CAQ Charlotte was founded on August 25th, 2019, and it is the newest chapter of Capoeira Angola Quintal! We are overly enthused with this new chapter, and we can't wait for you to join our Capoeira group in Charlotte, North Carolina.
The Charlotte Capoeira Center is led by 1º Instrutor Ron "Pantera" Coleman. He began his CAQ tutelage under Professor Giratorio from Capoeira Angola Outer Banks. From there, he was fortunate enough to meet and train with other members of CAQ, including Mestre Ombrinho. After witnessing Pantera's palpable dedication, fire, passion, and joy from simply being in the presence of the art, Mestre Ombrinho gave Pantera his blessing to start a chapter and teach in Roanoke, Virginia, and now, Charlotte, North Carolina.
Pantera first learned about Capoeira as a child from the videogame Tekken 3. He was mesmerized while playing as Eddy Gordo, and from then on, he knew that Capoeira would be something that would be an important part of his life.
He regularly seeks knowledge from Mestre Ombrinho and enjoys every opportunity to train with other members and leaders of CAQ.
Outside of Capoeira Angola Quintal, Pantera works as a technical writer for a telecom company, and he also has a photography business called Shots Fired. He has trained many forms of martial arts, including Shorin-Ryu Shorinkan Karate, Muay Thai, boxing, and he is a blue belt in the Pedro Sauer Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Association. He enjoys the Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers, being a Freemason in a local Masonic lodge, going to conventions, learning foreign languages, singing, playing guitar and piano, collecting Funko Pops, WWE, UFC, reading, writing, and cooking.
Professor Sean Williams started his Capoeira Angola journey in Washington, D.C. April 13, 1997, under the teachings and guidance of Mestre Cobra Mansa of the International Capoeira Angola Foundation (ICAF). In search of a way to get away from a troubled upbringing, Professor Sean started to grow a fondness to Capoeira's rich history and music, which caused him to be more historically focused on Capoeira and its creation.
In 2010, Professor Sean moved to Memphis, Tennessee, and while a student at the University of Memphis, he started a Capoeira Angola study group called Zumbi Communidade Capoeira Angola. Under this project, he took responsibility of teaching Memphis inner-city youth about Capoeira Angola. This was Memphis Tennessee's only Capoeira Angola group at the time, and the group had a membership of over 42 students composed of students of the University of Memphis and Memphis youth. In 2013, Sean Williams was awarded the title Professor, and was humbled by the charge and responsibility of spreading the teachings of Capoeira Angola to the youth of inner cities around him.
In 2016, Professor Sean moved to Fayetteville, where he continued the efforts to grow Capoeira Angola in community and public school systems. In 2022, after returning from a military deployment, Professor Sean moved to Charlotte, NC where he connected with Ron "Pantera" Coleman where he began to learn Capoeira Angola Quintal's base movements. Professor Sean found CAQ to be intriguing, and a fascinating approach to Capoeira Angola and has developed a great level of respect for CAQ lineage.
Today, Professor Sean teaches history for Charlotte-Mecklenburg schools, where he also teaches Capoeira Angola. He enjoys spending time with his loving wife Tyler and their dog Lt. Dan. He also holds rank in Nagano Ryu Sogobujitsu, Asayama Ichiden Ryu, and Daito Ryu traditions. He regularly seeks knowledge and understanding of CAQ history from his friend Pantera who is the lead instructor for CAQ Charlotte's chapter and Mestre Ombrinho founder of Capoeira Angola Quintal.