Grupo Axé Capoeira Vancouver

Representing Chicago

Julie — Thu, 03 May 2012 17:20:13 +0000

Name: Instrutor Bambu

Location: Chicago, USA

Website: www.axechicago.com

What song gets you pumped up in the roda?
The first song that Mestre Barrão leads the roda with…doesn’t matter which one.

What was something you struggled the most with in capoeira?
Fighting, it was hard to let go in the roda when the fight starts. Even to this day it’s difficult at times to let go when you’re playing your friend.

What is the main thing you try to focus on when you train?
Details and basics, they are the building blocks of everything in capoeira.

What’s your signature style or way of approaching the game?
I’m tall but I enjoy being the lowest to the ground and it helps me to use my height laterally to control space in the roda and I never let anything visibly shake me.

How has capoeira changed your life?
It has given me a new perspective on life and shown me a new culture. It’s made me reconsider what is really important in life.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
Playing in rodas and teaching capoeira, wherever it takes me.

What’s your favorite book?
The Kite Runner

FILL IN THE BLANK:
If I wasn’t a capoeirista, I would be a a college drop out with little to no future, working in a Red Lobster in Indiana.

Representing Poland

Julie — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 20:34:41 +0000

Name: Instrutor Barril

Location: Wroclaw, Poland

Website: www.axecapoeira.pl

What song gets you pumped up in the roda?
The anthem of our group and all fast songs sung by Mestre Barrao.

How did you start capoeira?
I saw the movie “Only the Strong”, after that I tried to do capoeira by myself. After a few months I took part in a capoeira workshop with a Brazilian master.

What do you love the most about capoeira?
That capoeira is a complete art form and you never get bored because there’s always something to learn and discover.

What was something you struggled the most with in capoeira?
Acrobatics. I love to train flips but it’s damn hard for me. But I’m doing my best

What is the main thing you try to focus on when you train?
When I train I focus on doing movements correctly, with 100% style of our group.

How do you push yourself to keep getting better?
I travel. When you travel you see other people playing capoeira and that opens your mind and reminds you that there’s still a lot to learn in capoeira.

If you have another job: how do you balance capoeira with the rest of your life?
Actually I’m working as a school teacher. This job helps me to have balance between running classes and earning money to live. In my country physical education teacher works only 20 hour per week. My job is mostly in the morning till 2pm and classes starts from 6pm. So I have plenty of time.

What’s your power food before a roda?
My power food is NO FOOD before class or roda . When I eat I feel heavy so I usually don’t eat before class or a roda.

What is in your life now because of Capoeira?
My friends and travels. I travelled around the world because of capoeira.

How has capoeira changed your life?
Capoeira gave me more self-confidence and taught me how to deal with many different situations in life.

If you could play anyone in the roda, living or deceased who would it be and why?
Mestre Jao Pequeno – I met his brother when I was in NY, Mestre Tete – he’s my Master’s Master so I would like to know a bit more about him. Mestre Pastinha and Mestre Bimba.

Are you hosting an event or any workshops this year? Provide details.
Yeah this year we will have our 10th anniversary of Grupo Axe Capoeira in Poland. The event will be in the beginning of May 2012. Our special guest will be Mestre Barrao. Check out the poster here.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
In a big training centre with my kids teaching them capoeira and my lovely wife being always by my side and supporting me .

What’s your favorite movie?
“Enemy at the Gates”, “Saving Private Ryan”, “Tropa de Elite”, “Underworld (quadrilogy)”

What’s your 2nd most favorite thing to do?
Riding my motorbike.

FILL IN THE BLANK:
If I wasn’t a capoeirista, I would be a I don’t know ;P can’t imagine that.

Representing Kazakhstan

Julie — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 22:16:02 +0000

Name: Rustam “Parafuso” Balabayev

Location: Kazakhstan

Website: www.capoeira.kz

What song gets you pumped up in the roda?
Axé Até Morrer.

How did you start capoeira?
After watching the movie “Only the strong” in 1998.

What do you love the most about capoeira?
I can’t separate.

What is the main thing you try to focus on when you train?
All things.

How do you push yourself to keep getting better?
Thinking that I am very bad.

If you have another job: how do you balance capoeira with the rest of your life?
I don’t have another job, so Capoeira.

What’s your signature style or way of approaching the game?
Speed

What is in your life now because of Capoeira?
Capoeira now is my life.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
Professor Parafuso.

What’s your favorite movie?
The Hulk.

What’s your favorite book?
Nomads.

What’s your 2nd most favorite thing to do?
To think.

