Master Celso Pepe started capoeira in 1957, at the age of 8, becoming a disciple of Mestre Djalma Bandeira. Mestre Leopoldina also contributed greatly to his training in his classes at the Guanabara Academy. In 1961 M Celso he founded his own group, Cativeiro, which in 1973 became Grupo Pepe.
In the 1960s, he took part in capoeira exhibitions at various events and also in television presentations. He was also a member of the casts of wrestling shows, which were very common at the time, and parades of blocos and samba schools. In 1973, he was recognised as a capoeira master by the Brazilian Confederation of Pugilism – CBP, receiving registration number 22.
He taught hundreds of capoeira students in various neighbourhoods in the city of Rio de Janeiro.