Interview of the Month | Professor Tulio Mercurio ~ Grupo Capoeira Brasil
This month we introduce you to Professor Tulio Mercurio, from Vila-Velha, Brasil, who leads Grupo Capoeira Brasil in the Gold Coast, QLD. In 2006, under the guidance of his Mestre (Mestre Paulinho Sabia) Tulio established Grupo Capoeira Brasil in New Zealand. A few years later, he moved to Australia to develop his Capoeira and to start a new group in the Gold Coast, which has been running since 2013.
To follow Professor Tulio Mercurio’s work, go to: www.goldcoastcapoeira.com.au
CH: How did your Capoeira journey begin?
PTM: My journey in Capoeira began when I heard the sound of the berimbau for the first time and I still remember it like it was today. I was 6 years old and I heard this beautiful sound coming from down the road near my grandmother's house so I went down to find out what it was and when I got there I discovered it was a Capoeira class.
At the time I didn't have money to pay for classes as my family was from a very humble background, so I sat down and watched the class and from that moment I knew that Capoeira was something I needed in my life.
It wasn’t until I was 14 years old in 1997 that I really started training Capoeira with Group Capoeira Brasil. As I mentioned before, being from a poor family we lived in lower class suburbs called “favelas” and being a teenager in Brazil I was exposed to a lot of violence and drug dealing. However, I can say that Capoeira saved my life. I had found in my Capoeira school a place to belong and felt that I finally had a purpose in life “being a Capoeirista”
CH: What brought you to Australia?
PTM: After teaching Capoeira in New Zealand for over 10 years I decided that I wanted to live in a warmer country with a stronger economy and with more opportunities to play Capoeira as I needed to grow as a person and as a professional Capoeirista.
CH: What made you choose to teach Capoeira in Australia?
PTM: While teaching in New Zealand I came to a lot of events here in Australia. After all, it was the closest country to New Zealand, with a rotation of masters coming from Brazil with much-needed information as New Zealand is very isolated from the rest of the Capoeira world.
First I moved to Perth, however, after 6 months I realised that Perth wasn’t the place for me so I moved to the Gold Coast and as soon as I arrived here I felt that I had found my new home.
CH: What challenges have you faced teaching Capoeira in Australia?
PTM: Since I was 14 years old I have dedicated my whole life to learning the Capoeira rituals/fundamentals and developing my skills as a Capoeira teacher and Capoeira player. However, I felt that I needed something else in my life here in Australia so I started a new career as a real estate agent. That was a huge challenge for me as I started working for one of the biggest agencies on the Gold Coast and I found my whole time being dedicated to my new career and not much time left for my passion. I had to teach classes after working in an extremely stressful environment all day but slowly my classes started to grow and seeing my students developing their skills was very rewarding so that helped me to keep going.
Another thing that was a very big challenge and still challenges me is the ego and the politics in Australian Capoeira. I couldn’t believe how much politics exist between schools, teachers/masters that have been here for years. I guess I should not elaborate on this as I usually speak my mind and it will get me in trouble :-) This comment is not directed to anyone specific but is a general feeling.
CH: How do you imagine Capoeira will evolve in Australia in the future?
PTM: I have only been teaching in Australia for 5 years so maybe I am still trying to figure this out, but in my opinion it will evolve with more integration and cooperation between groups not thinking about one flag but in benefit of Capoeira in general as a whole community.
I believe the new generation of teachers in Australia is really helping with this mentality.
CH: What are your thoughts on equality in Capoeira?
PTM: I believe Capoeira is for everyone and I see it as a way of social inclusion, family, a martial art and most of all support for one another. I believe the higher the belt is the more humble you should be and that's how I try to teach my students.
Education always comes first in the roda and outside.
CH: How would you sum up your philosophy or approach to Capoeira?
PTM: I have always seen Capoeira as a tool to help others and to connect good people together as it helped me to become who I am today.
After being involved in Capoeira for 21 years I am now hosting an annual event called ‘Vamos Vadiar’ for which the main idea is to inspire Capoeiristas from all backgrounds to keep going and to see Capoeira as a whole community, and to create an environment where everyone feels welcome.