Capoeira is a Brazilian Martial Art created by the african slaves and indigenous people over 400 years ago in response to slavery. It is a game and a sport the combines different elements of Music, Movement, Acrobatics and Powerful Self-Defense.

Axé Capoeira was founded by Mestre Barrão in 1982 in Recife, PE Brazil. He went on to open the first ever Capoeira Academy in Vancouver BC Canada in 1996. The group has been a pioneer of Capoeria in Canada since 1991.

MESTRE TESTA (Kevin Brett) began training Capoeira over 35 years ago as one of Mestre Barrão’s first students in Canada. After a 7 year apprenticeship with his mentor, he took over the full time teaching role of the group in Victoria, BC.

As a true disciple of his teacher, Mestre Barrão, the Victoria Academy quickly became well known internationally as a strong reference for Capoeira worldwide, developing many high level capoeiristas up to the level of Professor.

Testa participated in all but the first of Mestre Barrão’s CDs, and later recorded his own tracks on Volume 4 and Vou Embolar. He leads a 9 piece Brazilian band, Batuque Axé, which performs to critical acclaim both locally and abroad and wrote and recorded his first Capoeira Album, A Tradição, in 2019.

A true adherent to the belief that Capoeira is a complete art form, he’s developed a rich cultural tradition in the city where he lives. Because of the high level of his students and his work, Kevin has been invited to teach in many locations across Canada & The US, Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, Peru, Poland, China, Russia, Kazakhstan, The Dominican Republic, Turkey and Angola.

Axé Capoeira Victoria currently offers professional instruction in Capoeria, Music, Dance & Vale Tudo to both children & adults and runs classes out of the downtown academy as well as the University of Victoria. In 2023 Testa was awarded the coveted Mestre’s Cord for his life long dedication to the art and is the first non-brazilian Mestre in Canada.