Capoeira Resistencia
Capoeira Resistência is founded on the principles to share the art of Capoeira with the community. We believe that capoeria is about making friends and stimulating personal development. Our philosophy is to care about the well being of others resulting in close friendships, and a strong community.
More than producing great capoeiristas, we believe that the values of capoeria are to practice mutual respect, playfulness, and control over the body and mind, and enable our students to achieve and excel in all of their goals. Capoeira taught at our academy enables physical, social, and mental empowerment by offering a learning environment where people of all ages and origins can come together to be creative and challenge themselves. With practice of movement, balance, rhythm, and dance as well as culture, history, language and music, Capoeira Resistência advocates principles of respect, responsibility, security, and liberty within individuals.
Through Brazil’s rich cultural traditions, philosophy, and practice of capoeira, we will not only engage the body, but empower each individual and their community to reach their full potential with ambition and purpose.
Contra Mestre Molejo
Diogo Rodrigues da Costa Oliveira (Contra Mestre Molejo), began practicing Capoeira at age 14 in the Group of Capoeira Resistência with Mestre Panão, and today he has more than 10 years of experience. During this period, he worked in academies, businesses, schools, clubs and was invited to participate on television programs, concerts and various events.
In 2004 he joined the Physical Education course in order to increase knowledge, combining the theories of physical education to the basics of Capoeira improving the content of their classes. In 2005 he began working with deaf people in Project Life (Derdic – PUC). In 2007 he was invited by Professor Denise Serio to go to the University Gama Filho in the postgraduate course in adapted physical education to speak about their experiences with deaf people and share his work with the adapted physical education students that helped to develop Project Life.
Mestre Panão
Mestre Panão (Robson Alexandre Pedro) started training 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 Jacana neighborhood in the city of Saõ Paulo. In early 1984, Mestre Panão 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. In 1992, Mestre Panão started “Grupo de Capoeira Resistência”. With a lot of hard work and dedication, he was able to stand out in the capoeira community of Sao Paulo by demonstrating that his students have the ability to truly play capoeira, not just to fight and use brute force.
Mestre Panão has participated in countless capoeira events in Brazil, the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Europe. His dedication to capoeira has put him in great demand for workshops and batizados throughout the capoeira world. He has also appeared on television in Brazil and the United States, as well as in magazines and newspapers.
Mestre Panão has been attending capoeira events in the United States since 1995. In 2002, he opened his first academy outside Brazil in San Diego, California. In 2006, Mestre Panão moved to Richmond where he now teaches and resides.
History of Capoeira
Capoeira is approximately 400 years old with its roots in Africa. It came to Brazil by way of the slave trade in the 16th century. In the slave quarters on plantations in Brazil, various cultures were forced together. As a result of this fusion many Afro-Brazilian folkloric arts and traditions were created.
One of these traditions was Capoeira. This form of martial art was used by the slaves to free themselves and to flee from the plantations into the Quilombos (free African Societies), in the neighboring jungle that existed on the fringes of the cities, towns, and plantations.
During slavery, in order to be practiced, Capoeira had to be disguised and completely kept secret for fear of persecution or penalty of death. Capoeira was prohibited in Brazil until 1930. At that time the government eased up on the repression of popular cultural expression, including Capoeira.
In 1932, Mestre Bimba (the creator of modern Capoeira) opened the first formal school of Capoeira. In doing so, he took Capoeira off the streets, where it was looked down upon by the upper class Brazilian society, who considered it a pastime of cutthroats, thieves and con men. Mestre Bimba began teaching doctors, lawyers, and business men. In time, the art of Capoeira gained great respect in Brazil.
Cord System of Graduation
The cord system is based on the Capoeira Regional system developed by Mestre Bimba. Each year students are selected to receive a new cord in our annual batizado. Capoeiristas receive their new cord based on training, knowledge and dedication to the art.
System of graduation
- Green
- Green with one point* yellow
- Green & yellow
- Yellow with one point* green
- Yellow
- Yellow with one point* blue
- Yellow & blue
- Blue with one point* yellow
- Blue (Instructor)
- Green, yellow, and blue (Professor)
- Green, yellow, blue, and white (Contra Mestre)
- White (Mestre 1st Degree)
- White (Mestre 2nd Degree)
- White (Mestre 3rd Degree)
- White (Grao Mestre)
* Each cord has four points
Classes and Shows
Class Days
ADULT CLASS
MON - THU
3:00 / 4:00pm
7:00 / 7:50pm
7:50 / 8:40pm
8:40/ 9:40pm
SAT - 1:00 / 2:00pm
KIDS CLASS
MON - THU
4:00 / 4:45 pm
4:45 / 5:30pm
Capoeira Shows
Afro-Brazilian Dance Shows
410 N. Greenville Ave - suite 120 - Allen, TX 75002
To schedule shows and demonstrations or to inquire more information call:
469.734.8281
