ARTICLE II

Capoeira Communities Throughout the World

 

 

AFRICA

 

Grupo Africa do Capoeira

 

Grupo Africa do Capoeira

 

Les premières manifestations de la capoeira à Gorée remontent à 1998. Avec l'arrivée de PAULO BOA VIDA.

Premier professeur brésilien qui vint au Sénégal pour faire découvrir et enseigner la capoeira.

 

 

BOA VIDA débarque sur l'île de Gorée le 12 avril 1998.

 

 

 

ASIA

 

Escola Brasileira de Capoeira Philippines (EBCP)

 

 

Escola Brasileira de Capoeira Philippines (EBCP)

The Brazilian School of Capoeira was established in the Philippines in April 2003 when, as a result of an invitation by local self-teaching enthusiasts, a qualified instructor was flown into the country.

 

The Brazilian School of Capoeira in the Philippines is currently led by Professor Batata (Andre de Moraes) and Instrutor Fantasma (Alessandro Coqueiro).

 

The Brazilian School of Capoeira is led by Mestre Oscar de Souze Melo Neto.

 

ASIA

 

Capoeira Brasil Osaka

 

Brief history.

 

"GRUPO CAPOEIRA BRASIL" is a descendant of "GROUP SENZALA" and was founded in 1989,

(the date of the 100 years of abolishment commemoration) by the masters Boneco (RJ) Paulinho Sabiá (Niterói - RJ) and Paulão (CE).

 

Throughout the world there are many masters and groups of Capoeira. Many of these groups adhere to their own certain style of training, philosophies and styles.

 

ASIA

 

Associação Grupo Bahia Thailand

 

 

Associação Grupo Bahia Thailand

 

Indonesia (4-6 Feb) and Thailand (29 Jan to 13 Feb)

 

It is with great excitement that we invite all our students to participate in the first ever International Capoeira Festival in Thailand. After overcoming many challenges, Mestre Cicatriz, 4 years ago teaching in Rio de Janeiro had never heard of Australia and the countries that he has now spread Capoeira to- Indonesia, Thailand, Cambodia and Singapore. He now has the pleasure of bringing this special event to his new students with great pride. Batizado literally means “Baptism” and is an initiation rite for new students, a welcome to the family of Capoeira and to our grupo- it is the first time for the students to play in an official Capoeira roda. The event also serves as a thrilling display of the beauty and excitement that is Capoeira. Students will be baptized from all of our academies.

 

 

 

ASIA

 

Assoc. of Capoeira Argola de Ouro

 

 

The first official Association in Singapore

 

 

ASIA

 

Capoeira Zoador

 

 

Capoeira Zoador

 

 

Sucuri

 

In 1999 I had to decide where I was going to begin teaching Capoeira permanently. I had already had experience in teaching and doing workshops in the Philippines and South Korea, but I felt I wanted to start from scratch. As a child I always had a romantic image of Japan. So I packed my bags and headed for Tokyo. Lack of resources and the simple ability to speak the language created many barriers, but like most major cities Tokyo was full of opportunity. So in 1999 I established Capoeira Zoador and began my career in Tokyo.

 

 

 

ASIA

 

Capoeira Turkey

 

 

Capoeira Turkey

 

HAYIRLI OLSUN

Yeni sitemiz www.capoeiraturkiye.com tüm Capoeira ailesine hayýrlý olsun...

BÝR HAYAL GERÇEK OLDU

 

Dünyanýn en büyük 5 Capoeira grubundan biri olan olan Axe Capoeira Grubunun artýk Türkiye'de de bir okulu var.

 

AUSTRALIA

 

BATUKEGECAPOEIRA.COM

 

 

 

Batukege Capoeira AustraliaThe name of the group batukege originates from a mixture of two African tribes that migrated to brazil as slaves. The names of these two tribes were Bantus and Geges. Batuke is the name of an African fighting style that these tribes practiced which then formed the basis of the capoeira fight. The word Batucada meaning a festivity or street party involving music, fun and playing around also has origins from Batuke. A person playing with the group of Batukege, must understand how to play correctly, respectfully and creatively.

 

 

United States

 

CAPOEIRA.COM

 

Welcome to CAPOEIRA.COM, the largest Capoeira community on the internet with over 24000 registered Capoeiristas.

 

This site is dedicated to all Capoeiristas around the world who seek a vast resource of information and an extensive online community. Much work has gone into making this site Capoeirista-oriented and there still remains more work to be done.

 

Whether you practice Angola, Regional, both or neither, all are welcome here and we hope you enjoy this site and take advantage of its resources.

 

 

United States

 

The Beehive @ the Agbolé Yorùbá School (California)

 

 

The Beehive @ the Agbolé Yorùbá School (California)

 

Capoeira is, perhaps the ultimate intersection of artistic expression. Part dance, part music, part martial art and part acrobatics, and layered with deep African tradition, Capoeira epitomizes the complexity of African creative genius. It is neither fought nor danced. Capoeira is played. Furthermore, one of the key elements of Capoeira is expressed in the Portuguese term malandragem (trickery, deception, cleverness, wisdom and all other qualities of a hungry fox) . Through Capoeira, even the Beehive's most explosive students find sanctuary.

