- Come on. Faster, Sabia encourages his students. Rhythmic tones are floating out of a cd player. Students are moving fast, but with elegant and calm movements. They move softly and circulate arms, hips and legs, as an African dance. A high but controlled kick is triggered by a young boy. The girl who stood opposite of him, reacts quickly and escape the attack. Moaning and heavy breaths. All muscles are being used. Smile and laughter mixed with deep concentration. This is the group "Nação Capoeira" in a favela - a poor area - called Baixa de Paz, just outside of the city Salvador in Brazil.

It all started here in Salvador in the mid 16th century. The slaves that were brought from Africa to Brazil developed self-defense techniques, based on African movements. All forms of combat training were forbidden, therefore they disguised it as innocent dance with African rhythms. The traditions from the African roots have been maintained and Capoeira is now a national sport.

The year is 1998 and 13 years old Sabia is walking home from school with his friends. The heat is overbearing but they are half running in excitement. On the way they meet one of the older boys from their neighborhood.
- Are you small guys so tough that you dare to attend the opening of "Nação Capoeira"? He asks them. The teenage boys nod eagerly in respond. They have never talked to a Capoeira mestre, but today there are three mestres coming to the neighborhood. The butterflies in Sabia’s stomach is going wild while he turns the corner to the entrance of Baixa de Paz and see Mestre DiAlabama, Mestre Cecar e Mestre Ze Doro. And he immediately knew that Capoeira would be an important part of his life.

"Nação Capoeira" was created primarily to further the Brazilian culture and traditions through the sport Capoeira. At the same time, the goal was to inspire a development of personality through training. Later the group became the core of a project to give street kids a future through education and sport.
- We give the kids education and try to get them away from the streets, explains Mestre DiAlabama, the founder of "Nação Capoeira". The largest project is in Baixa de Paz. If you are born and raised in a favela in Brazil, it can be difficult to get out, and it is not common for poor people to take higher education.

Inside the workout hall, 21 years old Sabia is waiting for the students that he is teaching for his mestre, who moved to the USA and initiated a group there.
- I started off here in Baixa de Paz and have now completed high school. So I know what I do is important to the street kids. We have given them a family and a hope. I want to inspire them to want something more of the sport, he says with a smiling. For Sabia the dream is to study sports and become a trainer, like his mestre.
- Being able to live off Capoeira is the driving force in my life, he continues.

Drum beats and clapping to the beat, mixed with song and tones from a stringed instrument called berimbau. 14 year old Rueidi is late for the class and stops in the doorway.
- Salve, he says respectfully to his coach Sabia, and waits politely for permission to enter the hall.
- Discipline and order are important elements of Capoeira, explains Rueidi.
- The sport affects both the body and the mind positively. It forms you, he says. Ans Sabia nods in agreement as he gives a signal of permission.
- It is not just a game, but a way of life, states Rueidi before he disappears into the mass of capoeira students.

On a staircase outside the local bar in Baixa de Paz sits four young boys from "Nação Capoeira". The group is like a family. You will be accepted regardless of education, religion, age, income or skin color. Inside the gym they are all equal. On the streets they are siblings. The oldest of the boys have a worn out Capoeira-pants and it still smells of sweat from yesterday´s training. He tells his "brothers" about a trick he did at practice the day before. Everything is about Capoeira.

Many children and young people in Baixa de Paz wants to develop their skills. But a future as a capoeira trainer is not done by luck. Sabia exercises every day. It has taken time and effort to get where he is today, and he does not stop here. He wants to use his knowledge to give poor people a meaningful life. Sabia does cart wheels, high kicks and goes up into a handstand. He finds the balance. It is clear that his muscles are working hard. After five minutes his arms still keeps him steady as a rock. Sabia is confident that they can carry him a lifetime.