Take a course in Capoeira

Product Details

Speak to anyone who has ever been a part of a Capoeira roda and you’ll see their eyes light up… Capoeira is not only a martial art, a dance and an art form steeped in Afro-Brazilian culture. Capoeira is a language, a form of self expression and an avenue which will help you to find a new freedom inside yourself. It’s also the perfect way to get to grips with a deep understanding of Brazilian culture.

If you enjoyed running about as a child, flipping upside down, jumping around and playing games with your friends, you will love Capoeira. The basic moves are simple and with a little practice they are easy to learn. You don’t need to be particularly fit, flexible or have previous martial arts experience to learn Capoeira. Born of oppression and slavery in Brazil, the unique style of Capoeira brings beauty and power together, developing mental balance, physical conditioning, self-defence, music and a profound sense of art. The music dictates the way the game or jogo (jo-go) will be conducted.

Capoeira is a discipline that requires great flexibility, strength, rhythm and physical control based upon the principles of spontaneity, energy, interaction and trickery. Yet capoeira is also about freedom, the freedom to move, to interact, to communicate and to be, without limitations. Capoeira teaches you to about yourself and about life from its own unique perspective. Capoeira is extremely social and you will meet many interesting people through this art.

You will be taught the art of Capoeira for 6 hours per week, split into three lessons normally held in the late afternoons. You will also be given the option of taking part in learning the music of Capoeira. Music lessons will be held for three hours each week. The Music lessons are optional but are included for you as part of your course.

The courses take place in gorgeous Foz do Iguaçu, close to Brazil's borders with Argentina and Paraguay. Foz is also right next to the astounding Iguaçu falls – one of Brazil’s most famous landmarks.

Travellers’ placements are very flexible and can be combined with any other Travellers placement and tailor made to your requirements! While you’re in Brazil, why not combine Capoeira lessons with Portuguese lessons, volunteering at schools, crèches or sports clubs? You can also combine with other courses in surfing, dance or percussion. Learn to samba like a native and let the Brazilian blood flow in your veins! Contact us for more information.

Beginners – YES YOU CAN!

Capoeira is good for everyone. The first time you experience capoeira (probably as an open mouthed passer-by on a sunny afternoon somewhere), it seizes you. Its intoxicating energy, skill and beauty captures your attention and stays in your imagination until the next time. It also strikes as intimidating and something that you yourself could never do. This is not true! If you liked running about as a child, going upside down, jumping around and playing games with your friends, you will love capoeira. The basic moves are simple and with a little practise they are easy to learn. You do not need to be particularly fit, flexible or have any background in martial arts or dance to learn capoeira. All that you need for capoeira, capoeira will teach you. All that you need right now is intrigue and that small voice inside you quietly saying to you... I could do that

Let capoeira change your life. Let it happen in the sunny hedonism of a country beating with the sacred rhythm of the berimbau. Allow the freedom in!

A personal Capoeira Experience : Letitia Hardy

I properly discovered Capoeira 6 months ago, after first seeing a display of it at a festival in outback Australia. From the first time I saw it, I was fascinated with this unique martial art and was compelled to learn more. The moves were extremely impressive, the players so strong, fit and flexible and the music and energy it created, completely captivating.

The players were in a circle, 4 or 5 of them were playing unusual instruments, drums or tambourines and every one was singing passionately in a language I didn’t understand. The rest of the players would take turns in cart-wheeling into the circle in pairs, to play one another, turning and spinning, kicking and ducking and moving in circular flow with one another, occasionally surprising the other with a clever or cheeky move. I later found out that this is the roda (pronounced hoda) and this is where all Capoeirista’s practise and enjoy their art.

The games were non contact and unlike other martial arts, it wasn’t just about defence and attack moves, it was also a beautiful and primal dance. There was a sense of the ancient African tribal alongside the enticing Brazilian samba. All the players had their own distinctive style of movement and some of them looked nothing short of superhero in the complete control and natural ease they had of their bodies.

I didn’t really understand what Capoeira was about then, or even how to pronounce it! I couldn’t imagine that I would ever be able to do the things I saw the players doing, or would even have the confidence, as I’d only ever danced – and not often in the middle of a circle – when drunk! I couldn’t imagine learning the instruments or singing songs in Portuguese. However, the intrigue of Capoeira stayed with me, as I am sure it does with everyone who witnesses it, and my next opportunity into the world of Capoeira came two years later when I saw an advert for Amazona’s Brighton and began to train.

I used to be sporty when I was younger and always loved the buzz of the endorphin release when you exercise, but I had forgotten how good it felt to be fit, healthy and in control of your life. Capoeira is certainly a challenge but I can now do things that I never dreamt I would be able to do. I can walk on my hands and I can throw high spinning kicks without falling over! I can dance freely (without the tequila) and I can sing songs in Portuguese. I can play the drum and am learning the sacred birembau instrument. There is still so much I can’t do, but I know that with training, time and enthusiasm, one day I will be able to. It’s not difficult to keep training because it’s so much fun. Like when you were play fighting or running and jumping around for the pure joy of it, as kids.

More than anything else, the sense of achievement is in the transition from watching in awe on the side lines, to being in the circle. It’s a comparison you can make with life also.

Capoeira keeps people young and there is no age limit. A good friend of mine from the class was 37 when she started, after a big life change and a divorce. Today she is one of the best in the class, looks 27 and has found the strength and happiness from Capoeira to transform her life into the one she wanted. Others start at 17 and by 27 they will be invincible! The people involved in this sport are friendly and welcoming and from many different backgrounds. Capoeira is no longer an elite game, but a philosophy of life that should be shared with all ages, races and genders.

I have been training for 6 months now, twice a week and whenever the sun is shining and there is a park or beach to play on. I know that it has changed my life. My confidence, my ability to deal with stress, my energy levels, my social life and my strength in body and in peace of mind have all increased greatly. My teacher Boneco is from Brazil and to go to Brazil to learn and play Capoeira intensively would be an incredible experience that will have lasting positive effects on any ones life. Anyone reading this who knows Capoeira needs no explanation. Capoeira is Capoeira. For those of you who are like I was, still in the stages of intrigue, trust me, you can be a singing, dancing, superhero also, and Capoeira is just waiting for you – on a beach, in the place where it all began, Brazil. Step off those sidelines and into the circle…