Mestre Virgulino

Mestre Virgulino (Julio Cesar Souza) was born on december 25, 1972 in Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil. At the age of 8 he began to practice capoeira in group Asa Branca with Mestre Bia, then later he continued his trainings at the academy of Mestre Canelão of group Boa Vontade. In late 90’s he moved from Natal to São Paulo to join Mestre Suassuna’s group, Cordão de Ouro, There he obtained the title Contra-Mestre and later the 1st and 2nd Mestre degrees. During his stay in São Paulo before opening his own school he gave classes at Mestre Suassuna’s academy. After a while he moved his academy from the city of São Paulo to Botucatu. He made his first trip to the USA in 2004, he spent there two months teaching and giving workshops at different locations. In the same year he opened an academy in Guadalajara, Mexico, which was the first Cordão de Ouro group in the country. Today Mestre Virgulino is living and teaching in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He founded his own school Capoeira Cangaço CDO in january 2010.