the manner it was taught in Mestre Pastinha's academy. This lineage was very nearly destroyed when Pastinha's academy was closed down by the government to "renovate" the buildings. The subsequent death almost a decade later of the great Angoleiro only made things more difficult. (See Mestre Pastinha). The authenticity of João Pequeno's academy in following Pastinha's academy was not limited exclusively to the technique and teaching methods, but also in the manner of spiritual and cultural development. In a way, João Pequeno revived and succeeded in achieving the original purpose for which Pastinha's Centro Esportivo de Capoeira Angola was established - that is, to preserve and promote the traditions of Capoeira Angola, the fundamental tenets of the Angoleiro and to provide a community based support for Capoeiristas. His old friend and Capoeira brother, João Grande later did the same by establishing his academy in New York City the United States in 1990. Later life and death Mestre João Pequeno dedicated his life to teaching Pastinha's style of Capoeira Angola ever since and has graduated students who today are well-known Mestres in their own right. Into his 90s, Joao Pequeno continued to teach and practise capoeira at his academy in Forte de Santo Antônio Além do Carmo which has, through the work of Mestre João and GCAP, come to be called the Forte da Capoeira which is off to the north side of the historical center of Salvador, Bahia which is also called Pelourinho. Mestre João Pequeno died on 9 December 2011, at the age of 93. Lineage See also Capoeira Mestre Pastinha Mestre João Grande Mestre Pé de Chumbo References https://web.archive.org/web/20030827111511/http://planeta.terra.com.br/esporte/capoeiradabahia/boletim/5/vitor_acad_joao_pequeno.htm http://www.ginganago.com/capoeira/histoire/joao_pequeno.asp 1917 births Afro-Brazilian people 2011 deaths Capoeira mestres