The Team

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Discover the joy of Capoeira Angola with a free introductory class. Our expert instructors are here to guide you every step of the way.

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Mestre Mangangá (Syed Taqi)

Founder and Head Master, Washington Capoeira Center

Mestre Mangangá (Syed Taqi) is the founder and head master of the Washington Capoeira Center and Grupo Capoeira Angola Palmarinos. Starting his teaching journey at 19, he has become a world-renowned practitioner of Capoeira Angola, blending over 27 years of experience with a “zen-like” teaching approach.

Mestre Mangangá has taught across the U.S. and internationally, including extensive time in Brazil, where he immersed himself in Capoeira’s cultural and historical roots across 13 states. As the highest-ranked Seattleite in Capoeira and the first South Asian (Indian) to achieve the rank of Mestre globally, he is one of only two North Americans promoted to Master by Grande Mestre Nô, who considers him a key heir to his lineage.

In 2015, Mestre Mangangá launched Capoeira Life, a nonprofit offering free and low-cost Capoeira programs for underserved youth, later expanding the initiative to Pierce County with Capoeira Vida in 2018. Beyond physical training, he uses Capoeira to inspire respect, resilience, and cultural connection in his students.

Under his leadership, the Washington Capoeira Center has become a cornerstone for cultural preservation and social justice. His contributions to the art culminated in his promotion to 2nd-degree Mestre of Capoeira Angola at the historic Forte de Santo Antônio in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil, in 2023.

Grande Mestre Nô

Grand Master

Grande Mestre Nô, born Norival Moreira de Oliveira on June 22, 1945, in Coroa, Itaparica, Bahia, Brazil, is one of the most revered figures in Capoeira Angola. Known as the “Mestre dos Mestres” (Master of Masters), his career spans over 76 years, during which he has trained tens of thousands of students and graduated over 100 Mestres—an achievement unparalleled in the Capoeira world.

Initiated into Capoeira at the age of four, Mestre Nô’s formative years were shaped by legendary Capoeiristas. At seven, after moving to Massaranduba, Salvador, he was introduced to the elder Mestres Pirró and Zeca through Mestre Nilton and Mestre Cutica. These formative experiences ignited his passion, and by 1965, he was teaching in his own academy.

Mestre Nô has played a pivotal role in shaping Capoeira Angola’s global presence. He founded the renowned academies Retintos, Orixás da Bahia, and Capoeira Angola Palmares, and is the founder, president, and grand master of the Associação Brasileira Cultural de Capoeira Angola Palmares (ABCCAP)—an organization dedicated to preserving and promoting Capoeira Angola worldwide.

Today, Mestre Nô resides in Salvador, Bahia, with his family, traveling across Brazil, the U.S., and Europe to teach and preserve Capoeira Angola’s rich heritage.

Contramestre Desenho (Matthew Zinski)

Assistant Master

Contramestre Desenho has dedicated over 22 years to mastering Capoeira, training and teaching across Brazil, the U.S., Canada, Japan, and South Korea. His journey began in 2002 with Capoeira Mandinga in Buffalo, NY. After taking over Capoeira Mandinga Buffalo in 2009, he continued training with Mestre Carcará in Rochester, NY, earning his Instructor rank in 2012 of Grupo Mandinga.

Following moves to Washington, DC, and Seattle, WA, Contramestre Desenho expanded his practice under various Mestres. In 2014, he fully committed to Capoeira Angola, joining Capoeira Angola Palmares under Mestre Mangangá and Grande Mestre Nô. Over 12 years of training in this lineage, he has specialized in advanced techniques and movement immersion. He was promoted to Instructor de Capoeira Angola in 2017, Professor de Capoeira Angola in 2019, and Contramestre de Capoeira Angola in 2024.

Now an assistant master at the Seattle Capoeira Center, Contramestre Desenho brings a wealth of experience to his students, guiding them through the depth and complexity of Capoeira Angola with dedication and expertise.

Hannah Tiên (Lua Nova)

Hannah Tiên is a movement artist, educator, and cultural practitioner dedicated to artistic expression through dance and martial arts traditions.

She holds dual Bachelor’s degrees in Dance and Geography from the University of Colorado at Boulder, where she trained under world-renowned teachers. Her work spans international freelance performances and a tenure with the Afro-Brazilian dance company Samba Colorado (2017–2020).

Committed to deepening her practice, Hannah regularly travels to Salvador, Bahia, to train in Afro-Brazilian dance, Orisha symbology and Capoeira Angola.

Her introduction to Capoeira began in Colorado, leading her to further immerse herself in the art upon moving to Seattle in 2021, where she trains  and teaches at the Seattle Capoeira Center.

As a multicultural artist, Hannah is dedicated to honoring diverse movement traditions, studying their histories, and uplifting the voices of ancestral lineages through her work.

Professor Soldado (Ryan Purcell)

A Beacon Hill local, Ryan has dedicated 24 years to Capoeira Angola. He and Mestre Mangangá grew up training together and he was a founding member of the Seattle Capoeira Center. His deep commitment has made him a key figure in the Seattle Capoeira community.

Ryan trained with Grande Mestre Nô, the founder of Grupo Capoeira Angola Palmares, and with many of Nô’s students in the US and Brazil, deepening his understanding of Capoeira Angola’s roots and philosophy.

In 2019, Ryan was promoted to Professor by Mestre Mangangá with the blessing of Grande Mestre Nô. Known for his enthusiastic energy, creative teaching style and humor, he inspires students while fostering a strong sense of community.

Beyond Capoeira, Ryan is the Artistic Director of The Williams Project (The Feast), a Seattle-based theater company. His theater background enhances his ability to engage students through rhythm, movement, and storytelling. He sees Capoeira as a way of life, fostering creativity, and discipline.

Instructor True Rasuli Emeka

Instructor True Rasuli Emeka

True “De Verdade” Rasuli Emeka is an Afro-Indigenous Seattle Angoleiro, introduced to Capoeira by his father, Gabriel Emeka. He later began training under Mestre Mangangá at the Seattle Capoeira Center, earning his 1st-degree Instructor rank in 2024 under Mestre Mangangá and Grande Mestre Nô.

A school teacher, True blends education with Capoeira, leading kids’ classes and directing the Tacoma Capoeira Center under Mestre Mangangá’s supervision, expanding Capoeira Angola’s reach in the community

Coach Meia Lua (Farah Nousheen)

Farah Nousheen began her Capoeira journey in 1999 and is the elder sister of Mestre Syed Taqi. She played a key role in introducing Syed to Capoeira Angola and Grande Mestre Nô, shaping his path in the art.

She has trained extensively in Brazil with Mestre Nô and Mestre Naldinho, deepening her connection to Capoeira’s roots. While living in New Mexico, she continued her practice with UCA Capoeira, and now back in Seattle, she is committed to growing the Seattle Capoeira Center community into a family dedicated to preserving Capoeira Angola.

Beyond Capoeira, Farah is a certified yoga teacher, integrating breath, movement, and mindfulness into her practice. Her lifelong dedication to movement arts reflects a commitment to personal growth, social justice, and cultural preservation.