Social responsibility is one of the central components of ABADÁ-Capoeira’s philosophy
Over the years, ABADÁ Capoeira has initiated many social and educational campaigns in an effort to raise consciousness for important issues such as charity, respect for others, health, peace and environmental conservation. In 2014 Capoeira was recognized by UNESCO as an “intangible cultural heritage of humanity”.
ABADÁ-Capoeira History
ABADÁ (pronounced Ah-bah-dah) is the largest capoeira organization in the world, with over 40,000 members all across the globe.
ABADÁ Capoeira’s mission is to spread the African-Brazilian martial art form of capoeira worldwide, while simultaneously promoting good character, respect, and dignity. Through capoeira, students develop skills in self-defense, acrobatics, instrument playing, rhythm, singing, language skills, goal-setting, team-work, leadership, cultural and social cooperation, respect and tradition, as well as personal confidence. In this way, our classes can have a permanent, positive impact on our students’ lives.
CAPOEIRA (pronounced ka-poo-ay-da) is a martial art developed in Brazil by enslaved Africans.
It is a communal game in which two opponents play each other inside a circle, formed by the other players who create rhythm for the game by clapping, singing and playing traditional instruments. The two “capoeiristas” play a game together using capoeira movements, camouflaging self-defense kicks with playful acrobatics and dance-like moves, spontaneously creating a strategy to fool the other player and perhaps catch them off guard. At the same time, the two players work together to build a beautiful, harmonic and naturally-flowing game.
The modern art form of capoeira is believed to date back to the 1500’s, when many Africans were taken from different areas of West Africa and brought to Brazil for purposes of slavery by the Portuguese. Because these an slavened peoples were not allowed to practice martial arts, the development and practice of the art had to be disguised. The result was capoeira: a way of practicing different defensive and offensive techniques with music, singing, and dance.
After the abolition of slavery in Brazil in 1888, capoeira was prohibited and its practitioners were socially ostracized for over forty years. The legendary capoeira master, Mestre Bimba, rescued the art form and proved its legitimacy, opening capoeira’s first official school in Bahia, Brazil in 1932.
MESTRES
MESTRE BIMBA
Mestre Bimba was born Manuel dos Reis Machado in 1900. At the age of twelve, Bimba was taught capoeira by an African ship captain named Bentinho. Although capoeira remained illegal for decades, Bimba continued to practice and organize performances of capoeira, keeping the art alive. After performances for the governor of Bahia and the President of Brazil, Mestre Bimba was given permission to open a recognized, legal school of capoeira.
In the ensuing years, Mestre Bimba codified what he called the “regional fight from Bahia,” with the goal of bringing capoeira to the middle and upper classes. He ensured his students wore clean, white uniforms and performed well in school, and gave them colored scarves to show rank, a system adopted after the Eastern martial arts’ colored belts.
Mestre Bimba almost single-handedly changed public perception of capoeira from a lowly-regarded street fight of ruffians to a respected martial art form with new moves, an emphasis on athleticism, and – another important first for capoeira – a rigorous and planned teaching method.
MESTRE CAMISA
Mestre Camisa, born José Tadeu Cardoso, is the founder of ABADÁ-Capoeira. He began training with Mestre Bimba at a very young age. He subsequently began teaching capoeira in Rio de Janeiro based on the teachings of Mestre Bimba, until his style became truly unique – widely known and respected for skillfulness, technicality, innovation, and dedication to traditions. In 1988, Mestre Camisa formed ABADÁ-Capoeira.
In Portuguese, the ABADÁ acronym stands for Associação Brasileira de Apoio e Desenvolvimento da Arte-Capoeira. In English, this is translated as “The Brazilian Association for the Support and Development of the Art of Capoeira.” Mestre Camisa has had immense impact on modern Capoeira, bringing it from the old masters in Brazil to an evolving art spreading throughout the world. Capoeira is now an internationally-respected art of grace and strength known for its unique combination of ritual, self-defense, acrobatics and music in a rhythmic dialogue of the body, mind, and spirit.
MESTRA MÁRCIA CIGARRA
Mestra Márcia “Cigarra”, born Márcia Treidler, is the founder of ABADÁ-Capoeira San Francisco (“ACSF”). In 1982, Mestra Cigarra began studying capoeira under Mestre Camisa in Rio de Janeiro, successfully developing into Mestre Camisa’s top female student. There she was given her capoeira nickname of “Cigarra,” or “Dragonfly” in Portuguese. In 1987, she began to conduct classes for street children, youth, and adults in Rio de Janeiro. In 1991, Mestra Cigarra moved to the United States to teach capoeira here. In 1997, she was granted permanent residency in the United States as an “Alien with Extraordinary Abilities.” That same year, Mestra Cigarra founded the ABADÁ-Capoeira San Francisco (ACSF). Mestra Cigarra is one of the top seven capoeiristas out of over 40,000 international ABADÁ-Capoeira members. She is the first female student of Mestre Camisa to be awarded the rank “Mestra.” Over the years, she has garnered many honors and international recognition for her work with ACSF. Because capoeira was a male-dominated martial art form for over 300 years, Mestra Cigarra’s achievements have cleared the path for other women to excel. Her outstanding achievements make her a highly sought-after teacher, an inspirational leader, and an important role model. Today, Mestra Márcia continues to oversee and direct all ACSF performance and instructional programs. She also continues to teach internationally across the globe, while remaining as lead instructor for all ACSF adult and teen capoeira classes.