My name is Matthew Heymans, aka Risadinha. I was born in Harare, Zimbabwe (Africa) where I spent all of my childhood.
I am not a man for long winded explanations about my life but one thing that has changed my life is capoeira.
I consider myself very lucky as the woman I love also loves capoeira, so the two best things in my life are hand in hand!
When I first saw capoeira it was at my local gym in Balham where Professor Rodrigo had recently started teaching capoeira. I had never heard of it and had no idea what it was but I loved a challenge and so I dived right into his vigorous training sessions where if it’s your first time you think you might just die!
I remember my first cartwheel I landed nice and square……. On my head! But I got up and never looked back.
There is nothing in this world like it and there are no two men I have ever met in this world like Professor Rodrigo and Mestre Celso. Mestre Celso is one of the most enlightened people in this world and he is very modest about it. He will say something to you after just meeting you and those words will stay with you forever! He lives his life through capoeira and capoeira lives through him.
With this combination you can’t go wrong and I feel privileged to be part of the A.C.E.R. society.
I hope to one day teach, side by side with my wife, this amazing art form and way of life to everyone who wants to learn it!