ABADÁ Marin is led by Helisângela Silva Willoughby, also known as Lisa, a longtime student of one of the top-ranked female capoeiristas in the world, Mestra Márcia “Cigarra” Triedler, at ABADÁ -San Francisco.  ABADÁ-Marin was founded to extend the award-winning youth and adult programs of ABADÁ -San Francisco to the Marin County community.

ABADÁ (pronounced Ah-bah-dah) is the largest capoeira organization in the world, with over 40,000 members all across the globe.  ABADÁ Capoeira’s mission is to spread the African-Brazilian martial art form of capoeira worldwide, while simultaneously promoting good character, respect, and dignity.  Through capoeira, students develop skills in self-defense, acrobatics, instrument playing, rhythm, singing, language skills, goal-setting, team-work, leadership, cultural and social cooperation, respect and tradition, as well as personal confidence.  In this way, ABADÁ classes can have a permanent, positive impact on our students’ lives.

We believe capoeira is a great vehicle for teaching life lessons in leadership, goal-setting, team-work, cultural and social cooperation, respect and tradition, as well as personal confidence. Through capoeira young students also develop skills in self-defense, acrobatics, instrument playing, rhythm and singing, and language skills. In this way, our youth classes can have a permanent, positive impact on our young students’ lives.