ABADÁ-Capoeira Overview
Our Mission
The mission of ABADÁ-Capoeira San Francisco (ACSF) is to preserve, develop, and share the art of capoeira with integrity, and to use capoeira to enrich disadvantaged communities and the lives of people from all backgrounds.
ACSF offers professional instruction and performance of capoeira at its Mission-based Brazilian Arts Center, and at over 30 sites throughout the Bay Area.
Founded in 1991 by master capoeira artist Mestranda Márcia Treidler, ACSF seeks to inspire and empower people-- especially youth from disadvantaged backgrounds-- to realize their full potential as responsible, confident, productive members of society. By consistently seeking out new creative ways of exploring and sharing the dynamic aspects of the multi-faceted art of capoeira and related arts, ACSF remains a pioneering force in the preservation and development of Brazilian cultural arts.

Philosophy and Values
ABADÁ-Capoeira believes in using capoeira as an effective vehicle for promoting social change and integration and stimulating individual growth. ACSF uses the instruction and performance of capoeira to transcend socio-economic barriers between communities and encourage community empowerment. ACSF helps meet the community's need for safe, accessible space for participants of all ages and abilities to participate in meaningful activities that engage body, heart, and mind, and serves as a valuable cultural resource. The organization promotes individual and community values of respect, cooperation, and freedom.

Teaching Methodology
ABADÁ's teaching methodology is both challenging and supportive, rooted in the belief that encouragement and positive role modeling enable capoeira to enrich the lives of all students, regardless of level or background. ACSF provides all students with leadership skills and tools to develop into competent professionals.

International Affiliation
ABADÁ-Capoeira San Francisco shares name and philosophy with the international organization of 40,000 members, which was founded in 1988 by Mestre Camisa, and is based in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The letters ABADÁ-Capoeira, translated into English, stand for the Brazilian Association for the Support and Development of the Art of Capoeira.
Mestre Camisa developed his own philosophy and methodology for teaching capoeira by following the innovative concepts of his teacher, the great Master of Capoeira Regional, Mestre Bimba. Mestre Camisa's vision for ABADÁ-Capoeira has been to create an organization that strives to move forward by keeping one foot in the past and one foot in the future, maintaining tradition while adapting to society's changes.
The organization strives to improve and promote capoeira— allowing it to reach its full potential as an internationally respected art, while maintaining its dignity, character, history, and traditions.
The organization is driven by the life-long commitments of Mestre Camisa, his brother Grão Mestre Camisa Roxa, and the eleven highest-ranked ABADÁ-Capoeira artists who have achieved the level of “Mestre” or “Mestrando/a.” Today, ABADÁ-Capoeira is the largest and most successful capoeira organization in the world and is represented throughout Brazil and in 19 countries— Angola, Israel, Japan, Tahiti, Morocco, Spain, France, Italy, England, Belgium, Holland, Austria, Germany, Sweden, Portugal, Poland, Russia, Mexico, and the USA.

ABADÁ Style
ABADÁ-Capoeira prides itself on the originality and constant refinement of its style of capoeira, renown for efficiency, aesthetics, and cultural and historical relevance. The original style of ABADÁ-Capoeira seeks to incorporate both Capoeira Regional and Capoeira Angola, and embraces the modernizing innovations of the legendary Mestre Bimba without losing sight of the history and philosophy of the ancient art.
ABADÁ-Capoeira believes that the study of capoeira involves dedication to all the various aspects of the art, including the relentless pursuit of technical mastery of the physical elements of capoeira, constant evolution of the technique to improve efficiency and prevent injury, understanding of and reverence for capoeira's rich history, individual competency and knowledge of the music and instruments of capoeira, preservation and recovery of the instruments, rhythms, and games of capoeira, and participation in the larger capoeira community in Brazil and throughout the world.

Adult Graduation System
BEGINNER:
- Natural
- Natural/Yellow: Transition
- Yellow: "Gold" signifies the value of the apprenticeship to be developed.
STUDENT:
- Yellow/Orange: Transition
- Orange: The "Sun" signifies the awakening of the consciousness of the apprenticeship.
- Orange/Blue: Transition
GRADUATE:
- Blue: The "Sea" signifies the consciousness of the immensity of the path that is ahead.
- Blue/Green: Transition
- Green: The "Forest" signifies the lungs of the world. It is in this graduation that the strength of the work is concentrated, as is the solidification of the apprenticeship. In this graduation lies the foundation of the future of ABADÁ-Capoeira.
- Green/Purple: Transition
INSTRUTOR/A:
- Purple: This is the reflection of the continuity of Capoeira. In this graduation one works to overcome physical, psychological, and spiritual pains in the search for knowledge of Capoeira and the defense of ABADÁ's ideals.
- Purple/Brown: Transition
PROFESSOR/A:
- Brown: The "Chameleon" At this level the Capoeirista has assimilated the style of the group. From this graduation comes future Mestrandos, Masters, and Grand Masters.
- Brown/Red: Transition
MESTRANDO/A:
- Red: The "Ruby" is the stone that symbolizes justice. It is this graduation in which the Capoeirista acquires responsibility towards Capoeira and tries to conduct their work and make decisions with justice.
MESTRE:
- Red/White: In this graduation the Capoeirista tries to develop their potential in order to concentrate and maintain ABADÁ's ideals. It is a phase of transformation, because the Mestre is preparing to obtain the highest graduation in ABADÁ's system. In order to achieve Grão-Mestre, it is necessary to make decisions with precision, honesty and above all with wisdom and impartiality.
- White: The "Diamond" is the hardest and most resilient mineral. It reflects all colors and all colors are united in white.
GRÃO MESTRE:
- From the Grão-Mestre, ABADÁ is given its support in order to preserve its ideals. It is through the wisdom, patience, humility, loyalty, and firm beliefs of the Grão-Mestre that ABADÁ can maintain its philosophy, tradition, and principles. There can only be one Grão-Mestre in ABADÁ. All attributes will be concentrated in this one person. The Grão-Mestre has the highest responsibility in conducting the fate of ABADÁ. This title is currently held by Grão Mestre Camisa Roxa, Mestre Camisa's older brother.
Youth Graduation System
BEGINNER:
- Natural
- Natural with Yellow tassel
- Natural/Yellow
- Yellow
- Natural with Orange tassel
- Orange/Natural
- 1/2 Orange with Yellow tassel
STUDENT:
- Orange/Yellow
- Orange
- Blue/Natural
- 1/2 Blue with Yellow Tassel
- Blue/Yellow
- 1/2 Blue with Orange Tassel
- Blue/Orange
- Blue
After a student reaches the level of Blue, he/she will remain at that level until the age of sixteen, at which time they transfer to the adult system.
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