Formado Comprido
The Formado Comprido (Pedro Martin) is from Castilla La Mancha (Spain) but considers himself sevillian (Andalusia). Born in May 1978 and owes his capoeira nickname "Comprido" to his stature. He started training Capoeira in 1996, like most spaniards of the time motivated by the film "Only the Strong" by Mark DaCascos, when he was already a Full Contact Professor (1996). He started practising Capoeira with his two best friends, Louro and Aladdin, influenced because of their age -as they were older- and they thought that the Capoeira movements and music was exciting, even when they were attending full contact classes at that time.
The next year, his friends went to University leaving their Capoeira curiosities to the side. Thus Comprido contacted the author of a Capoeira book from South America. It was through Leonardo Torres Negro -an Instructor of the Grupo Muzenza de Mestre Burgués and author of the book "Capoeira, Arte Marcial Del Brasil" (ISBN 9788420303772, 1996)- and with him exchanging Capoeira videos is when his interest to learn grow. Leonardo Torres used to send videos with exercises and corrections to Comprido for a while, from time to time Comprido met with Louro and Aladdin and could at the same time update them with movements, names and techniques.
Year after year, Comprido tried to follow up on the casual exhibitions that Mestre Trovoada (GIC Topázio de Mestre Dinho) or Mestre Brucutu (Capoeira Abadá) used to carry out at the Festival of Nations in Seville, which used to stay approximately 10 days in the city during the spring.
This was not enough. There should be a faster way to keep growing and learning. At lot have been written about the beginning of Capoeira in Seville...but facts are facts. Comprido was so interested in learning Capoeira that he opted to put ads and write articles in the magazines and newspapers at that time, as well as looking for someone to teach him.
Then João Paulo Pinho Freire (Professor Cia) appear on the scene during the time he was studying Medicine at the University of Seville.
From 1997 to 1999 they train together, keeping a night group in the University Hall of Maths at the beginning, and putting the Capoeira discipline into an important gym of the martial arts tradition in Seville (Gym Herbert). This contributed to the growth in number of those interested as well as radio interviews and flyer distributions. It is in one of these radio interviews where that Professor Cia named Pedro as Comprido, due to his stature as mentioned.
Due to his career responsibilities, Professor Cia travelled to a near city, allowing Formado Caveira (actually Contramestre Caveira) to come from Brazil and continue his job in Seville. Formado Comprido is the oldest student of the Contramestre Caveira, and has spent about 20 years practicing Capoeira with him.
Some of their contributions during this golden era of Capoeira in Spain, helped grow a number of afiliates. New academies where opened in Cadiz, Cordoba, Huelva, Jaen, Badajoz, Caceres and other cities within the past few years.
Regarding his gratuation, in the year 2000 received the Instructor graduation from the Grupo Internacional de Capoeira Regional Porto da Barra de Mestre Cabeludo through Mestre Cía (Mestre Cabeludo's brother). In 2001 he received the graduation of "Formado" in Salvador de Bahia (Brazil) from the hands of Mestre Rudson, who is the son of Mestre Dinho (founder of Grupo Internacional de Capoeira Topázio).
He's been sweating his Formado graduation since then.
After this time living the Capoeira as an art, some of the achivements reached are:
Establishment of Capoeira in Seville (1996)
1st Instructor in Spain of the International Grupo Internacional de Capoeira Regional Porto da Barra de Mestre Cabeludo (2000)
1st Formado in Spain of the International Capoeira Topázio Group of Mestre Dinho (2001)
Administration for years of the biggest Internet Portal in spanish till 2005: www.Capoeiras.com
Author of the Book in Spanish: "Ao som do berimbau: Capoeira" (2003)- Curiosities | Book Captures
1st Official Monitor for Capoeira Workshops of the Seville City Council (2002-05)
1st Permanent Section for Capoeira in the Andalusian Sports Magazine
Online promoter of Capotherapy © Mestre Gilvan
Online promoter of "Capoeira: Jogo Atletico Brasileiro" © Joel Pires Marques
Online promoter of "Mestre Bimba: A Capoeira Iluminada" © Luiz Fernando Goulart
Founding partner of C.D Capoeira Topázio in Seville (2001)
Board Member of Mestre Formiguinha Topázio Association in Australia (2018)
Promoter of Capoeira at Central Coast - Australia (since 2017)
Founder of Grupo Capoeiras - Australia (October 2018)
He want to continue contributing to the diffusion of Capoeira, the martial art of Brazil, and demonstrate that it is an art for all. He is willing to collaborate in the projects that any person proposes, as long as the reasons that motivate them are honest.
Founder Grupo Capoeiras Inc Charity in Australia (2019)
Formado Comprido's beautiful Family!