 

 

In Yorùbá tradition, the Agbolé represents the society's economic, cultural and political nucleus. Each family's name, history traditional profession, and identity spring forth from its Agbolé (family compound). In this way, it is the ancestral home, through which each lineage traces its descent from antiquity into the present.

 

 

United States

 

Capoeira Austin

 

 

WELCOME ! to Capoeira Austin, Tx, USA

 

Culturally and historically rich as the self-defense of Afro- Brazilian Slaves, classes in Capoeira Regional teach self-defense, increase flexibility and coordinate the body and mind. Extend past your current physical and mental limits and discover the challenges of Capoeira Regional

 

 

United States

 

 

Abada-Capoeira

 

It is only recently that a new generation of capoeiristas sought to combine Capoeira Regional and Capoeira Angola to develop a new style which embraces the modernizing innovations of the legendary Mestre Bimba without losing sight of the guiding principles and values which are embedded in the history and philosophy of the art. Standing at the forefront of this contemporary movement is Abada Capoeira.

 

The main focus of the Abada-Capoeira philosophy is to be found in both Mestre Bimba's Capoeira Regional style and the lessons of Capoeira Angola. It is at this junction where the evolution of capoeira lies, and where its future is discovered hidden in its past.

 

 

United States

 

Capoeira of San Jose

 

 

Capoeira of San Jose

 

OUR PHILOSOPHY

 

If you don't know it yet, there are many capoeiras inside capoeira. And I'm not talking about styles (Angola - Regional). This is about something much more personal, that you can feel at the very moment when you walk into any capoeira school, studio, academy, association, group or whatever you want to call it. They all carry some energy and they are all very different.

 

What generates these differences relies on the mestre, his associations, information, connections and beliefs. Some capoeiras are competitive, some more aggressive, some more traditional, some more technical and so on. Differences that I personally treasure, because it makes each capoeira group interesting and unique. There are "no better" or "worse" groups. In the capoeira world, there isn't any group that is so big that has nothing to learn or so small that has nothing to teach. Every group (school, academy etc.) has, I know, dedication, pride, and love for the same thing, capoeira. Because of that, independently of styles, psychology, size or history, they all have my deepest respect. All people and future students have different necessities. Finding the group that suits your necessities is, in my opinion, the key that will open the doors to capoeira for you, not for a short experience but for a long time.

 

Capoeira is a highly active art and will provide a high quality workout but each individual is unique in their physical, mental and physiological ability. Therefore we don't expect and we don't encourage equal performances, only the best an individual can offer at the present time.

 

Capoeira of San Jose doesn't believe in violence. All the incredible power of capoeira must be channeled in order to make us better people, balanced physically and emotionally. In capoeira you don't do things alone, be prepared to meet people of all ages beliefs and races. Mestre Vaguinho (Wagner Bueno) always says, "If you are not having fun, you are not really doing capoeira".

 

 

United States

 

OMULU CAPOEIRA GROUP - San Francisco

 

 

OMULU CAPOEIRA GROUP

 

The Omulu Capoeira Group was founded in San Francisco by world-renowned Capoeira Master Wandenkolk Oliveira (Mestre Preguiça) in 1986. Omulu Capoeira Group is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting and educating about the art of capoeira, and using capoeira as a tool to empower young people.

 

United States

 

Capoeira Angola Centre of Mestre Joao Grande

 

 

Capoeira Angola Center of Mestre Joao GrandeMestre João Grande teaches in the African style, as a way of life, as his teacher Mestre Pastinha did before him. He often uses metaphors relating to nature.

 

 

 

Entering Mestre João Grande's Academy, you can feel the energy of Capoeira Angola. The room is filled with berimbaus, the primary musical instrument of capoeira. Galleries of rare photos of Capoeira Angola's storied past, as well as photos from Mestre's travels around the globe, cover the walls. Mestre has a great appreciation for African culture, both from Africa itself and as it manifests in Brazil. Beautiful African sculptures, textiles and innumerable mementos from Bahia decorate the academy.

 

United States

 

Capoeira ARTS - Berkeley

 

Capoeira Arts BERKELEY, CA: is a "colorful multi-purpose global village where you can sip a cappucino to the rhythmic beat of a berimbau. Most of the time you can watch a Capoeira class practicing sweeps, high kicks and handstands. You can consume your meal to the mesmerizing background of the musical instruments and chanting."

 

Our cafe was generously reviewed as, "the winner for the most interesting and innovative." Our patrons have remarked on it as being homey and inviting, cool and cultural with great ambience.

 

Our cafe is a project of the United Capoeira Association with the world reknowned Masters, Mestre Acordeon and Mestre Rã presiding.

 

 

United States

 

Capoeirista.com - San Diego

 

 

Capoeirista.com is a non-profit affiliated capoeira website from San Diego.

 

A capoeirista is someone who practices capoeira; capoeirista.com is a resource for people who are interested in capoeira, whether students, teachers or just the curious.

