Half a million in prize money: how the now revamped VMB changed the game for capoeiristas. Photo: Disclosure
With half a million reais already paid out in prizes, the largest capoeira organization in the world reaches 2025 reaffirming its firepower in the Brazilian fighting scene. In just over two years of existence, VMB has gone from being just a promise to becoming a reference in high-value investments, attracting renowned athletes and revealing new talents at an impressive speed. And, to crown this extraordinary trajectory, the organization announces a reformulation of its name, changing Volta do Mundo – Bambas to Volta ao Mundo – Bambas, in a clear demonstration of even greater proximity to the global capoeira community.
The story of this meteoric rise dates back to August 2022, when the then VMB — inspired by the jargon “around the world”, used by capoeiristas when they circle the circle — decided to invest in professional tournaments, with defined rules, a ranking system and substantial financial prizes. At the time, capoeira was suffering from the exodus of promising practitioners, who saw better career prospects in MMA or other sports. The creation of a solid competitive environment was the solution to this impasse: by valuing the fighting art and paying the champions, the organization brought back experienced masters and attracted young potential players who previously migrated to jiu-jitsu or boxing.
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Today, two phenomena explain the strength of the VMB. The first is the growth of the ranking circuits. The organization began with just a few events, but quickly began to hold dozens of tournaments, reaching one hundred competitions worldwide. The second impact comes from the boom in training teams: there are more than 300 official groups, spread across several countries, each with its own style, name and methodology. Roughly speaking, they are like the “new Gracie Barra” of capoeira, although they do not have a standard brand; each group maintains its cultural identity, but follows the guidelines and regulations stipulated by the VMB to ensure equality in the fights.
Changing the word “Volta do Mundo” to “Volta ao Mundo” is more than just a change of words. The idea of “going around” remains loaded with symbolism, but now takes on an even more inclusive meaning: reinforcing that capoeira extends to all corners of the world, and that the organization and the capoeiristas form a single body. In this spirit of collectivity, the word “Bambas” is maintained to emphasize the skill and distinctive swing of the great capoeiristas, central elements of the tradition of this art. Since its inception, the organization has always defended that high-level sport could coexist with the historical values of the roda, proving that innovation and tradition go hand in hand.
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The robust financial strategy consolidates this vision. Last October, one of the most notable events took place in Brasilia, with a main card starring Cezar Mutant and Sergio Moraes, former UFC athletes. The winner took home 100 thousand reais, an unprecedented amount in capoeira and unusual even in the most traditional fights in the country. In February 2025, the same prize will be up for grabs in Santa Catarina, confirming the proposal to bring competitive fights, full of technique and art, combined with rewards that can change the life of a professional athlete.
The organization's success is not limited to the big money. The VMB has already held fights in iconic locations such as Pão de Açúcar and Arena 1 of the Olympic Park, both in Rio de Janeiro, in addition to passing through São Paulo and reaching other continents, with disputes in the United States and Sweden. Upon returning to Brasília in October, the organization recorded another major feat: the live broadcast on Com Brasil TV reached the mark of 15 million viewers, a number that shows the gigantic potential of the event to grow even more and rival established MMA, boxing or jiu-jitsu tournaments.
“The main focus is to professionalize capoeira without erasing its historical essence. We want each roda to serve as inspiration for athletes to dream of the belt and the prize, but also to keep alive the cultural heritage that made this sport a global reference,” says Saverio Scarpati, executive director of VMB.
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For Aritana Silva, technical director, the expansion outside the country is proof that Brazilian ginga has everything it needs to win over new fans.
“We believe that capoeira has no borders. Our goal is to show that it can reach a level of competitiveness, visibility and organization similar to any other internationally recognized martial art,” he said.
By focusing its efforts on offering large scholarships, professional structure and media exposure, VMB — now Volta ao Mundo – Bambas — is revitalizing the path of many capoeiristas who saw their careers stagnant. The sport has ceased to be just a folkloric tradition and has emerged as a cutting-edge competitive modality, preserving the Afro-Brazilian heritage and expanding the visibility of this cultural expression. If the half a million reais distributed so far is the calling card, the promise of new packed arenas and more million-dollar championships reinforces that capoeira is making great strides towards establishing itself as one of the most promising forces in the world of fighting. The wheel keeps turning, but now under the spotlight and the expectation of a prosperous future for those who live off dodges, rhythmic movements and precise strikes.
Photo: Disclosure
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