HomeMonthly blog archive > July 2009
July 2009
Stagnancy is an Enemy of Capoeira
This is something I've wanted to blog about for a while now, and I'm finally feeling the inspiration to do so. This mostly applies to people who have done capoeira for at least a year and who have traveled and seen the capoeira drama and capoeira politics. I'm afraid this may seem somewhat of a rant.
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Hardest thing
Through the leadership of Mestre Fran and Mestranda Sara, Grupo Maculelê offers projects and programs that benefit poor Brazilian children living in the slums (favellas). Interestingly, few of the many beneficiaries ever continue to do capoeira as either a profession or a second profession. Of a batch of about 600 kids, only two today received teacher graduation. They are continuing that battle today.
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It does a person good
Mestre Fran said this last night at the end of class with him. After calling for everyone who enjoyed class to tell their friends (which you should always do), he said that capoeira "only does good for you". It's a great workout, it's culture, its songs bring good energy, and so on. As he said even when you're tired, come to class.
It's true that capoeira is an intense workout, and you're almost guaranteed to get a good sweat and probably become exhausted exerting yourself. But when you're stressed out, or exhausted from a long day, it is all the more important to get yourself back into a good place.
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Capoeira is evolving
Or so they say. Mestre Fran quotes Mestre Pastinha from time to time. Mestre Pastinha famously describes capoeira as without end in his thought,
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Capoeira is about liberation
I read an article in Vision Magazine today and found it quite interesting. In the article, "Capoeira is Liberation and Freedom", Daphne Carpenter, a yoga instructor, explains about trying capoeira for the first time,
Your face becomes crimson, redder than it already was from this fast-paced workout that you're not used to.
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Capoeira Is Neither Difficult Nor Easy
I will never say that capoeira is easy, but neither is it difficult. As far as I am concerned—yes, I'm being rhetorical here—it's a truism in capoeira. If you have ever tried capoeira, you no doubt found it to be challenging. But isn't that the mark of a good workout?
Capoeira's complexity makes this even more interesting. Once you get a grip on keeping up in the classes with the physical workouts, you start to realize all of the other dimensions that will challenge you: rhythm, singing, and Portuguese to name a few of the other dimensions. In other words, capoeira challenges you in non-physical ways as well. Is that how you develop total wellness?
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