 

Our goal is to provide tools for capoeiristas and a central location to find capoeira on the internet. From free school listings to an event calendar, to translated music and a capoeira glossary - we hope to increase the popularity and availability of capoeira world-wide and act as a bridge between different cultures.

 

 

United States

 

Capuraginga

 

Capuraginga

 

 

Mestre Loka "My Capoeira group has existed since 1982. At the beginning the group had the name Capoeira Esporte e Cultura Brasileira. It was a huge name and hard for people to memorize it. I changed the name to Capuraginga. Capuraginga is easy to remember, and it is such a strong name and that reminds us of our roots. Capuraginga Group has its own methodology of teaching. It has more Capuraginga, which means Pure Capoeira with plenty of movements. " Mestre Loka Interview

 

United States

 

Princeton Capoeira

 

Princeton Capoeira

 

 

Who are we? Our group started here at Princeton University in the Spring of 2002. Our group here is part of group Senzala and we train under the supervision of Mestre Ramos of Centro Cultural Senzala de Capoeira Rio de Janeiro Brazil.

 

United States

 

Capoeira Brasil Florida

 

 

Grupo Capoeira Brasil

 

Mestre Jelon Vieira!

Mestre Jelon Vieira is the founder and Artistic Director of The Capoeira Foundation and Dance Brazil and credited as the first artist to bring Capoeira to the United States. He has devoted himself to sharing Afro-Brasilian culture with American audiences since 1977 when, together with Loremil Machado, he formed The Capoeiras of Bahia. That same year, Alvin Ailey suggested that he change the name of his company to DanceBrazil. Mestre Jelon took his advice and has guided the company through breathtaking performances of Capoeira and Afro-Brasilian dance before audiences in Europe, Asia, Brasil, and the USA.

 

United States

 

Capoeira Malandragem

 

 

Capoeira Malandragem.

 

 

Founded by Professor Dondi "Enxu", Under the direction of world renowned Mestre Acordoen, Mestre Rá and Mestre Suelli. Capoeira Malandragem is dedicated to the advancement of capoeira here in Arizona and the United States. Our academy performs throughout Arizona and numerous parts of the United States in an effort to reach disadvantaged youth providing them with the means to enrich their own lives thru capoeira. Capoeira Malandragem has established a kid program and currently developing a solid school programs for youth participation.

 

United States

 

Capoeira Mandinga

 

Capoeira Mandinga

 

 

Capoeira Mandinga has existed since 1984, when Mestre Marcelo Caveirinha was the third person to arrive in the California Bay Area and began teaching classes. Mestre Marcelo Caveirinha started it under the name of Senzala Grande (The name was changed in 1995). Capoeira Mandinga also has a life as a nonprofit organization called the Capoeira Institute. The group is affiliated with many other schools and performing groups around the country and around the world.

 

United States

 

International Capoeira Angola Foundation - Washington

 

 

United States

 

Capoeira Pegadas - Albuquerque

 

 

Capoeira Pegadas was founded in 2001 by Professor Maluco, who has been studying and playing capoeira for 10 years. He received his first instruction under Mestre Rony, who now runs the Volta Ao Mundo Capoeira Academy in Sarasota, Florida and Contra-Mestre Amunka, who heads Capoeira Yokayo in Ukiah, California. Later, Maluco studied at Mestre Acordeon's (Bira Almeida) Academy in Berkeley, California. Mestre Acordeon was a leading pupil of the legendary Mestre Bimba, the founding father of Capoeira Regional, and now heads the United Capoeira Association. Maluco has been teaching on and off for the past 7 years and in July of 2002, earned his long due Professor title.

 

United States

 

Grupo Capoeira Brasil

 

 

Grupo Capoeira Brasil

 

 

Mestre Boneco, co-founder of Grupo Capoeira Brasil, is dedicated to perpetuating the rich cultural art and tradition of Capoeira. We practice a variation of Capoeira titled Capoeira Regional Contemporanea. Our style, derived from the movements and sequences defined by Mestre Bimba, reflect the evolutions and influences of the Mestres of Capoeira Brasil. We strive to maintain the integrity of the art, as well as support its evolution.

 

 

United States

 

Grupo Ondas – BCV Capoeira

 

 

Grupo Ondas – BCV Capoeira

 

 

We are Capoeiristas who teach both Brazilian and Cape Verdean cultures. Our main and ultimate goals are to: help bridge the gap between the Brazilian and Cape Verdean cultures through Capoeira and use the art to teach

 

New Wave Christian Values (the 10 principles), for they are values that we should all share in order to grow as better people, which will also reflect in our game and our being. Another goal of our group is to gain the reputation of positive, respectful, humble, open, non-discriminating Capoeiristas who are committed to the development, education, and integration of the two cultures.

 

Capoeira Quilombo do Queimado

 

 

Capoeira Quilombo do Queimado

 

Contra Mestre Lua Branca.

 

Waldecir de Souza was Born and raised in Ipatinga Minas Gerais, southeast of Brazil . He developed an interest in Capoeira at age of six. Student and member of the group Quilombo do Queimado, he studied for many years in his home town.

