Capoeira. Anyone tried it?

[MadamSamba]

Hi, folks...as per usual, I'm always on the hunt for a new dance style. After dancing, my next big love is martial arts and I was thinking about trying out capoeira.

I was wondering if anyone here has tried it and if so, what's it like? I do karate and dancing, obviously, so I don't think the transition would be as hard as if I started from scratch having done no martial arts or dancing, but capoeira looks pretty full on...any thoughts? Anyone like to share their experiences?

[pygmalion]

Umm. What is it? Shall I google, anyone? :wink: :lol:

[Tasek]

I did a few months of capoeira last year; had mixed feelings about it, really liked the fitness aspect/physical challenge of it, excellent total body workout, but I didn't like the lifestyle that seemed to come with it, I didn't meet a lot of capoeiristas but a lot of those I met seemed quite fanatical about capoeira and it's philosophies.
Though not necessarily a bad lifestyle it was a bit too fanatical for me, especially the hoda (horda?? anyway, the circle where the playing/fighting happened) was a bit too cultish for my liking; a group of uniformed people chanting and clapping to droning music, just not my thing. Never did any other martial arts though, so I can't judge if this a capoeira thing or similar to other arts.

As far as it's dance part goes; it's just the outer layer, originally meant to disguise the fact the the slaves practicing it were in fact training to some day kick their master's @$$es, now part of the tradition, and it's a martial art much much much more then a danceform.

[pygmalion]

Ha! I love google. I found a website with history and pictures. It does seem to be very martial arts oriented. The still photos actually remind me of some break dancing scenes in Pulse! A Stomp Odyssey. Did anyone see that short film? It was designed for IMAX screens. Gorgeous. I saw it maybe six or seven times while it was playing at the local science museum.

http://www.achebrasil.com/

[Tasek]

Hate to stop pygmalion from googling (not that I can) but a quick summary for those unfamiliar with capoeira (as best as i can),

Originated couple of centuries ago in brasil, slaves wanting to train themselves for possible confrontation with their slavemasters naturally couldn't openly do so, so using simple instruments they put their training to music and disguised it as a dance, without actually hitting each other using a rythmic back and forth of attack and defense two people would 'fight' each other mostly using the legs.
Evolved in a more structured martial art, and in the last few years has seen quite a rise globally. Although not everybody recognises it as such, most people will have seen it; it's used in commercials, music-videos, movies; if you've ever seen two people, mostly clad in white, 'fighting' each other with broad sweeps and turns, barely missing each other, that was capoeira. Can look quite spectacular.

I'm not an expert on the subject though, so if i've made any errors in my explanation please correct me.

[Tasek]

I should type faster, pygmalion beat me to it :)

[pygmalion]

Actually, I always prefer to get input from somebody who has personal experience. As much as I hate to admit it, googling only gets you so far.

And as far as the art form, any dance that teaches you to kick butt at the same time, can't be all bad. :wink: :lol:

[Spitfire]

About a year ago I posted a thread on the martial arts/dancing comparrisons. I did a little tae kwon do many years ago and in the learning process and did see similarites.

[danceguy]

Madam Samba,

Have you ever seen the movie The Mighty Quinn? Its a great movie (one of my favs), but there is a pretty good Capoeira scene in it, near the end of the movie.

Not to mention some good Reggae music as well. ;)

SG

[pygmalion]

The one with Denzel before he hit the big time? I'll have to watch again. I saw that back when my dance awareness was low.

[danceguy]

That's the one! A lot of famous reggae people are in that movie too...I just wish it had had more music though! I grew up listening to it...my father had it played literally every day when I was growing up. :)

Another tidbit for that movie...the part where Denzel is playing the piano and singing the blues in the nightclub, that's really him playing! :P

Darn it...now I have to watch it again...where's my DVD....heh. ;)

[salsachinita]

Capoeira is very much alive and around Melbourne, had been this way for as long as I can remember being around the Latin scene.

They practice outdoors near our salsa on the beach hang-out, every Sunday (weather permits). I absolutely LOVE watching them in action :D !

Many of the capoeira practitioners are also great salseros/as. They have been my favourite salsa partners for years 8) .

I believe some of the break dance moves were capoeira inspired.

