Wandenkolk Manoel De Oliveira, known around the world as Mestre Preguiça, studied under the legendary Mestre Bimba in Bahia, Brazil, from whom he graduated in 1963. Two years later, he moved to Rio de Janeiro and along with Rafael Flores Viana and Fernando Cavalcante Albuquerque (Mestre Gato), founded Grupo Senzala. In the late 60’s there were very few competitions open to capoeiristas, the premier of these being the Berimbau de Ouro (Golden Berimbau). With the help of other capoeiristas, the group was able to enter the competition. On their first attempt at the tournament, to everyone’s surprise, the Senzala team (featuring Gato and Preguiça), won and did so again the following year. On their third attempt the hosting Capoeira Association prevented Gato and Preguiça from entering, claiming that only students were allowed to participate… Not masters! Gato and Preguiça protested that they were not masters, only students. The Capoeira Association then responded saying that due to their record over the past two years they were being recognized as masters (Mestres). As Gato and Preguiça were unable to enter the Berimbau de Ouro, they began to train another team from Grupo Senzala to enter the tournament. This new team, under the technical direction of Mestre Preguiça, featured Mosquito (means the same in English) and Borracha (rubber), which won. News of this spread throughout the Brazilian capoeira community. Many people traveled to see, train and try out this new group of capoeiristas, and the Senzala style of capoeira became the predominant style all over Brazil. In the 20 years he spent in Rio, Mestre Preguiça graduated 10 Mestres. After touring 23 countries with a Brazilian Dance Company and recieving degrees in physical education in Brazil and Europe, Mestre Preguiça came to the San Francisco Bay Area to expand the art in the United States. In 1986 he founded Omulu Capoeira Group of San Francisco. Mestre Preguiça’s work and dedication has now spread throughout the U.S., with branches in Wisconsin, Illinois, New York and Massachusetts, besides the numerous academies throughout the state of California. Today he leads the Omulu Capoeira group of Los Angeles, California.