 

In 1994 he moved to Vitoria (Espirito Santo) to train and improve his technique and understanding of this unique Afro Brazilian martial art. Beyond his training duties, he participated in various Capoeira rodas and Batizados throughout many cities of Brazil . In 1995 he obtained his professor cord and began teaching .In 1997 he was invited to participate in an international Capoeira encounter in Vancouver , BC Canada . After the event, Lua decided to stay and immigrate. In 1998 Lua began to perform with numerous Afro Brazilian Dance Companies throughout the U.S.A, Canada , Asia and Mexico . He has been teaching classes, workshops and attending batizados all over the world since 1997. In 2000 with his expertise and leadership he was awarded his contra mestre's cord. Today as a leader of Capoeira Group Quilombo do Queimado, Contra Mestre Lua is responsible for classes in Vancouver , B.C. and Toronto, Ontario .

 

Canada

 

Cordao de Contas Toronto

 

 

All Canadian Martial Arts is host to a Capoeira Group led by Paul Bielak, aka LoboGuara. LoboGuara is a Capoeira instructor under the tutelage of a small, well-respected association based in Rio de Janeiro, Cordao de Contas, lead by Mestre Decio.

 

“Each group has their own flavour, or focus. So far, my focus has been my few dedicated students, and the martial arts school I have belonged to for the last 15 years. The reality of Capoeira's application as a martial art is the most important aspect of training to me. The reason our group is small is because I believe in personal instruction offered to each beginner. It is important to nurture each person's growth in order to prevent bad habits from forming. I could not do this in a class of 50, no matter how good of a teacher I was. I will expand our group when my first students surpass my level and are able to help teach.” Instructor LoboGuara, (Paul Bielak)

 

• Please see LoboGuara's commentary on the featured Capoeira article:

 

The Master & the Capoeirista: “a wild old soul to guide me” by lyw

 

Canada

 

Aché Brasil

 

 

About Aché Brasil

(music and dance performance group)

 

Founded in 1990 by Mestre Eclilson de Jesus, Aché Brasil is a performance group that fuses music, dance, Capoeira (martial arts and acrobatics) into a dynamic, colourful, high energy performance.

 

Canada

 

Axe Capoeira - Toronto & Vancouver

 

 

Axe Capoeira

 

 

GRUPO AXÉ CAPOEIRA

 

Grupo Axé Capoeira began in Recife in 1982. Today, as Canada's first academy of Capoeira, the Grupo continues to rise as one of the world's leading Capoeira organizations. Backed by worldwide releases of four albums of music on CD, the video release of the 2000 International Encounter and the Performance video for the release of the Axé Capoeira Volume IV CD, enrollment continues to steadily increase with over 8000 students from all over the world. The Grupo continues to travel around the world and participate in competitions and has participated in the 2001 International Capoeira Competition in Argentina. Furthermore, Grupo Axé Capoeira is renowned as a traveling group which promotes the history, music, art, and culture of Brazil in interactive and educational demonstrations.

 

 

 

Canada

 

Muiraquitã Capoeira

 

Muiraquitã Capoeira is a group that promotes individual involvement and growth based on respect for your Mestre, instructors and fellow capoeiristas. Capoeira is a reflection of the world and society around us, it is a collectives' social reconstruction and experience. Each capoeirista contributes to this reconstruction with his/her own baggage of knowledge and skills. These are reflected in a personal and unique approach to the game, the music, the inter-relation with others and life in general. Meet some of the members of Muiraquitã Capoeira.

 

 

Beribazu Capoeira Cafe

 

Welcome to the Beribazu Capoeira Cafe!

 

 

This site is dedicated to the art, photography, music and media of Capoeira. It is affiliated to the Grupo de Capoeira Beribazu, however, our growing list of members includes capoeiristas from many schools and many countries. Capoeiristas anywhere are welcome to share capoeira related photos, video clips, music, training tips, or information about upcoming capoeira events worldwide.

 

 

UK & Europe

 

Capoeira4All

 

 

Capoeira4All: an interactive site with a lot of information about capoeira, history, mestres (1200+), groups (300+), lyrics and songs, movies, photos, links (700+) and much more.

 

 

 

 

UK & Europe

 

Capoeira Ginga Nago

 

 

capoeira ginga nago

 

France, Brazil, Guinea

 

Branco (Januy Santos Reis), découvre à 12 ans la Capoeira à l'Académie de Mestre Maravilha et le Contra-mestre Luciano, située dans le quartier populaire aux maisons sur pilotis (Alagados) de Sao João, en bas de celui de Plataforma, à Salvador de Bahia au Brésil. Il y côtoie des capoeiristes comme Adeleso, Joao (frère de Luciano), Luciano, Caverinha, qui se retrouvent aux rodas de rue du largo Sao Francisco, quartier Plataforma. La capoeira est omniprésente dans son quartier, jusqu'à la la maison voisine de celle de sa famille, où habite un Capoeiriste, nommé Bigode de Arame…

 

 

 

UK & Europe

 

ÁFRICA BANTU - Copenhagen

 

 

ÁFRICA BANTU:

 

MESTRE BRAGA RIO DE JANEIRO

 

África Bantu is the everyday name for Grupo/Escola Capoeira Angola África Bantu -Núcleo Århus, which you can translate into Group/School Capoeira Angola Africa Bantu - the Århus unit.

