About PQD

Ivo Leandro or PQD as he is known, started capoeira in 1991 after being attacked by a gang of four boys. He started in a group called ‘Viva Brasil’ lead by ‘Mestre Reginaldo Pimentel’, but PQDs instructor was Adelso.

Throughout this time he experienced a few groups, some of which don’t deserve mentioning.

In 2001 PQD began to teach in a gym called ‘Body Com’ in Rio de Janeiro and later he started to teach in a project funded by the government called ‘Projeto Mel’ with more than 180 children.

In 2002 he started to teach capoeira in the army to the Brazilian paratroopers. He organised a capoeira performance to be watched by senior army officials.

On November 5th 2003, the first paratroops capoeira meeting (1 Encontro de Capoeira Brigada de Infantaria Para-Quedista) took place.

In 2004, after serving in the army for eight years, PQD came to England after serving in the army for eight years; PQD came to England after being invited here by a friend called Dacor.

At the same time he met a master with great capoeira potential, more than what had been seen before.

After wasting time in the wrong group, PQD finally & officially joined the greatest capoeira master mentioned above as his master – Mestre Ladeira founder of Grupo de Capoeira Ginga de Quilombo. PQD was proud that mestre Ladeira also accepted him as his student.

In the short time PQD has been part of this group, he has learned what is better than any kind of acrobatics, fast kick or great music, that is to have obedience to his master and commitment to his students.