Rui Henrique is a capoeira master with 50 years of experience in the art of capoeira. Born in Rio de Janeiro, he was a student of Mestre Zé Maria (José Maria da Silva). He was recognised master by the Brazilian Boxing Federation in 1973. He was a member of the Superior Council of Masters of the Brazilian Capoeira Confederation. He founded the Grupo Irmãos Unidos das Nações Africanas ─´IUNA, in 1975, with mestres Bené (Benedito Rodrigues dos Santos) and Ziza (Pedro Rosemberg de Alcântara da Silva).
He studied Business Administration at the Augusto Motta University Teaching Society (UNISUAM). At the time, he was a five-time university capoeira champion, competing alongside his capoeira brother Mestre Canela (Floriano Franklin Canela). His origins in capoeira come from Santo Amaro da Purificação, in Bahia. One of his main references in Rio de Janeiro is Mestre Mário Buscapé (Mário Santos), founder of the Bonfim group.