 

The name refers to the Bantus, a people that mainly come from Angola, from where many Africans were shipped to Brazil during the era of slave trade. Capoeira Angola is, as the name indicates, the heritage of these slaves.

 

UK & Europe

 

the Capoeira Connection

 

UK & Europe

 

CAPOEIRA HOLLAND

 

 

 

CAPOEIRA HOLLAND

 

UK & Europe

 

Capoeira Uniao

 

 

 

Back to homeWelcome to Capoeira Uniao

 

 

You've arrived at the home site for the Capoeira Uniao group, based in London, Luton, Croydon, England UK. In addition to details about the group and its classes, you'll find plenty of general background information. You can return here at any time by clicking the group logo in the top left of the page.

 

UK & Europe

 

Abada Capoeira Frankfurt

 

 

Bem Vindo,

 

Dies ist die Webseite von Abadá Capoeira Frankfurt am Main / Wiesbaden unter Leitung von Graduado Arisco und Graduado Pitbull.

 

Mit dieser Seite möchten Wir Euch Informationen über die brasilianische Kampfkunst Capoeira und die Trainingsmöglichkeiten bei unserer Gruppe geben.

 

Informationen zu unserer Gruppe, Trainingsorten und Zeiten findet Ihr unter dem Menüpunkt "Training". Im Bereich "Media" habt Ihr die Möglichkeit Euch einige Fotos und Videos unserer Gruppe anzuschauen. Und unter "News" findet ihr Aktuelles zu Veranstaltungen, Training und Änderungen auf dieser Webseite.

 

UK & Europe

 

Capoeira Forca Natural

 

 

Capoeira Forca Natural

 

 

Capoeira Forca Natural gives classes in Helsinki, Tampere, Lahti, Lappeenranta and Jyväskylä. The quality of Capoeira is supervised by our Brazilian Capoeira professionals, Contra-Mestre Glaucio Neves and Professor Erick Mesquita, who both live here in Finland. The whole group has about 300 students annually.

 

UK & Europe

 

Capoeuropa Nzinga

 

 

NZINGA

 

Paulo Siqueira kam 1980 nach Deutschland um Capoeira zu unterrichten.

Als Pionier mit holperigen Sprachkenntnissen war es schwierig, einer breiten Masse begreiflich zu machen was Capoeira eigentlich ist und so anhaltende Begeisterung dafür zu wecken.

Dank treuer Unterstützung vieler Schüler, die seit Jahren mit ihm trainieren und viel Arbeit und Geduld seinerseits ist die ESCOLA DE CAPOEIRA NZINGA heute in

Hannover, Hamburg, Kiel, Hildesheim und Celle vertreten.

 

 

 

 

UK & Europe

 

Agogô - the Netherlands

 

 

 

Agogô is a printed capoeira quarterly. Agogô is initiative of capoeiristas from different capoeira schools in the Netherlands. Agogô is an independent source of information for all capoeiristas.

 

UK & Europe

 

Capoeira Capital

 

 

Capoeira Capital is a non-profit organization founded with the aim of making Capoeira and Brazilian culture known in Finland.

 

The activity began in 1989 when Claudio Lemos was invited to hold Capoeira courses. Training continued under the lead of Anita Valkeemäki and in 1995 the group established the Association Capoeira Capital.

 

UK & Europe

 

Jacobina Arte

 

Καλωσορίσατε στη Jacobina Arte!

 

Η capoeira είναι μια Βραζιλιάνικη πολεμική τέχνη με περισσότερα απο 400 χρόνια ιστορίας. Τα τελευταία χρόνια, έχει "ξεπεράσει" τα σύνορα της Βραζιλίας και γίνεται ολοένα και πιο γνωστή, ενώ ακαδημίες capoeira υπάρχουν σχεδόν σε κάθε χώρα.

 

Jacobina Arte είναι το group του Mestre Pitbull, που μετά την Βραζιλία και με "έδρα" την Θεσσαλονίκη, έχει μαθητές και παραρτήματα σε αρκετές χώρες όπως Γαλλία, Γερμανία, και προφανώς.. Ελλάδα!.

 

 

UK & Europe

 

Grupo Candeias

 

 

IRELAND

 

About Grupo Candeias

 

Grupo Candeias, from Brazil, is one of the world's biggest Capoeira organizations, with over 10,000 students and schools in Brazil, Argentina, Peru, USA, Spain, France and Ireland.

In Grupo Candeias we practise and teach many types of Capoeira, songs & musical instruments of Capoeira, Maculele (a dance with sticks or machetes), and traditional Brazilian dances such as Samba and Danca Guerreira (Warrior's Dance).

