Contra-Mestre
FIAZ (Lobão)
Founder, Head Coach, Cultural Bridge-Builder
With over two decades of experience, countless trips to Brazil and hundreds of students impacted, Lobão is more than a coach — he’s the heartbeat of Capoeira 4 Scotland.
Fiaz’s Capoeira journey began in 2000 with Grupo Senzala, and later developed through mentorship with Mestre Papa-Léguas — founder of the Tucum Capoeira lineage. With a background in multiple martial arts, Fiaz found in Capoeira something deeper: a fusion of discipline and expression, movement and music, culture and community.
In 2006, he founded Glasgow Capoeira. By 2012, he had created the Glasgow University Capoeira Club. In 2023, he was awarded the rank of Contra-Mestre, a title that recognizes not just his skill, but his leadership and service to Capoeira.
He now leads C4S with a vision to make Capoeira accessible, inclusive, and life-changing for everyone — from young kids to seasoned movers. Fiaz is also a proud father, and one of his assistant coaches is none other than his daughter, Maya-Pipoca, who shares his love of teaching and the roda.
Mestre
PAPA-LÉGUAS
World-Renowned Capoeira Master, Founder of Tucum Lineage
Mestre Papa-Léguas is an internationally famous and world-renowned Capoeira master with over three decades of experience. Born and raised in Minas Gerais, Brazil where he honed his craft, he has travelled the globe to teach and perform Capoeira at the highest level, being regarded as one of the most technically skilled and innovative capoeiristas of today.
Mestre Papa-Léguas founded Tucum Capoeira in 2021 and is an inspirational guide and support of the work C4S does through his mastery of Capoeira as an art-form, comprehensive Tucum training methodology and the deep connections he forges with each and every student, from beginners to his students leading groups across the world.
Graduado-Avançado
MACIEJ (Tío)
Coach, Technician, Patience-Powered Mentor
Maciej discovered Capoeira in 2013 and never looked back. Balancing work, family, and training, he represents the soul of the everyday practitioner — proof that consistency, passion, and joy can turn practice into purpose.
Known for his strength in handstands and his calm, methodical teaching style, Maciej now leads beginner adult classes and supports C4S’s broader training programmes. He brings a martial arts sensibility to Capoeira, paired with a deep appreciation for its beauty, music, and depth.
Maciej is more than a coach — he’s a bridge. Between generations. Between disciplines. Between commitment and compassion.
Graduado-Avançado
ANDREW (Carudo)
Coach, Community Builder, Mental Health Advocate
With a background in psychology and social research, Andrew helps C4S measure its impact and design programmes that support physical, emotional, and social well-being. He teaches adult online classes — making Capoeira accessible beyond geography — and plays a key role in the development of C4S’s community projects and partnerships.
Andrew walked into his first Capoeira class as an overwhelmed university student with low fitness and high stress. What he found was life-changing. Now, more than a decade later, he helps others discover the same spark.
For Andrew, Capoeira isn’t just about movement — it’s about meaning. About seeing people as they are, and helping them rise.
Graduado
CORIN (Girafa)
Coach, Performer, Supporter for Equality
Corin discovered his love of Capoeira as a child, joining some of Contra-Mestre Fiaz’s first regular kids classes.
Growing up with Capoeira, Corin combines his musical and acrobatic talents with his background in classical and contemporary music, and a strong love of supporting and encouraging growth and expression to help coach the newer generations of Capoeira students – children and adults both.
Corin brings his natural understanding of the movement and musical flow of Capoeira alongside his strong passion for equality and making the music, movement and magic of Capoeira accessible in a beginner-friendly way for people of all backgrounds.
Graduada
NAIA (Raposinha)
Naia started training Capoeira with Contra-Mestre Lobão at the tender age of 9. Growing up with Capoeira, one of her strongest motivations is the love of supporting new students and kids as they grow through Capoeira, just as she has.
Through years of training intensively with Contra-Mestre Lobão and gaining vital insights from both visiting guest teachers and the local C4S community, Naia reflects and enhances both their energy and passion for Capoeira and her own.
Naia now balances her university studies with Capoeira, supporting Capoeira Camps and children’s activity programmes with her warm presence and supportive energy, both inside the roda and out.
Graduado
MAYA (Pipoca)
Coach, Acrobat, True Home-grown and World-focused Talent
Maya was literally born into Capoeira, with both her parents being Capoeira teachers and some of her earliest memories being of their classes!
Fully immersed in the movement, music, culture and especially acrobatics of Capoeira, Maya has wowed audiences across Glasgow and Scotland with her incredible agility and advanced movement, impressing visiting Mestres and teachers with her dedication to training, growing and learning in Capoeira and beyond with her wider background of ballet, gymnastics and multiple styles of dance.
As well as being a star player and performer at community events C4S has supported over the years, Maya is also leading the next generation of students through their own Capoeira journey, specialising in assisting Contra-Mestre Lobão in teaching kids acrobatics.
ASSISTANT COACHES
Rising Leaders, Guiding Hands
Our team includes five assistant coaches – all long-time students who’ve grown up with Capoeira. Trained directly by Contra-Mestre Lobão and mentored through over ten years of playing in the roda, music, and community service, they support our kids classes, events, and creative workshops.
They are proof that Capoeira doesn’t just build strength – it builds leaders.
