In 1979, he began to enter Capoeira competitions throughout North East Brazil and in 1980, Marcos began to teach. In 1982, a young Barrão was determined to test his skills against the best opponents he could find and entered the prestigious National Championship in Rio de Janeiro. Such was his skill and fortune that in the end, he left as Brazilian Champion.

Upon his return, many opportunities came his way to teach in schools, community centers, and universities throughout Brazil and eventually formed Grupo Axé Capoeira. In 1987, he was graduated to First Degree Master by Mestre Pirajá. He has now received his Second Degree Master. In 1990,

Mestre Barrão was invited to demonstrate his art at the International Children’s Festivals throughout North America and eventually found himself in Canada at the Vancouver International Children’s Festival. After spending 1991 teaching in Italy, Barrão decided to immigrate to Canada in 1992 and begin teaching here at various locations. He started The Annual International Capoeira Encounter and has renowned and respected Mestres from all over the world visit and share their skills. In 1996, he opened Canada’s first Academy of Capoeira

Today, Mestre Barrão frequently receives invitations to conduct and teach Capoeira at international workshops. The Mestres who assembled at the Melhores Do Seculo event in Curitiba Parana in 2000, recognized Mestre Barrão as one of the great capoeiristas of the century, due to his skill and contribution to Capoeira. Mestre Barrão and his Grupo Axé Capoeira have recorded seven CD volumes of Capoeira music and one other, together with Mestre Burguês which continues to be tremendously popular throughout Brazil. They have also released a instructional DVD set through Panther Productions as well as countless DVD's documenting their major capoeira events. Mestre Barrão now has schools in Canada, Brazil, the United States, Peru, Russia, Bermuda, Barbados, Dominican Republic, and Poland.

From 1998-2004, Bambu taught with random success in various cities in Indiana. He would attend every Grupo Axé event he could in order to spend time training with Mestre Barrão so that he could absorb as much knowledge as possible. In 2004, Bambu moved to Chicago with the hopes to develop his academy, bring a strong Capoeira presence to the Mid-West United States, and train complete capoeiristas versed in all aspects of the game, fight, music, history, culture, and language.

In 2006, Bambu took part in a 5 day course to standardize the level of teaching within Grupo Axé Capoeira. The capoeira course consisted of four parts: Capoeira History, Capoeira Angola, Capoeira Regional, and Capoeira Contemporânea. These courses were taught by world renowned individuals: Historian Frede Abreu, Mestre Jogo de Dentro, Mestre Nenel, and Mestre Barrão. A course of this caliber has rarely, if ever, been taught and is something few can say they have accomplished. Soon after the course, Bambu was fully graduated to the status of Instrutor (Instructor).

In 2009, Bambu opened his first Capoeira academy, an 1800 square foot storefront, the largest Capoeira academy in Chicago.

Today, Bambu continues to travel and train as much as possible. Anywhere there is an event or roda that he can attend he is there. He is one of the top capoeiristas in the Mid-West United States, due to the intensive training given to him by Mestre Barrão, and he continues to strive to better his teaching, himself, and all students of Grupo Axé Capoeira.