5 Olympic sports to learn and practice in Curitiba

It's Olympic Games time. Time to dive deep into the world of sports, learn about Olympic events and athletes, cheer for your favorites and – why not? – get inspired to include some type of physical exercise in your routine.

With this in mind, we selected some Olympic sports – those that debuted at the Olympic Games in 2021 and 2024 – and looked for places in Curitiba where it is possible to learn or train them.

Among the six sports that meet this criterion, only one was left out, extreme kayaking (or cross), a type of slalom canoeing that is not practiced in the capital of Paraná.

There are, however, options for enthusiasts of breaking, climbing, skateboarding, surfing and even karate, which was part of the Tokyo Games in 2021, but was not included in the edition of the Olympics that officially begins this Friday (26). Check it out!

One of the Olympic dance styles making its debut in Paris, breaking is a street dance that combines acrobatic movements, an improvised dance style and individual expression that emerged between the late 1960s and early 1970s in New York. In Curitiba, you can practice it at Essence Dance Studio. Classes, which take place every Saturday from 2pm to 3pm, range from beginner to advanced, including warm-ups, basic moves such as Top-Rock, Footwork, Freeze and Power Moves, as well as choreography for performances. There are no age or level restrictions, so anyone interested can participate. The monthly fee is R$110, but there are options for individual classes (R$40) and trial classes (R$25).

Founded in 1965, Academia Kodokan – Força e Persistência is one of the oldest karate centers in Curitiba and offers classes for beginners, intermediates and advanced students. Designed to help maintain optimal physical and mental health, karate classes at Kodokan have no age restrictions and are open to men, women, seniors and children. Classes are held two to three times a week. The goal is to improve physical fitness and teach karate techniques for both self-defense and sports. Monthly fees start at R$250 and classes are held on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm and from 6:45 pm to 7:45 pm, and on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7:30 am to 8:30 am.

There are many options for learning to climb. One of them is Via Aventura, where those interested can practice from Monday to Friday, from 8 am to 10 pm, and on Saturdays, from 9 am to 6 pm, without needing to make an appointment. During these periods, instructors are available to teach, guide and supervise. You can buy a daily pass (R$45) or sign up for a monthly (R$225), quarterly (R$205) or recurring (R$195) plan. Equipment such as a harness and shoes can be borrowed from reception. There is no minimum (or maximum) age to practice, but, depending on the space, children aged 5 and over understand the practice better.

Those who want to learn how to skate and do tricks have several options, from private teachers who give lessons at the city's skateparks to “skate schools”. At Curitiba Skate Park, one of the city's most traditional indoor skateparks, classes are held on Saturdays in three groups, from 9 am to noon, and are open to people of any age – the requirement is to be able to balance on a skateboard. Individual lessons are available (R$100) or monthly (R$300). Beginners can borrow equipment – ​​from the skateboard itself to safety equipment – ​​at the location.

Yes, there is a place to learn surfing in Curitiba! At Surf Center Studio, we offer a variety of classes designed to improve surfing skills, catering to beginners and advanced surfers alike. Options include Crosssurf, which combines physical training and surfing techniques to improve conditioning, strength and mobility; Indosurf, held in the communal pool, focusing on swimming, freediving and specific techniques, such as paddling and body positioning; SurfDay, a monthly meeting on the beach with a coach and personalized feedback; and Skate Simulador de Surf, which uses a special skateboard to simulate surfing techniques. Classes are available for children aged 6 and older, with frequencies ranging from one to three times a week, with prices starting at R$206.

ERRATUM: In the print edition of this article, baseball was included as one of the new Olympic sports for the 2021 Tokyo Games, but the sport was contested at the Olympic Games from 1992 to 2008. After a hiatus, it returned to the Olympics in 2021. The print edition also failed to make it clear that karate would not be contested at the Paris Games.