Sunninghill capoeira studio empowers others
SUNNINGHILL – A new Capoeira studio is in town for anyone of any level to learn the history of the sport and self-defence.
Martial arts fans have a new style of fighting to try out as a new Capoeira school opened on 12 January at The Core Shopping Centre in Sunninghill.
Still in its beginning stages, the classes have been introducing attendees to the martial art with the history and basic movements.
Andréa Peixoto, who goes by Instructora Cansada, opened her classes after being involved in the martial art for 14 years.
She previously had a school in Fourways, but later moved to the Sunninghill area. She spent six years in Brazil where she worked towards training in the Rio de Janeiro style.
Since then, her school has been recognised in Brazil as an official Capoeira school. “Because there are many types of Capoeira, there are many ways in fighting and playing the game. Rio de Janeiro style is more of a way to defend yourself than other Capoeira styles.”
Peixoto is hopeful that the growth of students of Capoeira at her school will further the growth of the martial art in the country.
Women have been the main attendees at her school since she first opened. “There have been women who joined Capoeira before, all around the world. Women generally are scared in martial arts since in Capoeira, we do fight with men.
“There is a big following of Capoeira in other African countries like Angola, in which women are actively training and instructing. To have women come to the school here and we play a game is something I would like to do to bring in more women. But men are definitely always welcome as well.”
Fourways resident Nikki Lisbon said she had gotten the interest to start Capoeira training after watching a series that featured it. From there, she looked up more. “I’ve previously done martial arts and dancing and it incorporates both of them. I went on the I Love Fourways group on Facebook last year.
“Since being in the class when it opened, there were only two women, myself included. It’s definitely encouraging to see more and more women joining in a male-dominated sport which bring in the element of sisterhood and working together.”
