About Valente
Valente was founded in 2013 by Mark de Gouveia, also known as Professor Piranha. More than just a Capoeira school, Valente is a holistic lifestyle community rooted in movement, connection, and transformation. Our mission is to help individuals unlock their full potential through Capoeira and biohacking, creating a space where physical, mental, and emotional growth thrive.
Mission
Most people have lost touch with movement. Screens replaced play. Desks replaced motion. Modern life turned the body into something to manage, not something to live in.
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Capoeira Valente exists to change that. We teach an art form that is martial art, music, dance, and community all at once, not a substitute for any one of them, but all of them together.
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Kids leave with confidence they built themselves. Adults leave with mobility their desks took away. Everyone leaves part of something bigger than a class: the roda.
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Move freely. Live boldly. Belong deeply.
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Meet Our Founder
Mark’s journey with Capoeira began in February 2006, at a time of immense personal tragedy. After losing both his parents in the Thailand tsunami a year earlier, Mark struggled to cope with the trauma, turning to unhealthy coping mechanisms that only deepened his pain. Searching for a way to heal, he discovered Capoeira.
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This transformative art form became his sanctuary, a space where movement, music, and martial arts helped him reconnect with his body, find peace, and begin a journey of self-discovery. Through Capoeira, Mark faced his fears, embraced challenges, and ultimately unlocked a newfound sense of confidence and self-awareness.
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...And so Professor Piranha was born.
Capoeira not only saved Mark’s life but also gave him a purpose: to help others realize their own potential.
At Valente, Piranha strives to bring out the superhuman within every individual, empowering students to overcome their fears and uncover their innate strength through commitment and practice.
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Piranha is more than a Capoeira instructor; he is a leading health expert in South Africa with extensive knowledge in physical and mental performance, longevity, and holistic health.
His expertise spans nutrition, supplementation, psychology, sleep optimization, fasting, hormonal health, and the intricate connection between the mind, emotions, and body.
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About Capoeira
Capoeira is more than just a martial art, it’s a dynamic fusion of movement, music, and history that connects people from all walks of life into a vibrant, diverse community.
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Rooted in 400 years of rich tradition, Capoeira offers a unique blend of physical and mental benefits. Its circular, flowing, and inverted movements not only build strength, agility, and endurance but also stimulate brain development. By engaging the vestibular system (balance), the cerebellum, eye tracking, midline crossing, and proprioception, Capoeira enhances focus, cognitive function, and motor coordination. It’s a practice that challenges the body while sparking creativity, playfulness, and self-expression.
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While self-defense is a natural byproduct of Capoeira, it’s not the initial focus. The movement begins as an exploration, fluid, powerful, and rooted in rhythm. Over time, as students deepen their understanding, the self-defense aspect emerges naturally, almost mysteriously, through practice and immersion.
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The true essence of Capoeira cannot be fully captured in words, it must be experienced in the roda (Capoeira sparring ring). It’s in the roda that Capoeira comes alive, blending strategy, expression, and connection in a way that is both exhilarating and transformative.
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Capoeira is for everyone, young and old, every body type, and every level of fitness. It is a journey of continuous growth, where each person refines their skills, builds resilience, and discovers a deeper connection to their body, spirit, and character. The path of Capoeira is personal, fulfilling, and never-ending
A celebration of life through movement, music, and community.