Carioca Biography
Capoeira Mestre Carioca, was born as Carlos da Silva Borge in Saquarema, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 1968. At the age of 12 Carioca started to play capoeira. After high school Carioca dedicated his life to Capoeira. "At the time I was playing both capoeira and soccer. I needed to decide what sport I would dedicate my life towards." Carioca trained in Bom Jesus and Vila Velha, Brazil with his first teacher, Mestre Bom Jesus. In 1990, Mestre Bom Jesus left Brazil to teach in New York. Carioca then went to Vitoria to train under the very skilled and respected master Capixaba of the ABADA-Capoeira group. Carioca started teaching Capoeira in 1990 as a graduado.
In Brazil from 1991 - 1996, Carioca gained his reputation as a capoeirista teaching at several Brazilian gyms including the well known club of CEG (Garoto Sports Center). In 1992 Carioca was involved in a program for street children with the Espiritossantense Institute of the Well-Being for Minors Organization (IESBEM) where the use of Capoeira as pedagogical, artistic, and cultural resource rescued many children from the hardships of streets in Vitoria, ES. In 1996 Carioca taught capoeira at public schools and communities thru the state department of Culture in ES, Brazil.
