Capoeira combines martial arts without violence and ritual without redundancy. Capoeira is being taught at the Princeton Family YMCA and Princeton University. A free demonstration will take place Thursday, Dec. 13,
By Adam Grybowski Staff Writer
Music is integral to this art form. A circle of people surround the performers, clapping and singing and setting the pace of their movements, which is part dance, part martial arts. Tambourines, drums and bells create the rhythm of capoeira (cah-poe-AIR-ah), a traditional Afro-Brazilian art that originated, perhaps, as a way for African slaves to secretly resist oppression and preserve their culture.
“Capoeira is not only a martial art, it’s a way of being free,” Levi Guerrero, a local capoeira instructor, says.
Since the first formal capoeira academy was formed in Brazil in 1942, the tradition has spread throughout the Western hemisphere and Europe. Weekly classes are held at the Princeton Family YMCA and Princeton University, whose capoeira group performs regularly at schools and cultural events in the area.
The Montgomery Recreation Department is holding a free capoeira demonstration from 7 to 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 13, to gauge whether there’s enough interest to conduct a regular program. Adults and children are encouraged to attend. Mr. Guerrero, an assistant instructor with Capoeira Senzala, will lead the demonstration, helped by a handful of students who range in age from 5 to 30.
The Princeton YMCA has run a capoeira program since the fall of 2006. The class is less structured and not as strict as a traditional martial arts class.
“It’s about fun and participation. The beat from the mixture of musical instruments gets the kids excited,” Kevin Walsh, the YMCA’s Youth, Sports and Fitness director, says.
Capoeira combines martial arts without violence and ritual without redundancy. The acrobatics and dance techniques allow performers to express themselves individually. “It is an athletic stream of consciousness,” Mr. Guerrero says.
Mr. Guerrero, who is pursing an associate degree in exercise science at Mercer County Community College, began taking capoeira lessons in 2003. Since then it has nearly become his entire life, he says. He stresses the flexibility of the art form.
“It’s about people coming together and expressing themselves freely,” he says. “What you give to capoeira is what you get back. If you want to lose weight, you lose weight. If you want to learn about the culture, you learn about the culture.”
Mr. Guerrero says Zumbi, the head instructor of Capoeira Senzala, has become a father figure and a friend to him, and that he is a great teacher. “He tries to give you a global vision,” Mr. Guerrero says. “He’s laid back and helps you find out how to express yourself truly in capoeira.”
Zumbi, a native of Rio de Janeiro, began learning capoeira when he was 9 years old. Since moving to the United States in 2000, he has become the official capoeira instructor at Princeton University and earned the status of Contra Mestre. Of the 12 levels of proficiency a “capoeirista” can obtain, Contra Mestre is the 10th.
Based in Manhattan, Newark and Princeton, Capoeira Senzala offers classes, performances and workshops throughout the year. Part of its mission is to share capoeira with the community, and one of its goals is to develop the mental and physical capabilities of young people through capoeira while exposing them to the cultural heritage of Africa and Brazil. The skills and discipline children learn from capoeira transfer to the rest of their education, Mr. Guerrero says.
“Capoeira provides children with a means of self-expression,” Mr. Guerrero writes in an e-mail message. “It relieves stress, improves confidence, self-esteem and concentration. It also improves balance, coordination and creativity. The psychological and developmental benefits arise from the cooperation, respect, discipline and tolerance essential to practicing capoeira.”
Capoeira Senzala is part of Centro Cultural Senzala de Capoeira, a group that formed in Brazil in the 1960s. It stresses quality of technique and attention to tradition, which dates to the 16th century, when Portugal delivered African slaves to Brazil. Although slavery was abolished there in 1888, capoeira was pushed further underground when it was outlawed because of its association with the poor. Some founding members of Grupo Senzala continue to work with Capoeira Senzala.
Joe Pidany, Montgomery Township Recreation Department’s program coordinator, became aware of capoeira through a resident who’s from Brazil. He’s hoping capoeira will expand the diversity within a department that already offers fencing, kickboxing and PiYoChi, a combination of Yoga Asana and Pilates mat work.
Capoeira Senzala will give a free demonstration on Thursday, dec. 13, at 7 p.m. at the Otto Kaufman Community Center gym in Montgomery for ages 10 and up. Those interested in attending should call and register with the Montgomery Recreation Department, (609) 466-3023, ext. 208.
On the Web: www.zumbisenzala.org.

