Capoeira combines several art forms into one
4/30/2025
Capoeira is defined as an Afro-Brazilian martial art that combines elements of dance, acrobatics, music and spirituality. The combination may sound too good to be true. But, for Juan Loruido, it is his hobby and passion. He originally came across the art form while at Huntington Beach with a group of friends.
“We started to hear music and clapping and a sound we hadn’t heard before. As we got closer, that’s when I got to see what capoeira looked like. And it was very different. It captured my attention,” Loruido said.
That was enough to get Loruido to attend classes. He was apprehensive at first, sitting on the side of the studio for the first month he attended.
“I was too nervous to jump into it, but they were super friendly and accommodating, and they gave me the time and said, ‘OK, whenever you’re ready, just jump in.’ Then I finally did, and I haven’t stopped since,” Loruido said.
Jumps, kicks and even flips can be seen while watching a performance of capoeira. Music to go along with the action-packed movements comes from drums, a pandeiro (which is like a tambourine) and the main instrument, a berimbau, which is not like any other instrument. Lourido played it to demonstrate, and the sound certainly grabs one’s attention.
The fun, sweat-inducing art form looks like a blast. It also comes with a rich history and culture.
“It was created by enslaved Africans in Brazil to survive, and not just survive in a way of ‘We are going to fight our oppressors.’ It was a way to stay in the community and stay together and grow together,” Lourido said, adding that he was initially drawn to the art because, “to be honest, I thought girls will like it. But what kept me in was that it has a lot of depth and meaning.”
It also gave him a positive outlet as a young 20-something looking for direction. The art form has plenty of avenues for Lourido to focus on.
“My master used to say, ‘If you’re a dancer, you’ll like the dancing. If you’re a martial artist, you’ll like the martial art. If you’re a musician, you’ll be into the music.’ If you’re a historian, you will dig into the origins of the transatlantic slave trade and how the cultures came together. For language, it has a lot of Portuguese, it has elements of the native languages, plus African languages,” Lourido said. “It has a lot of different elements that you can explore, and that’s a challenge. That’s what kept me in because, to this day, you will always have something that you can work on.”
Loruido moved to Des Moines from California eight years ago, but he almost ended up in another Midwestern city.
“We were going to go to St Louis. We happened to have a friend that lives here who’s a midwife, and she said, ‘Come and stay with me. I’ll deliver your baby and then you guys decide what you want to do,’ ” Loruido said.
The Loruido family decided to stay and plant their roots in Des Moines. Lourido began teaching capoeira lessons at Mainframe Studios for several months before the opportunity to open his own studio, Legacy in Motion Academy, in the East Village presented itself. Loruido envisions it becoming a hub for cultural hobbies.
“Capoeira is just what I happen to be doing for 20 years now. I also have some friends that are interested in doing some salsa and some break dancing. I’m Colombian by birth; I would like to bring some cumbia,” Lourido said.
Watching a video of the art form might intimidate some, but Loruido says participants do not need to start with flips and kicks from day one. Getting down the steps and the music is typically the introduction for newcomers.
“The music is the easiest thing. I think the music is that one element that’s very unique to capoeira. We train to do it, we practice with it, and we present with it,” Loruido said.
He hopes people can use the space for learning about capoeira and more.
“I just want to share with people that we’re here and that the doors are open. If you are interested in classes, reach out. But if you’re interested in using the space, reach out. I want to grow this with the community and make sure that people feel welcome,” Lourido said. ♦
