About Us

What is CapoVAM?

Capoeira Volta Ao Mundo (CapoVAM) is a group that teaches Capoeira, a Brazilian martial art that combines dance and music. It originated with African slaves in Brazil as a way to fight back against Portuguese oppressors. The art emphasizes using the lower body to kick, sweep, and take down opponents, while the upper body assists with those movements and can also attack. Capoeira also features complex positions and body postures that are meant to be chained together in an uninterrupted flow, allowing the practitioner to strike, dodge, and move without breaking motion.

Our Story

Mestre Rony Costa founded CapoVAM in 1996 and has been teaching Capoeira in Florida since 1998. The group has expanded over time to include schools in Sarasota, Lakewood Ranch, Tampa, Tallahassee and Miami in Florida alone, as well as schools in Springfield in Illinois, Lexington and Louisville in  Kentucky, Boston in Massachusetts, St. Louis in Missouri, and Aguascalientes, Mexico, .

Our most notable accomplishment is the creation of CapoKids, a full time preschool and afterschool program with three locations in the Sarasota area. With these included, we offer classes both for 3 year old’s and 63 year old’s. Capoeira VAM is a community for all ages.

Capoeira on siesta beach

Some say that Capoeira can help you learn discipline, music, Portuguese, coordination, fitness, and self-defense. Others say that it’s a great way to burn calories and learn a new martial art.

lakewood ranch music

Do you know we offer the CapoKids Program?

… these are Preschool Classes and After-School Activities.

Pre-school Program in Sarasota and Lakewood Ranch

Pre-School Program

The CapoKids Martial Arts Preschool is the first and the only Capoeira preschool in the world

After School Program in Sarasota and Lakewood Ranch

After School Program

One hour Martial Arts, Music, Gymnastics and FUN Physical Activities.

Summer Camp for the Sarasota and Bradenton area

Summer Camp

We started in 2001 with our camps and they are getting better every single year.

What our members say …

capovam boy practice Brazilian martial art

I know for my own son, I consider your academy an integral part of his childhood education. And I personally think that if parents only knew the benefits to your program for childrenÆs brains and health, they would make sure their kids went to as many of your classes as possible.

Blase Ryan
capovam practice - Brazilian martial art class

Capoeira has taught me how to feel respect in new ways. Now, I have a ever-deepening respect for what capoeira is, the history, and the art form that is a fast moving flow of poetic energy. It is raw energy that is controlled through technique. Honestly for as many times as I had seen Capoeira, I didn’t realize how COOL it was until I started actually trying to learn it.

Steve Loftus
capovam class practice Brazilian martial art

When I first started, my goal was to get in shape and I thought Capoeira would be a fun way to do so. With most exercise regiments I am easily bored, but there is no boredom in playing Capoeira. I didn’t realize how many mental blocks I would need to be overcome to play and how it would change me in other aspects of my life. Now I am not only gaining physical strength but strength in character as well.

Christine Traylor Fox