I found capoeira later in life. Growing up I wanted to be a gymnast and a martial artist. They were my favorite Olympic events. I never got the chance because most of my youth was spent in not the better neighborhoods in the city of boston. Later in life my family moved to Orlando. I joined the army for direction. While in the army I saw the movie “Only the Strong” and fell in love with capoeira at first site. By chance I ran into a guy who told me of a school in Orlando while on special assignment. I took leave my first chance and came to Orlando to visit my family and check out the academy. It was more of a family than my unit. I fit right into the academy. That first night I knew that I wasn’t going to do 20 years in the military as I planned. I was getting out of the army, to move to Orlando to learn capoeira. For the first time I truly knew what I wanted and felt fulfilled. I left the military with an honorable discharge and have been a student in college and capoeira. I made the deans list for the first time because of the focus capoeira has given me. I an never worried because I have an extended family and teacher who will help me as needed. I will graduate from community college after summer 2005, with a double associates degree. I thank Mestre Lazaro and my familys for pushing me and giving me something to me worth more than money, a place like not other, Brazilian Pelourinho Capoeira Academy. Tucano