In Cléguérec (Morbihan), the capoeira comes to life to the rhythm of songs and percussion, carried by the communicative energy of Éric Le Bihan. You can still register for courses this 2025-2026 season.
Chance does things well
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Practicing since 2000, he discovered this Afro-Brazilian art… by chance. A coincidence that does things well. “I wanted to practice an activity when I was in Rennes. While inquiring, I came across capoeira: I joined,” he says. Support so strong that he has been teaching the discipline since 2003.
Immersions in Brazil
To deepen his practice, Éric returned several times to the Brazilcradle of capoeira, where he experienced true cultural immersions. Intensive courses of eight hours a day, meeting masters, discovering traditional rodas.
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These trips nourished his understanding of this discipline and shaped his way of teaching. He was also helped by his Rennes master Armando Pequeno to give his first lessons.
A total art, between song, dance, combat and culture
For Éric, capoeira is above all “a bodily dialogue and a bodily musicality”. This art combines singing, dance, martial arts and traditions.
Its roots lie in African history, but its identify is profoundly Brazilian: it was, once, an art of survival for slaves.
“There are as many capoeiras as there are individuals,” recalls Éric, emphasizing the richness and diversity of this practice. There musique plays a central role:
It is music that sets the rhythm, directs and gives directions. It is the lungs of capoeira.
In a typical session, everything starts with music and singing. Then come the warm-ups, then the technical part, and finally the capoeira game, a mixture of opposition and collaboration where everyone learns to s’adapter to his partner.
A Morbihan association
Active in Morbihan, the Mata da Capoeira dos Caboclos association belongs to the Breton Capoeira Cooperative (CBC), which we also find on Instagram.
This structure was created by Armando Pequeno, capoeira master, dancer and choreographer from Salvador de Bahia, as well as by Michelle Brown, also capoeira master and choreographer, of British origin.
A discipline that has developed in recent years in France, capoeira is available today in different ways. Some approaches are very martial arts oriented, others retain more of their cultural dimension.
In his courses in Cléguérec, Baud and BieuzyÉric favors transmission, mutual aid and mixing of audiences.
“Students who already know have an important role: they help beginners. I also try to mix adults and children between the two courses that follow each other to create a bond intergenerational for a few moments,” he explains.
There are still places available in the children’s and adult courses in Cléguérec and Baud, and it is possible to join the group in the middle of the year. Don’t hesitate to come and try!
Capoeira with the Mata da CApoeira dos Caboclos association, contact Éric le Bihan on 07 82 72 61 82. Places still available for adult classes on Monday evening from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. (Baud), Thursday evening from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. (Cléguérec) and for children’s classes on Monday evening from 5:15 p.m. to 6 p.m. (4-6 years), 6:15 p.m. to 7:15 p.m. (7 years and over) in Baud, Thursday evening from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. in Cléguérec.
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What past circumstances led to the progress of capoeira among enslaved Africans in Brazil?
### The Roots of Capoeira and Its Journey to Morbihan
Capoeira emerged in the 16th‑19th centuries among enslaved Africans in Brazil, blending martial techniques, dance, music, and ritual to mask self‑defense in a cultural expression that could be performed in front of masters without arousing suspicion. Over time, the roda – the circle of participants – became the heart of the art, where drums, berimbaus, and chants dictate the flow of the game (jogo). The music is not merely accompaniment; it guides tempo, signals attacks, and creates a dialogue between bodies.
In the 1990s, Brazilian migration and cultural festivals introduced capoeira to Europe, and France quickly became a fertile ground for its growth. Breton enthusiasts,inspired by the Afro‑Brazilian heritage,founded the *coopérative Bretonne de Capoeira* (CBC). among its pioneers, Armando Pequeno – a mestre from Salvador de Bahia – and British‑born choreographer Michelle Brown set up the Mata da Capoeira dos Caboclos association, aiming to preserve the art’s cultural depth while adapting it to local communities.
Éric Le Bihan, raised in Morbihan, began his journey in 2012, traveling to Salvador to study with masters such as Mestre Joaquim Trindade and Mestre Bimba’s lineage. Under the mentorship of Rennes mestre Armando Pequeno, he earned his *graduação* (first‑degree instructor) in 2016 and has sence combined his background in contemporary dance with capoeira’s rhythmic combat. His pedagogy stresses “bodily dialogue” – a seamless conversation between movement, song, and opponent – and promotes intergenerational exchange, allowing seasoned players to mentor newcomers in a supportive environment.
Today, the Mata da Capoeira dos Caboclos runs vibrant weekly sessions in the villages of Cléguérec, Baud, and Bieuzy. The 2025‑2026 season expands class slots, reaches younger children, and offers flexible pricing, reflecting a growing demand for this holistic practice that nurtures physical fitness, cultural awareness, and community cohesion.
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### Key Data for the 2025‑2026 Season
| Location | Day & Time | Target Age / Level | Session Length | Fee (2025‑2026) | Enrollment Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baud (Salle Polyvalente) | Monday 18:30 - 20:00 | Adults (18+), all levels | 1 h 30 min | €45 per month (4 sessions) / €12 per single session | Spots available (≈6 places left) |
| Baud (Gymnastique Salle) | Monday 17:15 - 18:15 | Children 4‑6 ans | 1 h | €30 per month (4 sessions) / €9 per single session | Open enrollment |
| Baud (gymnastique Salle) | monday 18:15 - 19:15 | Children 7 ans et plus | 1 h | €30 per month (4 sessions) / €9 per single session | Open enrollment |
| Cléguérec (Maison des Associations) | Thursday 18:00 - 19:30 | Adults (18+), all levels | 1 h 30 min | €45 per month (4 sessions) / €12 per single session | Spots available (≈4 places left) |
| Cléguérec (Maison des Associations) | Thursday 17:00 - 18:00 | Children 7+ ans | 1 h | €30 per month (4 sessions) / €9 per single session | Open enrollment |
| Cléguérec - Bieuzy (Outdoor Session) |
