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Participate with Mestre Joao Grande to support Capoeira Angola Center of Mestre Joao Grande. Bring your instruments, Axe', and desire to learn directly from a legend!

Feel free to bring Flowers, Fruits, and Juices to share with our Capoeira Angola family.

All Capoeira styles and levels welcome!

Thanks for your support! Health, Energy, Peace & Blessings, and Axe' to whom is from Axe' ! Mestre Joao Grande

Capoeira Angola, an ancient martial art of African origin, is one of the many cultural weapons used to break the chains of enslavement in Brazil. Played close to the ground, Capoeira Angola combines fluid, dance-like movements with kicks, head butts, tripping sweeps and the appearance of playfulness or vulnerability. Music is played on traditional instruments to accompany the players, to teach the rhythmic heart of the art, and also to mask its power. In the eyes of the enslavers it appeared to be a joking and playful acrobatic dance, but eventually its power was realized and Capoeira was outlawed. Death was the penalty paid by those caught playing Capoeira during the slavery era. For almost 400 years Capoeira Angola was taught and practiced in secret, and only in the 1930's did this African martial art become legal to teach and practice. World's most respected teacher Mestre João Grande, a Grand Master of Capoeira Angola with more than 55 years of experience, is a highly respected figure in the world of capoeira and has received numerous awards. Too many to mention here, he is a living legacy and the best way to honor his legacy is to learn from him, share what you learn with the next generation of Capoeiristas.

João Grande first learned Capoeira Angola from Mestre Pastinha, who continues to be his primary source of inspiration. Mestre Pastinha opened the first Capoeira Angola School, The Academia De Capoeira Angola, in 1941 in the city of Salvador, Bahia in the northeast of Brazil. Mestre Pastinha dedicated his school to preserving and continuing the long tradition of this African martial art, teaching Capoeira Angola as a path of self knowledge and mastery. Mestre Pastinha was the first Capoeira Mestre (master) to write a book on the history, philosophy and practice of Capoeira, simply entitled 'Capoeira Angola.' He went to Africa with his students to participate in the Festival of African Arts and Culture during the 1970's and also produced albums promoting the unique musical component of this martial art.

If you know Mestre Joao Grande, you know he is traditional and teaches Capoeira how it was taught to him.

In April 2008, we held a great NYC conference open to all who wanted to share and celebrate his legacy.

SAVE THE DATE: IN APRIL 2010 THE CAPOEIRA ANGOLA CENTER OF MESTRE JOAO GRANDE WILL HOST ANOTHER EVENT TO CELEBRATE MESTRE'S 60 YEARS IN CAPOEIRA & 20 YEARS IN NEW YORK CITY!!