For anyone new to capoeira: capoeira is an Afro-Brazilian martial art that contains elements of self-expression, music, and dance. It is a fantastic workout that combines cardio and whole-body strength training through a combination of kicks, escapes, and acrobatic-like movements (modified cartwheels, handstands). All of this is done to music, keeping the energy high. Typically, you train for the first part of class (practice movements), and then "play capoeira" for the last part (engage back and forth with a partner in kicks and escapes).
I have been training with Batuque for about five years, both at the main studio (BBCC) and a couple of the satellite locations. The whole Batuque family is wonderful -- the teachers are very positive and constructive, as are the students. The community is very active and often sponsors capoeira events and other get-togethers.
Right now, I train with Profesor Pezao at the Adams location. We have two very solid, challenging workouts per week, with time to play at the end of each class. Class is organized, regular, and always starts and ends on time (not always a given for capoeira classes!), which makes it easy to fit in with the rest of my schedule. We work on a lot of linked movements, to improve fluidity in the game. We also do a lot of work on flexibility and inversions (handstands and other moves where your weight is supported on your hands).
Profesor Pezao strikes just the right balance between encouraging and demanding, always pushing students to get the most out of their training. He truly enjoys teaching and is passionate about the practice of capoeira, from the technical details to the overall philosophy. He makes everyone feel welcome, and is very good at accommodating multiple levels in the class simultaneously, modifying sequences for each student when needed. A very important concept in capoeira is "axé," or positive energy, and thanks to our teacher and students, our group has great axé. read more