FILL IN THE BLANK:
If I wasn’t a capoeirista, I would be a CAPOEIRISTA.

Representing Toronto, Canada

Julie — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 21:28:50 +0000

Professor Paraiba

Location: Toronto, Canada

Website: www.axetoronto.com

What song gets you pumped up in the roda?
Most of Mestre Barrao’s fast songs sung by him still give me goosebumps when I hear them live.

How did you start capoeira?
Vi and Lelo used me to play Super Nintendo, so they would always want to come over and in turn they taught me some capoeira and took me to class with mestre.

What do you love the most about capoeira?
I love always being challenged. I think many capoeiristas would get bored or demotivated doing other things because they are too one dimensional. Capoeira can be tough today, playful tomorrow and spiritual the day after. It all depends what your body and mind are craving that day.

What was something you struggled the most with in capoeira?
At first was rhythm and flexibility. Now after 15 years I still do, but to the average person, I’m a musical ninja.

What is the main thing you try to focus on when you train?
I always try to ask myself, “How would I train if mestre was here teaching me?” That usually gets me motivated.

How do you push yourself to keep getting better?
I think about the people I want to get in the roda and the people who have gotten me. Also, people who I look up to and what to one day incorporate one or more aspects of their capoeira into my own.

What’s your power food before a roda?
As of 2012, lots of water.

What is in your life now because of Capoeira?
Many of my friends, my confidence, my way of viewing things, my dedication, much of my business knowledge and more.

How has capoeira changed your life?
When growing up, teenagers need something to identify with. For me that was capoeira. It’s not possible to have negative things in your life and succeed in capoeira (drugs, alcohol, etc). Maybe if I identified with something else as a teenager, a healthy lifestyle might not have been important to me.

If you could play anyone in the roda, living or deceased who would it be and why?
Definitely Mestre Bimba, then Mestre Pastinha. They are icons in capoeira. Having a picture with them too would be precious!

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
Traveling to various events worldwide and running Canada’s largest capoeira school which will allow me the freedom to bring guest instructors to train with us on a bi-monthly level.

What’s your favorite movie?
Cidade de Deus, Tropa de Elite

What’s your favorite book?
Rich Dad Poor Dad

What’s your 2nd most favorite thing to do?
Sleep!

FILL IN THE BLANK:
If I wasn’t a capoeirista, I would be an entrepreneur.

Axé Capoeira’s 30 Year Anniversary Event

Julie — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 21:37:14 +0000

Axé Capoeira will be hosting an Afro-Brazilian Block Party on Saturday, July 28 and Sunday, July 29, 2012 on Granville Street. This year will mark the 30th anniversary of our group and will also showcase a Capoeira competition and a Batizado ceremony. The event is expected to draw thousands of people for a full day of performances including traditional dance, music and Capoeira culminating in a huge Brazilian street party not to be missed.

Welcome to the 2012 Afro-Brazilian Block Party!

Date: Saturday, July 28 and Sunday, July 29, 2012
Time: 11:00am to 7:00pm
Location: Granville Street

Mark Your Calendars and Join The Party!

Schedule of Events

You can download a copy of the schedule here:

Vancouver Event Schedule 2012

	MON JULY 23	TUE JULY 24	WED JULY 25	THU JULY 26	FRI JULY 27
4:30PM	OPEN TRAINING	OPEN TRAINING	OPEN TRAINING	KIDS CLASS	REGISTRATION @ BCIT
5:00PM						WORKSHOPS @ BCIT (KIDS/BEGINNER/ADVANCED)
5:30PM	ADVANCED / BEGINNER CLASS	ADVANCED / BEGINNER CLASS	ADVANCED / BEGINNER CLASS	ADVANCED / BEGINNER CLASS
6:00PM						WORKSHOPS @ BCIT (KIDS/BEGINNER/ADVANCED)
6:30PM	REHEARSAL @ ACADEMY	REHEARSAL @ ACADEMY	REHEARSAL @ ACADEMY	RODA @ ACADEMY
7:00PM						RODA @ BCIT
7:30PM	RODA @ ENGLISH BAY	RODA @ KITS BEACH	RODA @ ART GALLERY	FINAL DRESS REHEARSAL @ ACADEMY
8:00PM						REHEARSAL @ BCIT
8:30PM

Visa Invitation Letter

Here is a link for an invitation letter to our event if you are applying for a visa. The file is password protected and must be opened in Microsoft Word. To receive the password, please email shows [at] axecapoeira [dot] com.

Visa Application Letter

Registration Forms

Here are the registration forms for the event. You can also register online here.