So guys, check out your local scene......they may well be training near you :wink: ! Definitely give it a go if you are interested......it will make you a better dancer IMO.

[MacMoto]

pygmalion,
BBC1 has been showing clips of different dances as their idents (including salsa and tango -- see here (http://www.planet625.com/id_bbc/bbc1/2002todate/index_dance01.htm) and here (http://www.planet625.com/id_bbc/bbc1/2002todate/index_dance02.htm)), and one of the first was Capoeira.

Here's the clip:
http://www.planet625.com/id_bbc/bbc1/2002todate/BBC12002ident_capoeira.rm

[MadamSamba]

Thanks for all your responses. Tasek, I particularly liked your point about the dancing not being a big part of it...am very keen to at least try it out. Scorpionguy and Jenn, will definitely check out the movie, sounds fabulous!

Macmoto, I downloaded the clip (and all the other ones on the page, thanks!). It was fabulous. A perfect example of how graceful marital artists can be!

As for spitfire, I have a feeling that your post was the first post I ever saw on DF! :lol:

PS: Salsachinita, we'll chat about capoeira when we next bump into one another! :lol:

[MacMoto]

Macmoto, I downloaded the clip (and all the other ones on the page, thanks!). It was fabulous. A perfect example of how graceful marital artists can be!

Yes, the Capoeira clip is one of my favourites, along with Bollywood and Tango. Although not on these pages, there is also a Tai Chi ident (a relatively recent addition) -- very beautiful.

What do you think of the tango one, MadamSamba? I think it's really cool -- and hot! :D The salsa clip, on the other hand, is rather off the mark I think. Where's the energy, passion and freedom I have come to associate with salsa? It just doesn't do justice to the dance! If they wanted every couple to do the same moves, they could have used a rueda circle to make it more exciting. :(

[ino]

Hi, folks...as per usual, I'm always on the hunt for a new dance style. After dancing, my next big love is martial arts and I was thinking about trying out capoeira.

I was wondering if anyone here has tried it and if so, what's it like? I do karate and dancing, obviously, so I don't think the transition would be as hard as if I started from scratch having done no martial arts or dancing, but capoeira looks pretty full on...any thoughts? Anyone like to share their experiences?


Hello, I'm kinda new to this forum and this topic really cought my eye. I used to take/teach Capoeira a few years back. There is a whole movie about it named "Only The Strong" It's not the best looking capoeira in my opinion, but it gives you a general idea of what it is. If you want to read up on capoeira then there is this great book writin by Nestor Capoeira called The Little Capoeira Book. I recomend checkin this out at a book store and skimming through it a little bit. If you would like more information just let me know and I'll do my best to help out. Take care!

[pygmalion]

Hi ino! Welcome. :D

You know, that's one of the things I like best about DF. There are so many different people, that almost any question you can think of to ask, can get answered right here. :D

[Shamby]

Wow. Capoeira sounds cool and the clip is pretty good too. Am madly googling for a capoeira club nearby. Hmmm...now which style of dance will I have to drop to fit it in?

[MadamSamba]

Hiya, Ino and welcome to DF. It's great to have you join us.

I'll look up the book, it sounds great, as does the movie you mentioned. I'm seriously considering taking it up, especially after reading some of the previous posts. Will have to do some hunting like you, Shamby.

[pygmalion]

You will not believe this, but there's a new Capoeira studio (or is it a dojo) that just opened within walking distance of my house.

[MacMoto]

At the monthly salsa club I went to last night, there was a Capoeira show. It was the first time I saw it for real, and it was amazing! The overall impression I got was it was more of a non-contact martial art performed to music than a dance. Moves combine karate/kung fu like wheel kicks and evasive moves. Two of the group members would "fight", then as one of them drops out, a new "challenger" comes along and take his place, so moves are always performed by two people (does that make it a partner dance?). The performance started to a slow music then got faster and faster, and body control the performers demonstrated in the slow part was amazing. Reminded me of some of the modern ballet pieces I've seen.

[dragon3085]

I've fought a few guys who where Capoeira stylist a few years back, friendly matches, one of those lets see how this style does against style kinda of thing. I personally don't care for it, its one of those martial arts that just suddenly appeared when martial arts became popular, and the creator seem to have create a history to go with to make it seem legit.
From a dancing perspective its ok, very brazilian in flavor and feel also very physically demanding. One thing, on 20 years of marital arts, I have never met, seen or heard of an "old"Capoeira stylist- doesn't mean there are none out there, but if there are they are rare.

