OUR TEAM
CAPOEIRA
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CONTRA MESTRE TINTA FORTE
Contra Mestre Tinta Forte, as he is known in the capoeira community, was born and raised on the South Side of Chicago in the West Pullman neighborhood. After high school, Victor started training in the Afro-Brazilian martial art of capoeira with Mestre Marisa Cordeiro of Gingarte Capoeira in 1999. Mestre Marisa’s capoeira group was often booked to perform at Brazilian cultural shows. As a performer, Victor was able to experience all parts of the city and is grateful for this art that teaches pride through an Afrocentric experience.
Although the majority of his capoeira training has been in Chicago, 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. He earned his “Contra Mestre” capoeira cord in 2022. Contra Mestre Tinta Forte teaches with safety as a priority and is American Red Cross CPR, First Aid, and Illinois Mandated Reporter certified. |
PROFESSOR EMBUIA
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Professor Embuia has been training capoeira for over 17 years in Chicago and has traveled extensively nationally and internationally to capoeira events.
Professor Embuia has also hosted virtual workshops for Rise Training Academy on health and nutrition. In addition to being a martial artist, he also works as Community Engagement Manager for Healthy Schools Campaign. Professor Embuia currently teaches our capoeira adults classes and performs at our community events. |
INSTRUCTOR COM DENDE
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Com Dendê began his capoeira journey training in the Angola style during his senior year of high school in 2002. He spent nearly two years with his teacher before circumstances left him needing a new capoeira home, and he found one in Gingarte Capoeira in 2005.
In capoeira, Com Dendê had found an outlet and a family unlike in any other activity, even his previous personal favorites of volleyball and soccer. For him, the art represented freedom - and for that reason he has remained a student of it for two decades, no matter where life has led. His training saw some hiatuses when he spent some years living in the suburbs to further his education, and more still when he became a father in 2015 and joined the electrician's trade. Even so, Com Dendê comes to capoeira as a man with much perseverance, and he earned his blue 'instructor' cord in July of 2022. Instructor Com Dendê currently teaches Rise Training adults and kids capoeira classes and performs at our community events. |
DE BOA
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De Boa was born and raised in Chicago and is based on the South Side. De Boa has trained capoeira under Mestre Marisa (Gingarte Capoeira) since 2015 and solely under CM Tinta Forte since 2017.
De Boa teaches kids capoeira classes through Rise Training's school & non-profit organization partnership programs. She also assists in teaching capoeira fundamentals and performs at community events. De Boa's other interests in movement arts includes years of prior experience in yoga and salsa. |
LOUVA DEUS
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Louva Deus is an Illinois native and South Side resident. He has more than 10 years of martial arts experience and has trained in multiple styles, including Taekwondo, Combat Hapkido, and Capoeira.
Louva Deus earned his black belt in Taekwondo in 2014 at Equa Do Martial Arts under Master Eric DeVeau. As part of the requirements for black belt and after achieving the rank, he has taught and led classes including students of all ages with some as young as five years old. Louva Deus has also earned his red belt in Combat Hapkido; this is a senior belt level that also includes the responsibility of instruction. He has been training under Contra Mestre Tinta Forte at Rise Training Academy and is excited to share the joy of capoeira with others! |
MESTRE MARISA CORDEIRO
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Rise Training trains under the tutelage of Mestre Marisa Cordeiro. She ranks among the highest female capoeiristas in the United States. Mestre Marisa is a leader of the Brazilian community in Chicago and founder of her group Gingarte Capoeira in 1991.
Born in Curvelo, Brazil, Mestre Marisa is a student of Mestre Suassuna and trained at the prestigious Cordão de Ouro Capoeira Academy in São Paulo with other top masters such as Mestre Canguru and Mestre Urubu Malandro. She is well respected in Brazil and around the world as a pioneer for women in capoeira. |