Registration Forms

Capoeira Competition

Rules and regulations are up!

Check it out.

Food Vendor Applications

Food vendors, please download the applications and hand them in by June 9th, 2012.

Food Vendor Applications

Sponsorship Package

If you are interested in sponsoring our event, please have a look at our sponsorship package.

Sponsorship Package

Contact Us

GENERAL INFORMATION:
Marcus Aurelio – (604) 537-8943
Julie Ali – (604) 761-4635

Why You Should Train With Axé Capoeira?

Julie — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 11:49:23 +0000

Capoeira is a one of a kind martial art that combines aspects of self defense, acrobatics, music and dance. Uniquely Brazilian in it’s origins, it meshes these various art forms into one synergistic martial art training experience.

If you’re looking for a challenging and fun way to become fit and stay that way, then take a look at the many classes we offer which are designed to help you reach your fitness goals.

Come on down and take a tour of our studio. While you’re here feel free to watch or take one of our classes.

What Others Are Saying

Lelo — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 21:17:20 +0000

Testimonials

Don’t just take our word for it. Read below what our members have to say about training with us.

I’ve been a dancer all my life and find that great music motivates and gives me energy even when I think I’m done. I was curious about martial arts and when I saw a Capoeria demo at English Bay I knew I’d love it.

Tammy Gagne

Capoeira’s “completeness” is what makes it so challenging but, it is also what lured me into studying the art in the beginning and what keeps me coming back for more each class. Along with it’s sense of community, self-expression, energy, discipline, fun, and culture.

Jian Pablico

Axé Capoeira is a place where you will not only learn martial arts, acrobatics and dance, but also where you’ll become a more confident individual and excel in many other areas of your life you may not have considered. I came to Axé Capoeira to learn how to jump and flip. What I didn’t anticipate was how much I would mature mentally during the three years I’ve been training. I don’t think I could get this much value out of any other physical activity, which is why I keep coming back!

Andrew Stewart

Personally I’ve found that Axé Capoeira pushes me to improve and increase my abilities both physically and mentally. Capoeira is a fun and great way to improve the health of your body and your mind. Whether it’s capoeira, music, or dance everyday is something challenging and satisfying.

Mike L.

My son Hans began taking classes with Axé Capeoria at the age of 6 & 1/2. HE IS NOW 10 & 1/2 YEARS OLD. He has continued to have the most positive experience we could have ever imagined. The structure, the instruction, the programming is above all that we could have asked for?

Tina S.

I have been training Capoeira for a long time and the martial art still continues to challenge me in a physical way. I personally find working out a gym to be unmotivating. But with Capoeira, I can get a total body workout and learn a sense of rhythm, self-defense, and self confidence. Since I’m tied to a desk at the office everyday, Capoeira has become my outlet that allows me to express myself through the art, the music, the cool looking kicks and the acrobatics.

Philip Gensaya

At first, Capoeira interested me as it promised to be a fun way to exercise and challenge my body. Now, training at Axé Capoeira has captivated me with its variety – explosive kicks, graceful acrobatics, inspirational music, and forum for physical self-expression. The strength that comes from hard work and achieving the seemingly impossible is just one of the many rewards of Capoeira.

Christine Craigen

My kids LOVE training at Axé Capoeira. They are taught discipline, creativity and respect! I got back into pre-pregnancy shape in just 6 months! Love it! No martial art has kept my interest for more than 6 months like Capoeira has. Training is alway fun, varied and dynamic!

Elsa Pang

Capoeira has given me a sense of identity which is crucial in life.

Reese Alexander

Read below what others have to say about our performances.

One word… AMAZING!

Jesse Taylor, Supervisor/Student Information & Enroll Services BCIT

The Axé Capoeira Performance Group came to our Halloween party in the fall of 2010 and put on an OUTSTANDING show for BCIT faculty and staff. Their energy shined through the entire performance, and our attendees were very impressed with the athleticism and acrobatic abilities of the group. A very entertaining and interactive showcase of Brazilian dance and martial arts techniques, I highly recommend having Axé Capoeira at your next event.

Carly Wethersett, Marketing & Communications Strategist BCIT

We had the Axé Capoeira group perform at our All Staff event and they were amazing! The room was filled with energy and anticipation as they dazzled us all with their astonishing moves. Their interactive production had members of our group go up and join in on the fun, it was a great time. It was high energy and well received by those in attendance. We will no doubt have them perform again at a future event! Thanks Axé Capoeira!

Pamela Smith, CHRP | Auxiliary Services Coordinator | BCIT Human Resources