[pepe]

Here is some real one!!

http://www.dancenewsletter.com/vancouver/main.htm

go to ->Gallery->Videos

find capoeira clip

[Noiseman433]

I believe some of the break dance moves were capoeira inspired.


Yeah, that's the rumor anyway... :D


Though not necessarily a bad lifestyle it was a bit too fanatical for me, especially the hoda (horda?? anyway, the circle where the playing/fighting happened) was a bit too cultish for my liking; a group of uniformed people chanting and clapping to droning music, just not my thing.

haha...that's the best part of it. Like alot of art forms that have some African roots, everyone is a participant, only a little moreso in capoeira.

About a year ago I posted a thread on the martial arts/dancing comparrisons. I did a little tae kwon do many years ago and in the learning process and did see similarites.

heh, it was because of that thread that I found this forum! thanks!! :D

There is a whole movie about it named "Only The Strong"

and caporeistas hate the movie too! :P

I've fought a few guys who where Capoeira stylist a few years back, friendly matches, one of those lets see how this style does against style kinda of thing. I personally don't care for it, its one of those martial arts that just suddenly appeared when martial arts became popular, and the creator seem to have create a history to go with to make it seem legit.
From a dancing perspective its ok, very brazilian in flavor and feel also very physically demanding. One thing, on 20 years of marital arts, I have never met, seen or heard of an "old"Capoeira stylist- doesn't mean there are none out there, but if there are they are rare.

seems like most people don't know much about martial arts outside of those from China and Japan, and then those of southeast asia. It's too bad, because there are some forms have as long and interesting a history (like Silek/Randai in Africa and Kalaripayat in India/Kerala) as any of the usual suspects.

[dragon3085]

I've fought a few guys who where Capoeira stylist a few years back, friendly matches, one of those lets see how this style does against style kinda of thing. I personally don't care for it, its one of those martial arts that just suddenly appeared when martial arts became popular, and the creator seem to have create a history to go with to make it seem legit.
From a dancing perspective its ok, very brazilian in flavor and feel also very physically demanding. One thing, on 20 years of marital arts, I have never met, seen or heard of an "old"Capoeira stylist- doesn't mean there are none out there, but if there are they are rare.

seems like most people don't know much about martial arts outside of those from China and Japan, and then those of southeast asia. It's too bad, because there are some forms have as long and interesting a history (like Silek/Randai in Africa and Kalaripayat in India/Kerala) as any of the usual suspects.[/quote]

All I ask is of a style of martial arts is evidence of its existence past 50 years if it claims to be older then that. Word of mouth is not good enough- there must be some physical evidence such as scrolls or woodcuttings or carvings, something of that like.

[Noiseman433]

All I ask is of a style of martial arts is evidence of its existence past 50 years if it claims to be older then that. Word of mouth is not good enough- there must be some physical evidence such as scrolls or woodcuttings or carvings, something of that like.

like Brazilian legal documents banning it before being lifted in 1937? It seems a little uncharitable to ask for documentation for a form of martial arts that was a great pains to keep itself secret until it became enough of a "public" problem that the government had to step in. This is actually analogous to waht happened to Steel Band groups in Trinidad and Tobago, where until the government officially made laws againts the groups, there was no public affirmation of their existence, hence why you don't hear about the almost gang-like and violent nature of the steel band's predecessor, Tamboo-Bamboo.

I understand the sentiment, it woud be nice to have documentation, but it can be just as bad to err on the side of dismissal of a cultural form just because its adherents weren't necessairlly literate, and had very practical reasons for keeping their traditions secret...

besides, most cultural traditons of the world (at least in non-western, non-industrialized cultures) are "oral", and never had a written or pictographic form. There are other ways to trace history than just through writing. FOr example, we have a pretty good idea of how Indo-European language evolved/changed despite not having an abundance of written evidence. Someone needs to work out an "etymology" of martial arts...that would be a cool project, actually...

[Lita_rulez]

Hi, folks...as per usual, I'm always on the hunt for a new dance style. After dancing, my next big love is martial arts and I was thinking about trying out capoeira.

