Capoeira Students Combine Rhythm, Self-Defense

Lissette Corsa ducks left and weaves right. Her opponent kicks over her head, and she spins and grabs him from behind. He arches his back as he moves downward. He slips out of her grasp, spinning to face her.

Corsa is a student of Capoeira, a 500-year-old Brazilian martial art gaining popularity in the Bay area. The studio Corsa attends, Tampa Capoeira on East Bearss Avenue, is one of several schools in the area injecting rhythmic flow into exercise and self-defense.

The 33-year-old Tampa native discovered Capoeira while living in Miami Beach in the late 1990s.

"I used to walk past it on the way to the supermarket, and was captivated by the music and the acrobatics," she said.

She wanted to learn more. When she returned to Tampa in 2001, she joined Tampa Capoeira and has worked up to the advanced class.

Capoeira's roots can be traced to African slaves living in Brazil. Their Brazilian captors, who feared revolt, did not allow them to practice martial arts, so the slaves disguised their movements as a dance.

Today, more than 150 countries have Capoeira schools. Participants form a circle and take turns playing drums and other percussion instruments, singing, kicking, flipping and feinting.

Practicing Capoeira has several health benefits. The many poses, handstands and rolling maneuvers improve upper body strength, and the jumps and kicks work the legs and increase flexibility. The constant movement to the beat pumps up the heart rate, making it a good cardio exercise as well.

"It involves mind, body, all senses, music, art, acrobatics, gymnastics, discipline, self-control and many more valuable things in life," said Leandro Rabell, a Capoeira instructor at Tampa Capoeira's satellite studio in Brandon.

There are some dangers, often caused by poor technique or overtraining. Common injuries include cuts, blisters, bruises, strains and sprains. Knee injuries, dislocations and fractures sometimes occur, too.

Practitioners say Capoeira is a good way to meet people, gain confidence and learn about another culture. Like other martial arts, it requires dedication, focus and discipline - and promotes friendly competition.

"We first opened in 2004, renting a room at Gold's Gym," said Eduardo Torres, head instructor of Tampa Capoeira. "It's been nice to see some students who couldn't even afford to pay for classes grow up and become part of the family."

Mestre Rony, a native of Brazil and Capoeira practitioner since he was 12, runs a Sarasota school. He trained Torres in California before coming to Florida in the early 1990s. He opened his first school in Largo, but it failed. Undaunted, he decided to try again. In Sarasota, his students range from 4 to 74.

"Capoeira is really rounded out," he said. "It has the physical aspect and the musical aspect that no other martial art has."

Capoeira isn't just for adults. Both the Tampa and Sarasota schools have an after-school program called Capo-Kids. Corsa's son and daughter are both involved.

"It's something to do together as a family, as well as be a part of an extended Capoeira family," she said.

James Gillespie Jr., 21, is in a beginner class at Tampa Capoeira. He has been practicing for about a year. It was hard at first, he said, but that just made him work harder.

"It evolves with practice," he said. "But then that time comes when you do a move, and it just feels right, and you know you nailed it. It's a good feeling."

He said it's a good way to connect with people all over, and while there are some friendly rivalries, everyone gets along in Capoeira.

Lucas Loman, 19, watched the advanced students practice before his beginner class started.

"They terrify me," he said, as students performed complex moves. He rolled up his pants to show bandages on his knee and ankle. "I've only been doing it three months, and I've already been bruised and battered."

Beginner students practice basic moves, and the advanced classes incorporate those moves into fighting sequences.

One of Tampa Capoeira's instructors, Rebecca Davis, got hooked after watching her children take a class. Davis loves to see her kids work hard at nailing a new move.

"They may get frustrated, but then they go right back to do it," Davis said.