Well known in Brazil as Beto Simas, MESTRE BONECO is one of the three founding masters of Grupo Capoeira Brasil and has been training Capoeira for more than 30 years. On January 14th 1989, Mestre Boneco along with masters Paulao and Paulinho Sabia were awarded their black cords. Since that time they have created one of the largest and most successful groups around the world. He is currently living in Los Angles after the challenge of starting from scratch to spread the dynamism of Capoeira to the American people. While actively conducting workshops and attending Batizados all over the world, he regularly supervises his academies in both Los Angeles and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil .

He is currently the director of both the Capoeira program at UCLA (recreation Department) and in numerous public and private schools. He likewise serves as artistic director of the Brazilian Cultural centre “Bencao Brasil”.