I was wondering if anyone here has tried it and if so, what's it like? I do karate and dancing, obviously, so I don't think the transition would be as hard as if I started from scratch having done no martial arts or dancing, but capoeira looks pretty full on...any thoughts? Anyone like to share their experiences?

OK, most of it has been said allready.

First off, about 80 % Leg moves. Very good reason for it too : the slaves had chains around their wrists, wich is heavy and does not allow for quick hand movements.

Capoeira IS a martial art, and the dance part is only nice if you have never done actual dancing. It really only is icing on the cake.

However, it is always nice to practice to music rather than to... well... no music :x

I personnaly like the music by itself anyways, so I may not be very objective on that one, but the fact that every one gets in a circle to clap and sing while 2 people are "rehearsing" (ie trading blows) is a lot more fun than just getting out there and going at it.
I like the whole mood that creates around it, I like the way you switch partners and try to improvise with them... sure, the dance is only a small small tiny part of it, but it is still there. I mean, the objective is not to hurt your partner but rather to get him stuck in a position he can't counter your next blow (maybe not chess-like, but definitly not thoughtless either)

In this respect, it IS like partner dancing, because you can not go with paterns seen over and over again, you have to ad a twist here, a lowdown there, a wheel that stop in mid-air here...

It does not seem to me to have much more of a comunity aspect than any other martial art. I mean, you will find people that freakishly stick to their art phylosophy in any and all martial art (and if you really think about it, in any activity. How many of us sacrifice a lot to dancing ? Look at me for instance : I am at work, leaving in 3 hours for a salsa congress on the beach, and yet I am still talking about dancing on the internet... talk about die hard !) but the comunity in capoera is more friendly because of that music. It feels much quicker like you belong to this group because instead of just taking classes with the other, you get in a circle with the others and chant, clap your hands...
A much more primal feeling gets tickled there and I see how that might make certain person uneasy.


The only advice I would give you is when you begin : keep your shoes on ! the very first class I took I actually covered half the room floor with blood and could not dance for 3 weeks (be it capoeira or salsa...) I cut my feet so bad.

It is a wonderfull total body workout, and will give your muscles another way of reacting, different stimulations, and you'll have to work on streching in ways you had not imagined before. Total body balance as well.

I unfortunately had to give it up because it took to much out of my salsa time to get to another club when the one I was going to closed down, but if I get a chance to, I'll start again anytime.


And if you want a movie about Capoeira that will show you some of the phylosophy around it, and will definitly show you what it looks like, be it in a street fight or just a dance on the beach, you should definitly rent "Only the Strong" with Mark Dacascoss.

Not the best movie around (what martial art based movie is anyways) but a good time and a nice introduction to real capoeira.

[pygmalion]

Thanks for the movie recommendation, Lita. :D

[haslo]

I actually just registered because of this Thread here (not much of a dancer otherwise, I just had one single performance in HipHop so far and I do a little Salsa).
One thing, on 20 years of marital arts, I have never met, seen or heard of an "old"Capoeira stylist- doesn't mean there are none out there, but if there are they are rare.
Well, show me an MA where this is not true. My own Mestre is 40-something and came to switzerland 20 years ago, and I've met 2 Mestres so far who were actually older than 60 years. Capoeira also began to spread outside Brazil not before there were any official academias in Brazil, which was not before 1937. And all documents from the time of slavery in Brazil were burnt anyway, so older written documents will never be available.

Being fanatic about Capoeira is so easy because it's so great. Physically really challenging, but as others pointed out, practicioners also gain a lot of body control in a relatively short time. I train for only 2 years now, and I never imagined what my body would be able to beforehand. And the sense of community is something I really like.

If you want to see more Capoeira, have a look at this clip:
http://a1008.l.akamai.net/7/1008/521/0710/aberfitch.download.akamai.com/8785/capoeira_lrg.mov

Other than that, I can just double the post from Lita_rulez. Altough I must add that practioners of other MAs tend to classify it as a dance - but I think Capoeira evades any classification, it's just Afro-Brazilian, developed by the slaves in Brazil, with all the cultural heritage they brought over from Africa. There is no distinction between dance and martial art, so it makes no sense to classify Capoeira as either one...

Just my two cents :)