 

 

UK & Europe

 

GroupSenzala.co.uk

 

GroupSenzala.co.uk - the Official website for the Capoeira Senzala clubs in the North-East of England. We have been running since 1994 under the guidance of Mestre Gato, one of the founding members of the Grupo Senzala organisation - one of the biggest and well respected groups in Brasil.

 

Based in Peterlee, County Durham but with clubs in Newcastle Upon Tyne and Durham City we have an international base in that many Mestres have attended our workshops and Batizados - Mestres Gato, Peixinho, Ramos, Itamar, Gil Velho and Suassuna to name but a few as well as many Contra-Mestres, Professors and Instructors from the UK, Europe and Brasil.

 

 

 

 

UK & Europe

 

Capoeira.de

 

 

Die Companhia Pernas pro Ar ist eine gemeinnützige Institution, die mit Hilfe der Unterstützung von Förderern und anderen Hilfsorganisationen das Capoeiraprojekt für Straßenkinder in Pedro Leopoldo aufrecht erhält. Es arbeiten heute 4 Capoeiralehrer mit 80 Kindern, in Kooperation mit der Stadtverwaltung und deren Projeto Curumim (Sozialprojekt für Kinder, daß es in allen größeren Städten Brasiliens gibt).

Jeweils vormittags und nachmittags unterrichten 2 Lehrer 40 Kinder. Geplant ist, in der Zukunft über die Capoeira hinaus auch mit Musikern und Handwerkern zusammen zu arbeiten.

 

Der Name des Projektes Pernas pro Ar entstand aus der Not heraus ; Normalerweise sind Capoeirista immer mit einer Abadá oder einer langen Hose bekleidet, aber da wir mit Straßenkindern arbeiten und die in der Regel Shorts tragen, fiel die Wahl des Namens leicht.

Übersetzt heißt Pernas pro Ar Beine in die Luft.

 

SOUTH AMERICA

 

TERRA FIRME CAPOEIRA GROUP

 

 

TERRA FIRME CAPOEIRA GROUP

FOUNDED IN SEPTEMBER 16TH, 1993

PRESIDENT MASTER HULK

 

 

Terra Firme, in english, means Firm Earth and nowadays is one of the most important group of capoeira in Rio de Janeiro and also exist in others states of Brazil.

Our Graduations :

 

Our group is part of the Rio de Janeiro capoeira federation and our graduation uses the colors of the Brazilian flag.

 

 

SOUTH AMERICA

 

Centro de Cultura da Capoeira Tradicional Bahiana

 

 

Centro de Cultura da Capoeira Tradicional Bahiana

 

Este Centro tem a finalidade principal de manter a tradição da capoeira angola, ensinada por mestre Pastinha e transmitida pelo mestre Bola Sete e de também formar novos capoeiristas com os mesmos objetivos.

 

A capoeira angola não só se limita apenas à prática da arte marcial, ela tem uma filosofia própria e pessoal, ela tem seus instrumentos que comandam o ritmo e o tipo de jogo, tem seus cantos tradicionais e atuais que fazem a energia vibrar na roda em que é formada para duas pessoas exercitarem, experimentarem e conhecerem cada vez mais a capoeira angola.

 

(Eulálio Cohim, aluno Cruzeiro de Mestre Bola Sete)

 

SOUTH AMERICA

 

Capoeira Valencia

 

IÚNA

 

Mandinga, toque de viola (guitarra de 10 cuerdas), cántiga de Capoeira, toque de berimbau, juego del estilo Regional, Celebración de una muerte. Como podemos ver el ave símbolo de la Capoeira esta envuelta en una diversidad de temas, empezando por la mitología que caracteriza las “Anhumas” como pájaro misterioso de difícil captura, siendo también consideradas vigilantes de la selva. Otros la clasifican como diabólica debido a su “Éspicula Córnea”, una especie de cuerno que lleva en el alto de su cabeza, muchos creen que ella se bendice al beber agua por realizar unos movimientos diferentes de las otras especies de pájaros en ese momento.

Según los violeiros el ritmo que lleva el mismo nombre, es la mayor prueba para verificar la habilidad de un buen tocador de viola, se dice que quien es bueno con la viola sabe ejecutar el toque de Iúna. Frente a los cantadores de nuestra arte-lucha, el Mestre Bimba hace una interpretación en una de sus “quadras”, hablando de la magia de pájaro.

 

 

“Iúna é mandigueira

Quando tá no bebedô

Foi sabida foi ligeira

Mas o Capoeira matô”

 

 

SOUTH AMERICA

 

Lagoa Azul Capoeira

 

 

 

A história da Associação Lagoa Azul Capoeira se confunde com a própria vida de João José da Silva, o Mestre João do Pulo. João começou a jogar capoeira em 1971 no Grupo Senzala, com o Mestre Camisa.

 

No auge da sua carreira ficou conhecido por seus incríveis saltos e assim acabou recebendo o apelido de João do Pulo.

