ABOUT
ABOUT MARAZUL
Capoeira MarAzul is co-ordinated by Mestre Joãozinho da Figueira.
Read about the history of the group and our style and philosophy of Capoeira.
São Paulo
Capoeira MarAzul was founded on the 15th May 1983 by Joãozinho da Figueira and Valdenor Reis (Sarará), both graduated by Mestre Carioca from the Capoeira Group and Academy ‘Capitães de Areia’ in São Paulo, Brazil.
The Group started its activities in the Pontificia Catholic University, São Paolo, soon after its foundation, where it stayed for almost two years, developing a programme of cultural integration with the Academic Centres of the University.
Manaus
In January 1985, a new phase of Capoeira MarAzul began in Manaus, where a partnership was formed between MarAzul and the Central Students Directorate of the Amazonas Federal University, beginning a series of programmes and events with various artistic sectors of the city.
This partnership enabled MarAzul to establish itself as a cultural group, recognised by Amazonian society and in particular the artistic classes, with whom MarAzul produced various projects and programmes.
Mozambique
Since 2003, the group has implemented regular classes and events, and maintains the Independent Social Project ‘MarAzul’, which was started in the same period with streetkids and young people from the outskirts of the city.
MarAzul continues the project until the present day, supported by members of the group, collaborators and supporters.
London and Southampton
In the UK, MarAzul offers regular classes, and promotes various programmes and events that involve Capoeira and other aspects of Brazilian culture. These programmes have strengthened the cultural integration between the various Capoeira groups in the UK, and with other people and groups that celebrate and promote Brazilian culture.
On the News page, you can find information about the events that we have held in London, and future events.
One of the key programmes that contributes to our objective of cultural integration is the traditional Friday open roda, where masters, teachers and capoeiristas from different groups across the UK meet to play capoeira.
What style of capoeira?
It's some people's first question - what style of Capoeira do you do? Angola or Regional?
Well, we do Capoeira, and people from all styles and groups - Angola, Regional, Contemporânea - are welcome at our Roda. Some people associate us more with Capoeira Angola, because we tend to play more on the floor - but we are not from a lineage of Capoeira Angola Mestres.
The important thing is to seek to understand the traditions and rituals of Capoeira, the richness of its history, and to respect your partner in the game and the other capoeiristas in the roda. Then, it doesn't matter what style of Capoeira you play - you play your own style and you know how to enter and leave any Capoeira roda.
