Mestre Itapoan (Reimundo Cesar Alves de Almeidahas) was born august 13, 1947 in Salvador Bahia Brazil. On September 22, 1964 he began learning Capoeira Regional from Mestre Bimba and remains his disciple to this day.
In 1972, Mestre Itapoan founded the Ginga Associação de Capoeira. He is also the founder of the Associação Brasileira dos Professores (Brazilian of teachers of Capoeira) and the Federação Bahiana de Capoeira (Bahia Federation of Capoeira). In 1990, he was awarded the national sports medal of honor from the Brazilian ministry of education.