 

Quando Mestre Camisa deixou o grupo Senzala para criar seu próprio grupo, João passou a treinar com Mestre Caio, também da Senzala. Nesta época, numa apresentação solo do grupo João cai e se machuca gravemente, ficando impossibilitado de jogar capoeira por alguns anos. Muitos acreditaram que sua carreira na luta estava encerrada.

 

 

SOUTH AMERICA

 

Asociación Argentina de Capoeira

 

 

Asociación Argentina de Capoeira

 

En 1995 se fundó la Asociación Argentina de Capoeira, Sociedad Civil sin fines de lucro, miembro del Grupo de Capoeira Topazio Internacional, de San Salvador de Bahía, Brasil. Hasta 1998 funcionó en el Barrio de Palermo (en la calle Serrano).

 

Actualmente en la Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina, Barrio de Villa Crespo, a 20 min. del Obelisco, se encuentran a su disposición las amplias instalaciones de nuestra sede social.La institución esta equipada con un completo gimnasio para el entrenamiento y práctica deportiva de la capoeira (y otros deportes de combate), contando con un amplio salón de entrenamientos, provisto de un tatami (colchoneta) desmontable que abarca mas de 6 x 11 mts., protectores acolchados, bolsas y guantes de box, sogas, etc. Asi como un completo gimnasio de maquinas para el complemento físico, y el desarrollo muscular.

 

 

 

ARTICLE I

 

Capoeira At The Other End of the World

Posted in: Volta ao Mundo | Date: July 10th, 2003

 

 

 

BY YUKO MIKI - It's been over a century since the first Japanese immigrants arrived in Brazil to found what is now the world?s largest overseas Japanese community. Perhaps it was inevitable that the exchange of cultures that began then would eventually include the Afro-Brazilian art of Capoeira, given Japan's own rich tradition of martial and performing arts. Capoeira Regional may have been the introduction, but today an increasing number of Japanese capoeiristas are choosing to practice the form closer to its roots.

 

The tremendous growth of Capoeira Angola in Japan in recent years was reaffirmed and bolstered by the first-ever visit of Mestre Cobra Mansa, President and Founder of the International Capoeira Angola Foundation (ICAF), in June 2003. Inviting Mestre Cobra Mansa was the Capoeira Angola Open Study Group, founded in the spring of 2002 in Tokyo, and co-headed by Kenji Shimada and Rahiem Burrell. Capoeiristas from all over Japan gathered in Tokyo over two weekends, attesting to the unity of the Japanese Capoeira community that made this event a great success.

 

 

Capoeira Angola has been enjoying a steady following in Japan for nearly seven years. The fledgling groups consisted of about five members in Tokyo, and five in Yokohama. Like many capoeiristas around the world, a majority of the earliest students first encountered the art as dancers and were not aware of its different styles. Some stumbled upon it while visiting New York and hearing about Mestre Joao Grande's academy. Whatever the introduction, the irresistible attraction of Capoeira Angola inspired many of these students to cross the ocean for months at a time to the United States and Brazil and study directly under the great masters, despite formidable linguistic and cultural barriers. Upon returning to Japan, some founded branches of their masters' schools. These include Mestre Joao Grande's Capoeira Angola Center in Yokohama, headed by Ichi Yokote, and Mestre Moraes' Grupo de Capoeira Angola Pelourinho, headed by Kenji Shibata. Through community outreach projects, special events, and active promotion, not to mention their genuine love for capoeira angola, the students have actively sought to increase awareness and membership over the years.

 

It was such a foundation, built by the Japanese angoleiros years of dedication, that enabled the angoleiro community to fulfill its long-standing wish to have their mestres visit Japan. In the Fall of 2001, Mestres Joao Grande and Moraes came for what was to a hugely successful, national tour of Japan. Their visit was followed in the Spring of 2002 by ICAF's Mestre Jurandir. Needless to say, the presence of the mestres in Japan contributed immensely to the growth of Capoeira Angola, attracting many new students in the process.

 

Students gathered from as far as Nagoya, Kyoto, Osaka, and Nagasaki, way out in Western Japan, for the opportunity to train and enjoy a game with one of Capoeira Angola's most renowned mestres. Gasps and cheers erupted as Mestre unleashed his mandinga in the roda. The packed events became an unforgettable experience for all the participants, whether they be older or newer students. "Each one of mestre's words were profound, and taught me many important lessons", said Ayaka, who has been training for a little over a year. "I was truly inspired to train harder and enjoy capoeira from the bottom of my heart." Another younger student, Masae, said she was impressed by Cobra Mansa's genuine love for and enjoyment of capoeira and would love to become a capoeirista like him. Mestre's visit provided encouragement to the older students as well. Kenji Shimada, co-head of the group that invited Mestre and a teacher of capoeira angola, remarked, "Cobra Mansa, my mestre, has been a very important person in my process of training capoeira, so inviting him to Japan was a big goal for me. I am very happy to have accomplished that, and that the event was successful, because everybody came together to make it happen. But things weren't always easy. I had a complex about being a Japanese person (a foreigner) practicing a Brazilian art. But Mestre gave me a lot of positive energy to keep it up. It may take time, but I would like to have capoeira angola grow here in Japan."

