructor Pelé, Professor Arisca (United States), Instructor Nando (France), Monitor Gaivota (Australia), Monitor Camarao (Australia) and Professor Benivam.

Today Mestre Alfredo is part of the international group of Capoeira Filhos da Bahia - Sons of Bahia, (Val, Nei, Dinho, Jorginho and Alfredo) with partnership with the group Capoeira Batuque (Amen).

Special Thanks

“First of all, I thank God for my accomplishments and the recognition of friends like Marcos, Val, Nei, Dinho, Jorginho, Nilton, Diva, Benivan, Ronaldo, Lula, Alemao, Zezão, Pelé, Cláudio, Fábio, Enéas, Fafá and Amen and wishes that God may always be with them. Mestre Alfredo also embraces the friends of the group Anjos de Angola, such as: Master Amancio, Master Tonho, Master Jorge Satelite, Master Virgílio, Master Renê, Master Jorge Encruzilhada, Master Lazinho, Master Djalma, Master Wildes, João Mister, Valnei, Contra-Masters, Professors, students and to everybody who carries respect and honor in the name of Mestre Paulo dos Anjos.”

“I would like to give special thanks to my mother Dona Nilce and my brothers Jose Maria and Márcio. (I Love You). Thanks to my nephew Lucas (I Love you)."

"I know that during my walk in life I have made mistake and accomplishments, but the important thing is to learn and mature with them”.

“OH Master Paulo, wherever you are, you are part of a history that is called CAPOEIRA”.