Blending martial arts, dance, music, and Afro-Brazilian culture under one roof, Capoeira de Valor operates from 1405 Diamond St in Pacific Beach, 92109, under the direction of Mestre Paulo Batuta. Born Paulo Lima in Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil, Batuta holds a bachelor's degree in economics and a master's degree in the art of capoeira, and he began training in 1985 under Mestre Milton before continuing with Mestre Cicero in the prestigious Cordão de Ouro lineage. He arrived in San Diego in 1997 to study English, and by 1999 had established his school — originally as Capoeira Mandinga San Diego — leaving behind his economics career to teach full time. The school rebranded as Capoeira de Valor San Diego in 2020 after Batuta reunited with Mestre Cicero. Pacific Beach residents interested in exploring different martial arts disciplines can also train at Fathom Martial Arts, located nearby. Beyond his Diamond Street studio, Batuta teaches capoeira at UC San Diego and San Diego State University, where his classes are part of the university recreation and dance programs. He founded and directs Planet Brazil, a performing arts group, and produces the Brazilian Day San Diego Street Fair & Parade, a festival launched in 2008 that draws thousands to celebrate Brazilian fine arts, food, and music. Classes at the Pacific Beach location run Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4:30 to 7:15 p.m. and Saturdays from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m., with programs for toddlers, youth, and adults at every skill level. Latin-inspired dining pairs well with the cultural experience, and Pueblo serves creative Mexican plates just minutes away. Students learn ginga, acrobatics, Portuguese language, berimbau rhythms, and the cultural history rooted in centuries of Afro-Brazilian tradition.