“I think capoeira taught me to be part of a circle. It taught me to be in the present - that there was no past or future, no winning or losing. It was all about a game you play and get better at it. You can only control your opponent when you master yourself. There’s no room for egos in capoeira, just oneness,” says Nina.

“I think that it’s important to know that even though you’re not going to be the next Bruce Lee or a great master, that there is still a place where you can train,” said Deshawn. “You can find a balance with your work, life and school.”

“But still, although historians tie the capoeira to Africa, historians continue to debate exactly how the dance is tied to Africa and its people.”

Watch: Local news segment on Roanoke Capoeira (ASCAB) in Virginia

“On July 11, a special capoeira martial arts interactive workshop with Mario Hill will begin at 1 p.m. Children will have the opportunity to learn about the history of capoeira, some basic movements, an introduction to musical instruments and a capoeira song.”