Pusat Aktiviti Kanak-Kanak (PAKK) and KL Krash Pad (KLKP)

Many have attested to how Capoeira has enhanced their life with a healthy lifestyle. According to Professor Rafael is more than a sport. “Capoeira is life - the music, the philosophy, and the people. Capoeira not only strengthen our bodies, it also strengthens our spirit to assist those who are in need.”

Professor Rafael recalls how, back in Brazil, his master Mestre Pintor - also founder for Grupo Bantus Capoeira - would visit the slums to teach the children Capoeira. The slums there are far more vicious than the streets of Chow Kit as young children were forced into drug rings and gangsterism. Therefore it is no surprise that young child there could pick up a gun! Today, most of the children Mestre has taught grown up to become young healthy adults and some of them even became outstanding Capoeiristas.

Members of Bantus here were much compelled by this story that in 2009, they approached Yayasan Nur Salam with the idea of following Mestre’s footsteps. They could have donated money to help, but instead, they chose to carry Mestre’s legacy by volunteering to teach the children and teenagers at risk in Pusat Aktiviti Kanak-Kanak (PAKK) and KL Krash Pad (KLKP) to train the art of Capoeira, which included not just learning the martial art but also singing, dancing and playing Brazilian musical instruments. In fact, the children have been very enthusiastic about Capoeira. The children and teenagers thus became more engaged in training for fitness while developing higher self-esteem, creativity and ability for self expression instead of roaming the streets and exposing themselves to vice activities.  As a result of this, the Foundation, under the purview of Ministry of Women, Health and Community Development have been very supportive of the Capoeira training program in their centers.

In January 2011, after more than a year of the positive vibes, members of Bantus felt that it was time to recognize their passion and effort in training Capoeira by organizing The KL Krash Pad Welcome festival. Co-produced by Yayasan Chow Kit, KL Krash Pad, PAKK and the Ministry of Women, Health and Community Development the festival entails a workshop with Grupo Bantus Capoeira Instructors from Malaysia, Singapore and Australia followed by an initiation ceremony to welcome young Capoeiristas into the GBCM family.