SERVING THE LOS ANGELES COMMUNITY
We offer fun filled, family friendly Capoeira de Angola classes in Los Angeles two times a week that the whole family can enjoy. Come out and enjoy a Capoeira de Angola class while supporting your community.
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LOS ANGELES CAPOEIRA CLASSES
The mission of Pastinha’s Garden of Capoeira is to teach, preserve, and honor the authenticity of the artform known as Capoeira de Angola, and continue its legacy through traditional formal instruction. We serve the Los Angeles Capoeira community with fun filled, family friendly classes offered weekly.
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PGCA provides lessons to all ages, from 5 years and up. Our youth program is Seeds of Pastinha and is taught by instructors from Pastinha’s Garden of Capoeira de Angola.
If you ask 10 Capoeistas the question “what is Capoeira”, you are bound to get 13 answers. But at PGCA, the answer We give is this: Capoeira de Angola is an African Martial Science based in the ancient art called “Ngolo”. Ofttimes referred to as the “Zebra Dance”, Ngolo; pronounced how it looks, was learned as part of the Rites of Passage in West African societies. The one posing the most skill in this warrior art was considered to be more valuable than gold. In Brazil, the Capoeira was passed down and utilized by enslaved Africans as a tool towards liberation and freedom.
Capereioa is an intergenerational art which provides kinesthetic intelligence, self-awareness, and confidence while promoting a sense of historical pride. Classes are open to ages 5 to 65, and all are encouraged to participate.
Today, in addition to being a great physical activity, Capoeira de Angola offers cultural enrichment, promotes social interaction and provides a fun way to stay in shape. In Pastinha’s Garden, we sow the Seeds of the Traditional Capoeira Curriculum. The Seeds of Pasthinha Youth Academy, aka SoPYA, is taught utilizing Precision Based Technology demonstrated through specific curriculum for the purpose of giving the student a high level understanding of the “game” that we call Capoeira. PGCA is not simply a “movement based” Capoeira, we have a holistic approach that is rooted in the understanding of principles that we call “fundamental Movements”.
Pastinha and JJRARTS have been in partnership in the community for over 20 years. JJRARTS relationship with PGCA is one of our most trusted achievements, and dear to our heart. The impact and response to this program has been phenomenal through-out the years. The strong bond between both organizations reflects the commitment to our community and them to us.
“The Capoeira de Angola is like unto that seed planted in fertile soil producing a tree which brings forth a fruit containing within it the same seed that produced it in the first place.” – Brother Jason Lee Byrd (“Rasta de Faca”)
I am called “Brother Jason”. I am the current Cultivator of Pastinha’s Garden where we only grow Traditional Capoeira called “Capoeira de Angola”. My lineage begins with an African named Vincente Benedito. The story is that after seeing Mestre Pastinha beaten up by a bigger and older bully, Mestre Benedito offered to teach him “something of great value”. That encounter produced the most revered Capoerista and the father of our lineage, Mestre Pastinha. Mestre Vicente Ferreira Pastinha produced two (2) specific “Capoeiras” of note: Joao Grande or “Big John” in English”, and Joao Pequeno or “Little John” in English. Mestre Pastinha said of them, “They will be the greatest Capoeira players of the future.” “They will be true teachers (Mestres), “not impromptu teachers, as can be found everywhere”.
Mestre Joao Grande taught my Professor, “Cubano” Martin between the years of 1989 up until 1995. He said “that which my teacher gave to me, I will give to you”. Over that 7-year period, Mestre Joao Grande instructed Cubano in the Traditional Capoeira de Angola Curriculum.
I met my teacher/professor/friend, Heriberto “Cubano” Martin in 1996 and became an initiate to this ancient African Science. I have been studying Capoeira de Angola for over 20 years. I have a mission and responsibility to pass on the traditional curriculum that has been entrusted to me. Now Let’s Play!