Nascimento Grande was associated with Pirajé
Famous valentão from Pará who coveted challenging Nascimento Grande. No details of actual confrontation recorded. His fame indicates capoeira culture extended to northern Brazil.
Person
Nascimento Grande
José Nascimento da Silva
1842 – 1936
Born in Pernambuco, Brazil
José Nascimento da Silva was the most feared capoeirista in Pernambuco's history, known simply as "O Capoeira" in his time. His name "Nascimento Grande" (Big Birth) came from his imposing size: 2 meters tall and 120-130 kilograms.
He worked as a stevedore at the Port of Recife, where his immense strength was legendary—he could carry two 60-kilo sacks simultaneously. He always wore a large sloped hat, carried a rubber cape, and wielded a famous 15-kilogram cane he called "a volta" (the return).
Despite his fearsome reputation, contemporaries described him as gentle, courteous, and well-educated with "a Bruce Lee-like gaze"—calm but alert. He was "extremely honest—even his enemies recognized this"—and would "cry like melted butter at the most ordinary things in life".
He was believed to possess "corpo fechado" (closed body), protected by an amulet containing a "Santo Lenço" (Holy Cloth). He attended church regularly and consulted with a Pai de Santo. The press granted him the title "Herói Popular" because he only ever fought in self-defense. He never lost a fight and never refused one.
His fame attracted challengers from across Brazil. During a trip to Rio de Janeiro, he killed the legendary Manezinho Camisa Preta in an epic battle at Largo da Carioca. His most famous rivalry was with João Sabe Tudo, paradoxically also his friend. Their fight at Largo da Paz was stopped by a vicar inside Igreja do Carmo; they shook hands and never fought again, but continued hosting parties together.
Nascimento Grande was part of Recife's carnival capoeira tradition. The capoeiristas who performed in front of military bands using ginga and kicks eventually transformed these into the "passo"—the dance of frevo. His legacy extends beyond capoeira to Pernambuco's most famous cultural expression.
He was celebrated by Brazil's intellectual elite: Gilberto Freyre, José Lins do Rego, Câmara Cascudo, and Gilberto Amado all knew him personally. When he died at 94 in 1936, Gilberto Freyre petitioned the government for an official tribute. The cordel poet João Martins de Ataíde immortalized him: "Nascimento aged / His hair turned white / But his wrinkled face / Never took a blow".
As one source concluded: "Hercules is a myth; Nascimento Grande truly existed".
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Associated with11
Nascimento Grande was associated with Pajéu
Challenger who was defeated and humiliated. Known as a malfeitor from São José neighborhood who pretended to be a capoeirista and beat women. Attack occurred likely in late 1800s or early 1900s.
Nascimento Grande was associated with Manduca da Praia
Nascimento Grande was associated with Corre Hoje
Nascimento Grande was associated with João de Totó
Both were prominent valentões of Recife carnival who performed in front of carnival bands.
Nascimento Grande was associated with Manezinho Camisa Preta
Nascimento Grande was associated with Nicolau do Poço
Nicolau do Poço and Nascimento Grande were both prominent figures in Recife's nightlife and street culture. Young men of good families sought their company to break up pastoral plays.
Nascimento Grande was associated with Adama
Nascimento Grande was associated with João Sabe Tudo
Nascimento Grande was associated with Jovino dos Coelhos? – 5 July 1909
Both were prominent valentões of Recife carnival who performed in front of carnival bands. Ended with Jovino's death on July 5, 1909.
Nascimento Grande was associated with Antonio Padroeiro
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Active in: Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil
period not recorded
Active in: Pernambuco, Brazil
period not recorded
Visited: Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
period not recorded
- 11
- statements
- 11
- · 100%
- with a source
- 0
- without a source
- 0
- disputed
Relations by confidence
- Verified: 4
- Likely: 6
- Uncertain: 1
Sources cited
- [1]José Nascimento da Silva (Mestre Nascimento Grande), Pernambuco 1842-1936, Educando com Ginga cited 5 times
- [2]Grupo Capoeira Raça Negra cited 5 times
- [3]Grandes Personagens, Mestre Brizola cited 1 time
- [4]Frevo, Capoeira e Passo, Valdemar de Oliveira cited 3 times
- [5]Capoeira e capoeiras entre a Guarda Negra e a Educação Física no Recife, Israel Ozanam, UFPE cited 1 time
- [6]Recife Sangrento, Oscar Mello cited 2 times