 

Perhaps surprisingly for someone who is constantly traveling around the globe, this was Mestre Cobra Mansa's first time in Asia. After a full ten days of workshops and rodas in a country thirteen hours ahead of his usual time zone, he graciously shared his thoughts on his visit to Japan. Although the interview focused on Japanese students , his words could reverberate with many capoeiristas around the world.

 

Yuko Miki: Mestre, thank you very much for everything. Could you share some of your overall impressions of your time here?

 

Mestre Cobra Mansa: It was very nice, my first time here. I was glad to see so many people with passion and an interest to learn come together and enjoy themselves. It makes me happy, and tells me I am going in the right way. I was especially glad to see people from so far away, traveling for nearly six hours just for one workshop. It makes me proud and happy to see people sacrifice so much to learn something. It?s very positive. But I also enjoyed my day off in the mountain hot springs - I haven?t had a day to relax for a long time in my life now!

 

Yuko Miki: We Japanese come from a very different background than Brazilians; i.e., we do not have African traditions. Do you think that gives unique qualities to the capoeira here, or do you believe capoeira has a unifying spirit anywhere one goes?

 

Mestre Cobra Mansa: When you go outside of Brazil, you find people trying to understand what capoeira is. But since it is different from their everyday life, some of them try to incorporate elements of capoeira and Brazil into their lives. It's interesting to see a roda here look just like a roda in Bahia, with the same sort of climate, laughter, and mandinga. However, when you get down to the daily lifestyle, there is a slight difference because of the environment and the way people live in Brazil. The good thing about people who have been there is that they bring that energy back to Japan, which makes a positive impact on everybody. I always tell everyone that - a capoeirista outside of Brazil should go to Salvador before he or she dies, or at least before he or she stops capoeira. It's like a Mecca! Most of the time, you think you're learning, but what a lot of what your mestre and other people tell you doesn?t make a lot of sense until you go down there and enter the environment. Then you get it, because the whole environment tells you how to do things.

 

 

Yuko Miki: There are a lot of new capoeiristas in Japan now. Should they all try and go?

 

Mestre Cobra Mansa: Yes, it is essential for you in order to better understand capoeira. It?s the same thing for a person studying karate or jujitsu - they should come to Japan, meet the mestres, and know the environment. It?s about your understanding. Perhaps you won?t become a better capoeirista, but you will have a better understanding of capoeira, because the tradition is right there, and when you go to the source, you understand what it is. Simple things will start to make sense to you.

 

Yuko Miki: Many of the older students who started Capoeira Angola have trained in Brazil. Do you think that has been important to the growth of Angola here?

 

Mestre Cobra Mansa: Yes! Because they bring the kind of energy that they see and feel in Brazil over here. And those who haven?t been to Brazil yet can have an understanding of what it is. Otherwise, it becomes an imitation. You cannot just imitate! You must reproduce it with your own feeling.

 

For instance, take somebody from here, an older student. If they go to Brazil now and start to play, and don't speak, people won't be able to tell the difference because their spirit makes them look like anybody over there. The big difference is that any student in Brazil has the opportunity to have more experience to play with different people than students here. That makes a BIG difference in malicia and malandragem, because those are gained when you have different kind of experiences with different people. In Salvador, it?s possible to go to four rodas in one day, and in each one you will find at least four to five different groups. That's a lot of experience! You can have the opportunity to play with almost a dozen people in one day, not just from your group, but from many different groups.

 

Yuko Miki: Do you have any specific hopes and dreams about capoeira in Japan in particular, on in general?

 

Mestre Cobra Mansa: People don't need to worry about what group they belong to, but just about being here in Japan, and that you must all get together and practice independently of your affiliations and grow together.

 

Yuko Miki: I think this kind of event was beautiful and powerful because all these different groups came together and made it happen.

 

Mestre Cobra Mansa: I feel happy about that, because it means people are starting to understand, and it is good to feel all this positive energy. And I feel happy that it was me who could help to do that!

 

 

Like any great master, Mestre Cobra Mansa gave the students here the dual gifts of inspiration and challenges. "Mestre was profoundly influential in the direction capoeira angola will take in Japan from now on", said Kenji, head of GCAP Japao. "Seeing him move, I realized there was a LOT of catching up to do. I do not want to be accused of lagging behind because we are far away from our masters. We cannot be easy on ourselves."

 

Rahiem, co-head of CASG and a student of Mestre Jurandir who began training in Seattle before moving to Japan, expressed his optimism that "these type of events will hopefully bring our community closer together. The dedication here is amazing. With the right direction from mestres like Mestre Cobra Mansa, Capoeira Angola will be very strong here." He was especially struck by the fact that "we all received a lot of energy from Mestre Cobra Mansa, but a lot of Japanese capoeiristas also gave a lot of energy. We gave as much as we received, and that was really good."

 

Perhaps Satoko, an angoleira from Yokohama, said it best: "Mestre's visit was a great thing for everybody. But it all depends on what we are going to do from now on. Capoeira is to keep it up. So I will keep it up!"