CAPOEIRA CLASSES: Bullet-dodging acrobatics

Studio teaches new high energy martial arts form

Instructor Paulo Lima isn't kidding when he calls the Brazilian art of Capoeira -- a blend of dance, martial arts, music and acrobatics -- "intense." Just the warm-up for his classes is exhausting.

"It's very athletic, very challenging," Lima said. "You move your entire body."

And students of Capoeira move their entire bodies a lot. During the first few minutes of their two-hour classes at Las Vegas Dance Studio, Lima's 20 or so students complete a rapid series of kicks, power stretches, backbends, cartwheels and spins. They are all drenched in sweat before the first half hour is up.

Then, instead of stopping to catch their breath, they gather in a circle to "challenge" each other to one-on-one demonstrations of their skills, resulting in a fluid, rhythmic defensive dance reminiscent of the bullet-dodging acrobatics made famous by the Matrix movies.

"It allows you to express yourself," Lima said. "We don't fight, we play. We interact together."

Capoeira was first developed hundreds of years ago by African slaves in Brazil. It was seen as a way to disguise defensive techniques with music, singing and dance, and was valued as a release from slavery, poverty and class domination. Today many study the art to develop self-discipline, agility and inner strength. They also enjoy the sense of community Capoeira engenders.

"It's family oriented," said Aaron Hill, a sociology major at UNLV who has been studying Capoeira for several years. "It gives me a sense of culture, music and movement. The challenges of moving my body in unorthodox ways seems important to me. We all think of ourselves as family and (Lima) more as a really good friend than an instructor."

"Capoeira brings people a sense of family and community," Lima said. "We don't see that much anymore, the way our lifestyle is."

That sense of family is important to Lima. Originally from Brazil, he left most of his family there nearly eight years ago to study in the United States. He began teaching Capoeira, which he had learned in his home country, and decided to stay in the United States. Lima now lives in San Diego and flies to Las Vegas several times a month to teach. He sees Capoeira as a way of life.

"I will do it until I die," he said. "There are days I say I don't want to go to class. But if I don't go, my body doesn't feel right."

Allan Aguna, an assistant Capoeira instructor and a friend of Lima's, agrees.

"(Capoeira) helps you spiritually, mentally and physically," he said. "It keeps your body in harmony with your mind. Of all the martial arts, this is the most expressive."

"You don't have to follow someone else's version of Capoeira," Lima said. "You express yourself."

Part of that expression is taking on a new name during a Capoeira baptism ceremony.

"You get a new name for your new life in Capoeira," said Aguna. "It depends on your personality."

Students and instructors address each other by their Capoeira names. Aguna's is "Juruna," a name he shares with an Amazon Indian chief. Lima's is "Batuta."

"It means 'cool guy,' " Lima said. "It also means the conductor of a symphony."

Lima does conduct his own sort of symphony during Capoeira class. When the students gather in a "roda" circle to "play," Lima leads them in singing, chanting and clapping while, two by two, the students shake hands and practice their moves together.

For Aguna, the learning that takes place in these circles is the biggest reward of Capoeira.

"When you see the students playing and doing move combinations correctly, that makes you proud," he said. "You see them evolve from being uncoordinated and shy. You get to experience it with them."

For more information about Capoeira, visit www.capoeirasd.com or e-mail Paulo Lima at paulobatuta@capoeirasd.com.


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