ABOUT LUANDA

At Luanda Capoeira, we train hard to play well. We train hard, not with the goal of overpowering the other capoeira player, but to overcome our own insecurities and achieve another level of understanding of ourselves and of our role in the “roda” of life. Only then can we play capoeira for fun; only then can we celebrate the emotional balance that is offered to us by this complex and fascinating game.  

Racism has left many injustices and scars. Names for dark colors, when spoken with reference to race, give negative impressions about people. There are many common negative expressions using the color black, for example, that many people use without thinking very deeply about the consequences they have on our society and what the perceptions are that other people have when such phrases are used. “Black market,” for example, indicates something illegal. The term “dark spirit” is employed to denote the presence of evil. In Brazil, it is very common to say, “A COISA FICOU PRETA” when things get out of hand and a big problem occurs such as a brawl, a crime or anything that has a negative result. The English equivalent of this phrase is, “things have taken a turn for the worse,” but the direct translation, literally, is “things have turned black.”

Unlike the practice of slavery in the United States, Africans who were taken to Brazil were allowed to bring their drums with them. And in many of the slave quarters there, Africans were allowed to have their parties and celebrations. That small window of tolerance granted by the Portuguese slave masters was enough for the partial preservation of African culture in Brazil.   Rituals such as Candomblé, Capoeira, Samba de Roda, and others, were often practiced in the slavery quarters (senzalas).  

On the days when the Africans were allowed to have their parties or celebrations, they did it in full gear. All was included: drumming, dancing, singing, food, and colorful costumes, and it brought small moments of relief from the pain and suffering of slavery. However, from the eyes of a racist society, these African celebrations were seen as nothing more than an uncontrollable nuisance, and came to be associated with pandemonium or anarchy.

In spite of these negative connotations, it is still a celebration with music, singing, dance and drumming. Therefore, here at Luanda Capoeira, we celebrate the beauty, creativity, and the essence of capoeira as a gift, a legacy of a strong culture that has contributed so much to the fabric of the Brazilian’s ethnicity.  

OUR TEACHING PHILOSOPHY

We at LUANDA CAPOEIRA value respect: respect to other people's religions, ethnicity, social and educational backgrounds.

We are committed to provide the best capoeira education to people from all walks of life: no judgement based on age, race, or physical abilities.

We also believe in healthy bodies, healthy minds: performing enhancing drugs are not part of our capoeira environment.

OUR GRADUATION SYSTEM Raw/Natural Raw&Yellow Yellow Yellow&Oranje Oranje Oranje/Blue Blue Blue/Green Green Green/Purple * Purple (graduated student: 10-12 years of continuous capoeira education; he/she should be able to play Angola games, Benguela games, and Regional games; allowed to play IUNA and assist in class; should know how to play berimbau, pandeiro & atabaque and recognize the main capoeira rhythms) Purple&Brown Brown (instructor) Brown/Red * Red (mestrando or contra-mestre: the student will reach this level after 20 years of continuous capoeira education. He/She should have control of the Portuguese language; understanding of Brazilian culture and history; capoeira history; control and understanding of the instruments; the main capoeira rhythms; understanding of the main capoeira styles and its creators; have visited Brazil and participated in capoeira events at least 5 times. Red/White (Mestre)