ABADÁ-Capoeira Marin
Who we are
Welcome to ABADÁ-Capoeira Marin!
ABADÁ-Capoeira Marin was founded by Helisângela Silva Willoughby, also known as Lisa OR Ciranda in the capoeira world, a longtime student of one of the top-ranked female capoeiristas in the world, Mestra Márcia “Cigarra” Triedler, at ABADÁ-San Francisco. ABADÁ-Marin was founded to extend the award-winning youth and adult programs of ABADÁ-San Francisco to the Marin County community. The principal teachers of ABADÁ-Capoeira Marin are Professor Prego and Instrutora Ciranda.
The Mission: Our mission is to provide the very best capoeira program in Marin County and enrich our students’ lives through culture and diversity. By incorporating these values, we hope to help our students become good citizens in our local and global community. Our program is based on encouragement, truth, trust, active listening, personal effort.
Diego Freitas
"Professor Prego"
Diego Silva de Freitas (Professor Prego) is an accomplished athlete and performance artist who has dedicated his life to the study and teaching of capoeira. He trains rigorously 6-7 days a week, constantly seeking to improve his abilities in all aspects of capoeira.
Diego was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and grew up in a large family there. He, his sister and two brothers all played capoeira. At the age of ten, he began training capoeira with the late Mestre João do Pulo, with whom he started practicing his first gingas.
In 2002, he began training as a teenager with Mestrando Arporador (still an Instructor at that time), in Rio de Janeiro. Subsequently, Diego began competing and teaching.
Here are a few of Professor Prego's top results in ABADÁ-Capoeira competitions:
• Jogos do Rio, Rio de Janeiro, 2004, 2nd place for green belt.
• Jogos Carioca, Rio de Janeiro 2005, 3rd place
• Jogos Carioca, Rio de Janeiro 2006, 1st place
• Jogos Estaduais do Rio de Janeiro 2009, 2nd place
• Copa Mestre Bimba, New York, 2012, 1st place
• Copa Mestre Bimba, New York 2013, 1st place
• North American Games, Mexico City, 2019, 1st place
In 2012, Diego moved to New York, where he assisted local ABADÁ-Capoeira teachers with their social programs in many locations. In 2016, Professor Prego, at the time still an Instructor, moved to the Bay Area and joined ABADÁ-Capoeira Marin to help Instrutora Ciranda teach and develop capoeira in Marin County.
Professor Prego is known for his outstanding ability to teach capoeira to students of all levels as well as his generous and positive nature. He has performed and assisted in dozens of ABADÁ Batizados (graduation ceremonies) and theatrical capoeira presentations all over the world. His special skills include not only high-flying acrobatics, but also world-class musical skills.
Professor Prego is Artistic Director of ABADÁ-Capoeira Marin, and currently teaches capoeira to children and adults throughout Marin County in our program. He has received numerous commemorations for his active role in producing ABADÁ-Capoeira Marin's annual Batizados since 2016. In 2019, Professor Prego received his brown cord in Rio de Janeiro at the ABADÁ-Capoeira International Arts Festival, an yearly event organized by Mestre Camisa, the President and founder of ABADÁ-Capoeira.
Lisa Willoughby
"Instrutora Ciranda"
Lisa Silva Willoughby (Instrutora Ciranda) is a native of Goiânia, Brazil who has made it her life's work to make capoeira a permanent part of Marin County culture through ABADÁ-Capoeira Marin, which she founded in 2014. After graduating with a degree in Public Relations from the State University of São Paulo, Lisa worked in the marketing field both in Brazil and California.
After meeting her husband and starting a family in San Francisco, Lisa had the privilege of training with Mestra Márcia Cigarra, one of the top-ranked capoeirstas in the world, for many years at ABADÁ-Capoeira San Francisco.
In 2009, Lisa began teaching capoeira to children at San Francisco public and private schools and was struck by the life-changing and positive impact capoeira made in her student's lives. She was also amazed at how capoeira could bring people together of all ages, races, physical abilities and economic levels.
With encouragement and supervision by Mestra Márcia, Lisa formed ABADA-Capoeira Marin in 2014. Since then, Lisa has taught capoeira to Marinites of all ages — from pre-school age children to seniors — throughout the County. Since 2016, she has worked closely with Professor Prego to grow ABADA-Capoeira Marin. In 2019, ABADA-Capoeira Marin became a certified non-profit corporation with both the federal and state government.
Lisa's dream is to continue to promote capoeira's amazing attributes to the people of Marin until capoeira is a fundamental part of Marin County culture. She is extremely dedicated to her students and giving back to the community. She typically is the point-person for ABADA-Capoeira Marin, working directly with school and county representatives. In addition to her administrative and teaching work, Lisa has participated in Batizados, competitions and theatrical performances all over the world.
She has been a regular member of the ABADÁ-Capoeira San Francisco performance troupe since 2008. In August 2018, Ciranda received her purple cord with the title of Instructor in Brazil, at the XX National Arts Festival in Rio de Janeiro.
In August 2019, Lisa won her first international competitive title by being named co-champion of the Women's Baobá Division at the 2019 ABADÁ-Capoeira International Games in Rio de Janeiro.
In August 2021, Lisa won the online edition of international competitive title by being named co-champion of the Women's Baobá Division at the 2021. ABADÁ-Capoeira International ON-LINE Games, during the pandemia.
In 2021 Ciranda received her purple and brown cord, in San Francisco, California during the pandemia.
In August 2023, AGAIN, Lisa won her second international competitive title by being named co-champion of the Women's Baobá Division at the 2023 ABADÁ-Capoeira International Games in Rio de Janeiro.
Gamal Abdel Chasten
"Graduado Maçaranduba"
Gamal Abdel Chasten (Graduado Maçaranduba) is an experienced martial artist, boxing trainer and certified professional fitness trainer. Gamal grew up in New York, where he studied Chinese Kung Fu, Wing Chun, Escrima, and boxing. He has worked as a fitness professional for over 30 years. He received his first personal training certification in 1995 with AFAA. He is currently certified by NASM, TRX and USA Boxing.
In the early 2000’s, Gamal trained with legendary Capoeira Angola master Mestre Joāo Grande in New York. This inspired him to pursue capoeira following his move from New York in 2009. In 2016, Gamal begain training with Instrutora Ciranda at ABADÁ-Capoeira Marin. In October 2021, Gamal was awarded the title of Graduado at ABADÁ-Capoeira Marin's annual Batizado, supervised by Mestra Márcia “Cigarra” Treidler of ABADÁ-Capoeira San Francisco. Gamal is the first student of Professor Prego and Instrutora Ciranda to earn the ranking of Graduado.
Gamal currently teaches both capoeira classes and fitness classes at ABADÁ-Capoeira Marin’s San Anselmo studio. Gamal also continues to teach boxing training and personal training at this same location. Gamal also is an accomplished theater actor, spoken-word artist, writer and producer.
“Our Students are our first Priority
Thank you very much for all of the hard work and energy. I feel so fortunate to feel a part of the Abada family and as you know, it has changed my life and my children’s lives as well. Much love!