ECAMAR - School of Capoeira Angola Mato Rasteiro - was founded on the 21st of April 1999 in Salvador Bahia by Edielson da Silva Miranda (at that time ‘Contra Mestre' Roxinho ) with the objective of rescuing and preserving Capoeira Angola, as a way of giving continuity to the historical and cultural process of Afro Brasilian Culture.

The first early school was founded in the suburb of Baixa de Quintas (in the periphery of Salvador). After a few months Mestre Roxinho moved to the city of Calcule (in the interior of Bahia).

There he developed activities for children and adolescents for the period of one year, and already in this year he held his first big event - the First Simposium of Capoeira Angola “Memory in Movement”(SINCAP) – ending his activities in this city.

In 2000 Contra Mestre Roxinho arrived in the city of Lins/SP, and initiated a youth project. Teaching the students along with the game and the philosophy of Capoeira Angola, also how to make and play the instruments such as the Berimbau, the Caxixi and the reco-reco.

With the necessity of difusing this marvellous art Mestre Roxinho inaugurated in Aracatuba – SP, in 2002 another branch of ECAMAR, taking to this city that welcomed them with much affection the bequeathed historical and cultural tradition of Capoeira Angola. Still in this same year ECAMAR took the fundamentals of Capoeira Angola to Europe, expanding the work in the cities of Catalunya e Palafujã where Ari Soares ( Bocca ) is responsible for ECAMAR.

Knowing the significance of the living word in Capoeira Angola, the oral transmission of spiritual and physical Axe, contained in popular knowledge, ECAMAR held the 2nd SINCAP with the participation of Grand Mestres like Virgílio, Pé de chumbo, Lua-de-Bobó, Pelé da Bomba, Zé do Lenço, Pedra and others in the city of Lins – SP.

In 2003, ECAMAR created the 1st Encounter of Capoeira Angola "Saudoso Mestre Espinho Remoso" (SMER) with the idea of paying homage to one of the grand Mestres of Capoeira Angola of Bahia. It was held in the city of Lins which gave an opportunity for Mestre Virgilio, Mestre Espinho Remoso's son, to receive a commendation and coat of Arms as official GUEST of the city. In 2004, the second encounter happened in Salvador/ BA, in homage to Mestre Virgilio's 50 years of Capoeira Angola. This encounter demonstrated that Mestre Roxinho and his disciples are conscious of the importance of preserving the values and philosophy of Capoeira Angola as well as the memory of the teachings of our African ancestors.

Also in Aracatuba, ECAMAR founded the Centre of Study, Research and Practice of Capoeira Angola (NESPPCAN), a cultural space with free classes and study groups interested in knowing about African history and culture. Next arose “The Bantu Project of Capoeira Angola” work to be developed with children and adolescents from public schools forming partnerships for the development and access to Afro–Brasilian culture. This Bantu project is a big reality - we already have on average 160 children attending. It was developed in Sao Joao, in the periphery of Lins-SP where Josifer ( Buiu ) is responsible for the project in the suburb where he was born and created (as a Mestre). Daniela ( Dani ) is responsible for The House of the Child a project that cares for girls of 4 to 16 years of poor families. Today ECAMAR has centres in Salvador- BA, Lins-SP, Santo Andre- SP, and Sydney Australia, all under the general coordination of Mestre Roxinho who today lives in Australia.