Marcus H.

Capoeira, Martial arts, Movement

Boston

• Capoeira has brought me opportunities to travel locally and globally.
• My mother signed me up for marital arts at the age of four, thinking it would strengthen my hand motor weakness.
• Because I have seen every type of person imaginable play Capoeira (pregnant woman to the elderly) I can say anyone has the potential to try it.

With 17 years of working with young people who derive from various ages and social contexts in non traditional, education programs, I treat learning as if it's a trip to a museum; acquiring knowledge shouldn't come at the cost of fun. Thus, creativity in my eyes matters a whole lot. I put emphasis on it. If I can teach myself something interesting and translate it into kid language, chances are I will implement it. But art, physical education, and storytelling are the pillars I build upon to create an engaging learning experience. They constitute my strengths that I incorporate other subjects into. My courses at Togetherhood cater towards each strength. One specific course has occupied my free time since I was in high school; 2009 marks when I begun the Afro-Brazilian martial art Capoeira. My master asked me if I wanted to help out with a kid's class. This commitment allowed me to experience teaching at an early age around Boston and its surrounding cities. Arapelidos (nicknames) are common for Capoeiristas to receive. Marcus is known as Bodinho (little goat) within the Capoeira community. Unlike most other martial arts, Capoeiristas describe Capoeira as playing a game. Thus, the community normalizes playful learning. I owe a great deal of my teaching style to Capoeira. Capoeira mixes gymnastics, music, language (Brazilian Portuguese), history, culture, and art (making instruments from scratch) all into the martial aspect. Whether I teach Capoeira or something else, I always take a multidisciplinary approach.