Meet Our Instructors

Our qualified and experienced instructors have conducted many international, national and local workshops at various institutions and schools.

Uakari

Formado

With more than 19 years teaching experience, Matthew is a full-time capoeirista who enjoys sharing his passion with everyone. Matthew is dedicated to learning, teaching and promoting the art of Capoeira to a high and ethical standard to to the Townsville Community. A qualified Personal Trainer and Aqua Instructor (Certificate III and IV in Fitness), Matthew also holds a Certificate III in Security Operations.

Matthew received his nickname “Uakari” because of his ability to hold handstands for a long time, until his face grew red. (A Uakari is a rare Brazilian monkey, found in the Amazon forest, with white fur and a red face).

Teaching regular classes at his academy in Townsville, Queensland he also delivers workshops at kindergartens, schools; community centres and disability centres; at corporate workshops/events, cultural festivals and fitness events/expos. 

Since 2002, Matthew has hosted 15 Capoeira Festivals in Townsville, inviting well respected guest instructors and Mestres of Capoeira to facilitate workshops at his school.  

Uakari has also participated in classes and workshops conducted by world reknowned and respected masters uch as Mestres Boneco, Paulao Ceara, Paulinho Sabia, Peixe Ensaboado, Girino, Naval, Linguica, Espiga, Ti Ti Ti, Caxias, Currumim and Leo Pivete.  Uakari has attended workshops with other leading Mestres such as Toni Vargas & Ramos, (Senzala), Caveirinha (Mandinga), Suassuna (Cordao De Ouro), Itapoan (Ginga), Acordeon and Mao Branca (Gerais).

Jambo

Professora

Instructor Jambo (Heidi Eales) was introduced to Capoeira by Matthew Eales while in her final year at university in Townsville, in 2000. Never having seen or heard of the art before, she went to one of the casual sessions not knowing what to expect and has not looked back since. Heidi also holds a BA/LLB and Cert III in Education Support.

Since 2001, Jambo has participated in many capoeira festivals. She has been invited to facilitate workshops at other capoeira schools in Sydney (since 2005) and New Caledonia (2009) as well as at local schools, institutions and centres. Together with Formando Uakari, Jambo teaches kids classes and goes out to kindergartens, centres and schools to teach and promote Capoeira.  She also manages all the day to day administration and organisation of the GCB Townsville branch.

Instructor Jambo received her green cord (senior instructor level) in 2008 from Mestre Peixe Ensaboado at the Sydney Capoeira Festival in the presence of Mestre Boneco and other well respected Mestres and Capoeira teachers. She has also traveled to regularly to Mestre Peixe’s Capoeira Festivals and workshops. In 2008, Jambo traveled to Rio de Janeiro and Bahia with Uakari participating in capoeira events including: Mestre Boneco’s Event and Mestre Itapoan’s Ginga Sem Limite. They travelled together training capoeira for one month at various capoeira schools in Rio de Janeiro.

Together with Matthew, Heidi continues to work towards introducing and sharing her love of Capoeira to the Townsville community.

Would You Like to Sponsor Us?

Each year we hold our Annual Capoeira Festival where we fly in Guest Instructors and provide a week of Workshops and Rodas. 

The week culminates in our Student Gradings.   

Please contact us for more information.