Tag Archives: capoeira

Capoeira is Different

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Kicks are a part of the art.

With it out, it becomes a dance, or a gymnastic floor. Something that already exists, which are two fantastic things. Something the world has and shares amongst those looking for a hobby that’s safe. Exciting…but safe.

The kicks give it edge.

The kick gives purpose to the movements, the why the relationship with the ground must change, becoming more intimate, requiring more time, more appendages, and needs people to be closer to it. It needs a complexity a well, something that two feet cannot do by themselves.

A flip is impressive, as well as a back bend, but attack a dangerous intent of a well-aimed kick, soaring through the air, poised to strike at the most important part of the human body. Something the human needs more than anything, and cannot be simulated, or supplemented when damaged. The human brain is the central of the body, and that’s why capoeiristas aim for it when we kick.

The danger is what creates the value, giving the practitioners an incentive to dodge effectively. The value is knowing how to defend yourself, especially an individual’s most important asset. Doing the movements in the peril is a feat of strength, showing something, like a feint, is something that appears to be there for the taken, but really is a trap. A trap set for those unaware, creating a vulnerability when there wasn’t one.

Kicks are part of the art, but malicia makes it capoeira.

 

The danger is what makes capoeira what it is, and we get back practicing it when we create that danger. Crazy, huh?

Get It Done

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It’s very easy to size up to the people you watch play.

You can see the work they put in, the reps, the time¬- you can see in the control of their movement. You can see in their flow, how each kick and movements transitions into each other. You can you see it in their audiles- changing movements when they need to esquiva or counterattack. It’s amazing.
How do you calculate that time?

The key is to not try to figure out how they did it. Ask, if anything, because they will tell you. It’s not a secret, and they won’t worry that you’ll encroach on their developing, stealing their training methods. They know most people who ask will never put that time in. In most cases, they figured out the time that works for them.
You need to figure out the time that works for you.

You’ll need to do it on your own, just like everyone else. It’s a champion-like mentality, so only a few really get to do something like. It’s not bad to rely on classes, or groups to get your training in order, or to accomplish the movements you’ve been working on- just know that the individual always has the capability to get it done.

So get it done.

Homework

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It takes a lot to do something on your own. Shared experiences are strong, and it’s easy to for a singular night of watching TV, playing a videogame, or reading a book. A lot of those nights could easily replaced by social outings, hanging with friends, or chilling with family.

Absolutely no one likes homework, but the complainers don’t realize that the power of the learning comes from it. It’s what most leaders know they have to do to get better, get to the next level, get to apex of their sport, industry, or field. The works happens at home alone, then it brought out to the world.

Capoeira is the same thing, except it has a lot of those elements that need that individual time. We all know we could sing more songs, play a little longer, pick up that pandeiro even though we don’t know how to play it well for a long period of time. These are the moments when a little extra work, after hours, can add value to the academy your in.

Instructors will tell you that you need to come to class, and that a lot of the learning will happen there ,but that’s untrue. The learning doesn’t happen in a room full of 20 people. It happens when an idea is brought you, you take the time to digest, and finally, it’s processed, providing nutrients to your body and mind.

You wouldn’t know what a folha seca if mestre didn’t tell you, but he can only watch you do it for so long. There’s only so much time in the day, and he has class, and errands, and other responsibilities. You’re going to have to work on it on your own (and safely.)

Teachers don’t force you to learn, because that’s not what teaching is. Teaching is providing tools to have your path, a machete to cut through weeds of doubt and uncertain, pointing in the right direction of where the goal is, creating a way to get there. If we could just hand you a skill, we would. Things would wonderful and the world would eliminate doubt.

Until then, there’s practice, so suck it up and do your homework.