Youth off the Streets and Capoeira Arunda

Youth off the Streets and Capoeira Arunda

In a bid to keep young Australians off the street and away from more sinister pursuits, Brazilian Capoeira master Contra Mestre Borracha from Capoeira Aruanda has partnered with the Youth Off The Streets community initiative, offering free workshops for hundreds of young people. By offering these classes, Borracha continues the long-standing Brazilian tradition to teach street kids Capoeira - a fusion of martial arts, dance, acrobatics and self-expression.

The workshops will be primarily hosted at Borracha's recently opened academy in Chippendale, part of the wider Capoeira Aruanda network which has groups in Brazil, Germany and Australia. Through the initiative he is currently teaching free workshops to students from Key College, a school for homeless young people in Redfern and the workshops will continue with two other schools in Sydney.

Borracha's talent in Capoeira opened up many opportunities and eventually brought him to Sydney where he has been teaching Capoeira in community centres and schools for over 12 years. The opening of his own academy represents a landmark in his journey in Capoeira:
"Capoeira Aruanda is my opportunity to pass on the goodwill that was given to me in when I was a teenager. I hope that I can pass that on to all my students of Capoeira Aruanda, as a Capoeira group is so much more than a sports group. Capoeira gave me the ability to shape my own life and to reach for goals I would never have dreamed of," says Borracha.

Borracha is working to make Capoeira Aruanda a family and a place with positive energy for everyone who walks through the door. Capoeira Aruanda is also offering free introduction lessons for everyone who would like to familiarise themselves with the Brazilian tradition and art from.

Capoeira began as means of self defence for the poor and enslaved, even after the ban on Capoeira was lifted it has remained a vehicle to freedom to many lower-class people who would otherwise not have many life opportunities open to them. It is a tradition in Capoeira schools in Brazil to teach children from poor families for free to help keep them off the street and away from crime. This tradition along with the rich culture that is Capoeira has made its way around the globe to Chippendale, Sydney.
www.CapoeiraAruanda.com