ABOUT US

Rise Training Academy is a Black, Filipina, and woman-co-owned small business rooted in the heart of Chicago’s South Side. We are more than a training center—we are a cultural sanctuary where children and adults, families and friends, come together to celebrate movement, music, wellness, and community.

We offer a diverse range of dance, fitness, martial arts, and wellness classes, including capoeira, samba, and fitness training. Our programs are designed to serve and uplift the underserved South Side community by providing healthy and empowering activities in a professional and enriching environment.

We believe community is everything. That’s why we invest back into the neighborhood by hiring local artists and health/wellness professionals, providing free resources through partnerships with fellow small businesses and organizations, and fostering a space where culture and connection thrive.

What makes us proud is our commitment to community transformation —through movement, through collaboration, and through the belief that when we rise together, we rise stronger. To quote one of our students, “It’s wonderful to be a part of a group that cares for our collective community!”

OUR CORE VALUES

• Remain a center for healthy and positive activities as a part of everyday life
• Be a valuable resource that continues to improve the welfare of our South Side community 
• Be a hub for community resources through collaboration with local businesses and organizations based on the South Side
• Host health and wellness events for the community, family-friendly and always free of charge
• Invest back into the community by providing employment opportunities to local residents

OUR STORY

Founders DeBoa and CM Tinta Forte

Rise Training was established in 2017 by Co-Owners Instructora De Boa and Contra Mestre Tinta Forte. Being Chicago natives and South Side residents, we strive to be a part of the revitalization of the community by investing back where we live. We became small business owners through our love of martial arts, wellness, culture, and community.
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We humbly began with capoeira classes, zero new students, a challenging budget, and many stops and restarts along the way. It took us a while to figure out what works for us and our community.

After a brief pause during Covid, we held our first major martial arts event in June 2021. In November 2023 we were able to hold the first full weekend martial arts event inviting local and international teachers. In September 2023, we launched our Samba program, and offered multiple Beginner Series for yoga and jiu jitsu between 2023 and 2025. We have also hosted events with visiting master level instructors from the United States, Brazil, and Italy.
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We celebrated the opening of our own training facility at 8300 S Halsted in June 2025. We have expanded our programs to include a diverse range of martial arts, dance, and fitness programs including kids and adults capoeira, samba, adults BJJ fundamentals, House Flow dance, and strength training.

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Grand Opening of 8300 S Halsted St location (June 28, 2025)

Contra Mestre Tinta Forte

CM Tinta Forte is an African-American martial artist who was born and raised on the South Side of Chicago. He has successfully achieved high-rank martial arts expertise in capoeira over the past 30 years. Victor started training in the Afro-Brazilian martial art of capoeira with Mestre Marisa Cordeiro of Gingarte Capoeira in 1999.

Contra Mestre Tinta Forte has trained capoeira all over the world including extensive periods of time in Brazil. He managed his own capoeira group while living in Albuquerque, New Mexico for several years before returning to Chicago. Contra Mestre Tinta Forte has taught throughout the United States and abroad.

Tinta Forte is the lead capoeira instructor and responsible for the kids and adults capoeira curriculum. He co-manages all instructors, programming, facilities, and customer relations.

Instructora De Boa

Instructora De Boa is a Filipina-American born and raised in Chicago and based on the city's South Side. She began training Capoeira under Mestre Marisa Cordeiro in 2015 and has trained under Contra Mestre Tinta Forte since 2016. She earned the rank of Instructora in 2026.

Instructora De Boa teaches youth and adult Capoeira through Rise Training Academy's academy classes and school partnership programs. She oversees the academy's programming, staff and student administration, financial management, marketing, merchandise, strategic partnerships, and community initiatives.

She is committed to expanding access to Capoeira while building meaningful partnerships that strengthen health, culture, and community throughout Chicago's South Side.

Meet the Rise Training Team!