Mestre Panao (Robson Alexandre Pedro) started playing Capoeira in 1982, when he was just 13 years old. He began training with Professor To, who was a student of Mestre Paulo Carioca, at the "Netos de Amaralina" Academy, in the Jakarta neighborhood in the city of Sao Paulo.

In early 1984, Mestre Panao went to train with Mestre Rizadinha (graduated by Mestre Suassuna), who graduated him to the level of Contra-Mestre, and to whom he credits his basic knowledge of Capoeira. During this time, he also acquired some knowledge of Capoeira Angola through Mestre Gato Preto (Berimbau de Ouro da Bahia), at his mestre's academy.