About Ignite Capoeira Virtual Academy
Ignite your Inner Spark
Ignite Capoeira Virtual Academy was founded in 2023 by Jenny Johnson-Blanchard and James Lynch.
Jenny and James have a combined 30+ years training and teaching capoeira, and a combined 40+ years experience training and teaching martial arts. They founded the Minnesota Capoeira Academy/Capoeira Floracao nonprofit academy in 2013 which operated in Minnesota as one of the top capoeira academies in the upper Midwest of the United States, with a mission to make capoeira accessible and enjoyable to all, regardless of income, gender, sex, race, or body type.
In 2020, with the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, they moved away from in-person instruction and switched to virtual classes. Eventually, many began to move back to in-person events and activities. However, adjusting to a new, Covid-cautious lifestyle was a priority for their family, so the decision was made to dissolve the Minnesota Capoeira Academy non-profit.
Fast forward a few years, and Jenny and James have seen how their children have thrived through making safe connections and learning in a virtual format- from art classes, piano, karate, and programming, to homeschool co-ops. They have made friends from all over the world, and are living full lives- in a structure that is accessible to them.
They formed the idea of Ignite Capoeira from this- that learning, fun, and connections should be available to everyone; a virtual format makes this possible for many who are not able to take part in in-person experiences due to health history, Covid-caution level, or location.
Something so unique to capoeira is the concept of "axé" (ah-SHAY). Axé is the vibration of life-force, positive energy, or spirit that exists within ourselves and between each-other. It's the igniting of that inner spark, of feeling your passion for something, of feeling aligned... of seeing the best in yourself and allowing yourself to see the best in others. This is something we and our children need and deserve in our changing world, and Jenny and James' vision for Ignite Capoeira is to bring this to those who need a virtual format to access it.
Meet Our Instructors
Instrutora Vespa / Jenny Johnson-Blanchard
Instrutora Vespa / Jenny Johnson-Blanchard
Instrutora Vespa / Jenny Johnson-Blanchard
Jenny has been active in martial arts for about 30 years And has taught martial arts for over 25 years- both in-person and virtually (since the Covid-19 pandemic began). She began her martial arts journey at the age of nine as a student of karate. At the age of 12, she earned the rank of first degree black belt and began assisting in kar
Jenny has been active in martial arts for about 30 years And has taught martial arts for over 25 years- both in-person and virtually (since the Covid-19 pandemic began). She began her martial arts journey at the age of nine as a student of karate. At the age of 12, she earned the rank of first degree black belt and began assisting in karate instruction for children and adults. Eventually, she began teaching as a head instructor and school director.
In 2010 she took her first capoeira class and fell in love with it- it combined her passion for martial arts with music, creative expression, and a rich history of being a resistance art to oppression. She trained under "Instrutor Coruja" (James Lynch, who later became her husband), a student of Mestre Preguica (a student of Mestre Bimba- the founder of Capoeira Regional).
She has also trained under a number of capoeira Mestres across the United States, Canada, and Brazil.
Together Jenny and James formed the Minnesota Capoeira Academy/Capoeira Floracao nonprofit academy, which operated in Minnesota as one of the top capoeira academies in the upper Midwest of the United States, with a mission to make capoeira accessible and enjoyable to all, regardless of income, gender, sex, race, or body type.
Jenny's energetic and compassionate teaching style creates a fun and supportive environment for students of all ages. Jenny is so excited to share the joy she has found in capoeira with others in a virtual format!
Instrutor Coruja / James Lynch
Instrutora Vespa / Jenny Johnson-Blanchard
Instrutora Vespa / Jenny Johnson-Blanchard
James has been practicing martial arts for over 30 years. He began training Tae Kwon Do with his father when he was 5 years old, and transitioned to capoeira at 18 when attending college at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2004.
He moved to Minneapolis in 2009 and started teaching capoeira there and continued for approximately 12
James has been practicing martial arts for over 30 years. He began training Tae Kwon Do with his father when he was 5 years old, and transitioned to capoeira at 18 when attending college at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2004.
He moved to Minneapolis in 2009 and started teaching capoeira there and continued for approximately 12 years. He taught in person until the pandemic and then for approximately 1-2 years after the Covid-19 Pandemic began..
He attained the level of Instrutor (Instructor - Purple/Green belt) in 2015 from the Omulu Capoeira Group - Mestre Preguica. In 2018 He received his full purple from Luanda Brasil Capoeira - Mestrando Felipe Moreira, after he and Jenny had established their own Capoeira Academy that was known as the Minnesota Capoeira Academy - Capoeira Floração. The mission of their capoeira non-profit was to make capoeira accessible and enjoyable to all, regardless of income, gender, sex, race, or body type- this is a core tenet that they have carried over into forming Ignite Capoeira. James has also trained under a number of capoeira Mestres across the United States, Canada, and Brazil.
James is a very kind and skilled instructor. He has the unique ability to meet each individual student where they are at, and takes care to make each individual feel supported and empowered in their own capoeira journey. James can't wait to share his love for capoeira with others virtually through Ignite Capoeira.