Only the Strong

Louis Stevens returns from military service in Brazil to his hometown of Miami. He discovers his old high school has become a haven for gangs and drug dealers. He confronts the reality that he must decide how to respond to the violence around him.

On the school grounds, Stevens uses his capoeira skills to kick several drug dealers off the property. His display destabilizes the gang presence and signals a new kind of intervention. The students and staff begin to notice his influence.

Mr. Kerrigan sees the impact Stevens has on the students and gives him a mission. He tasks Stevens with teaching capoeira to a group of at-risk teens. The abandoned fire station is provided as their makeshift practice space.

Stevens starts teaching capoeira to a handful of troubled students while Silverio Oliveiras emerges as a dangerous rival and master of capoeira. Orlando Oliveiras, Silverio's younger cousin, becomes one of Stevens' eager pupils. The tense dynamic sets up the central conflict between mentor and gang leader.

Stevens and Silverio face off in a capoeira clash that tests both fighters. Silverio overpowers him, leaving Stevens battered and humiliated. The encounter establishes Silverio as a formidable adversary looming over the school.

Witnessing Stevens' beating hardens Orlando's resolve to learn everything he can from his teacher. The other students also pick up capoeira quickly, gaining confidence and skill. The class becomes a disciplined force amid the school's chaos.

Impressed by the students' progress, the principal proposes a district-wide capoeira program to the school board. The plan aims to extend Stevens' methods to more schools and communities. The proposal marks a shift from a single classroom project to a public initiative.

During a field trip, Stevens and Silverio clash again, and Silverio declares war on him. The feud moves from the classroom to the streets, raising the stakes for Stevens and his students. Orlando and the others prepare to defend their coach.

Silverio's gang terrorizes the high school, targeting Stevens' program. They torch Kerrigan's classroom, spreading fear and chaos. Donovan, a musical prodigy and Stevens' student, dies in the attack.

The attack leaves Stevens blamed for the violence, banished from the school grounds. The capoeira program is terminated, and his students lose their training space and support. The community's hope for reform starts to wane.

Seeking retaliation, Stevens sneaks into Silverio's chop shop and defeats the workers there. He then sets a cash-filled car on fire, sending a message to the crime lord. The confrontation signals a widening war between mentor and gang leader.

Orlando flees to get help as Silverio's forces close in. After a desperate battle, Stevens is captured and taken to a bonfire where Silverio awaits. The students watch in fear as their teacher is cornered.

Exhausted but determined, Stevens accepts a one-on-one challenge to win back his students. The two capoeira masters duel in a grueling fight, and Stevens emerges victorious. Police arrive and the gang scatters, ending Silverio's reign.

Stevens' capoeira program proves a resounding success as his students graduate from high school. They join a Brazilian capoeira team to perform at the graduation ceremony, celebrating their mentor and the community's renewal.