Zé do U

Zé do U was a capoeirista of Salvador, Bahia, active during the early-to-mid 20th century. His name appears in one of the most important primary sources in capoeira history: Mestre Pastinha's 1967 interview with Revista Realidade magazine.

In February 1967, the 78-year-old Pastinha—nearly blind but still teaching at his academy in Pelourinho—spoke with journalist Roberto Freire about the great capoeiristas of the past. Pastinha listed Zé do U among 17 deceased practitioners of "pure Capoeira de Angola", alongside Bigode de Seda, Américo Ciência, Bugalho, Amorzinho, Zé Bom Pé, Chico Três Pedaços, Tibirici da Folha Grossa, Doze Homens, Inimigo Sem Tripa, Vitorino Braço Torto, Zé do Saco, Bené do Correio, Sete Mortes, Chico Me Dá, and two women: Júlia Fogareira and Maria Homem.

Pastinha remarked of these figures: "Cada nome destes é uma história"—each of these names is a story. He observed that their apelidos revealed "who they were, how they fought", suggesting these nicknames encoded information about their fighting styles, personalities, or physical characteristics.

The apelido "Zé do U" follows a common Brazilian naming pattern where "Zé" (short for José) is followed by a geographic or occupational identifier. The "U" likely refers to a place, occupation, or characteristic—perhaps a neighborhood, street, or business where this capoeirista was known. Without additional documentation, the exact meaning remains unknown.

Beyond Pastinha's mention, no other documentation of Zé do U has been found. He represents one of the many capoeiristas whose contributions to the art have been largely lost to history, remembered only through the oral testimony of those who knew them.