Capoeira: An Advanced Student's Perspective

Multiple Intelligences

2012-01-28T22:09:00.000-08:00

I encourage any followers/readers of my blog to read this short article that discusses the idea of Multiple Intelligences covered in Capoeira.

-Feiti

Song: Casa do Feiticeiro

2012-01-18T14:23:00.000-08:00

(Thanks to Instrutor Baz from The Michigan Center for Capoeira for providing the song and lyrics!)

http://www.themichigancenterforcapoeira.com/Songs/Entries/2012/1/9_Casa_Do_Fericeiro.html

Fui na casa do feiticeiro

Aprender feiticaria

Pra pegar o sapo-boi

Pra fazer judiaria

Bota ele na agua quente

Da quente bota na fria

Tira o couro do sapo

Ai ai ai Pra fazer mandingaria

Camardinho

Journal Entry 1/18/2012

2012-01-18T12:32:00.000-08:00

"Ice. Interesting."

A person's thoughts slow to a near crawl at 6 in the morning. Doubly so if the temperature is as chilly as it was. The front and rear windshields were iced over and the roof was textured with a cold bumpiness. Sitting in the car, waiting for the defroster to do its job, I noticed how surreal it was to be up that early and not see the first hint of dawn. Did I even sleep at all? A slight grogginess certainly could provide a "yes" answer.

Parking the car at the academy, I gathered what I could carry and made my way to campus on foot as the slowly rising sun accompanied the frosty chill. Walking with my backpack, berimbau in my hand, I was brought back to my times as a sophomore at the University. Especially with recent goings-on, it's as if an old me is melding with who I am now. It has me at peace in a way, and it's pleasant.

Exploring a new, personalized method of teaching helps me connect at a deeper level than I have in the past. yet I'm confused and left wondering why I had not connected the two before. They are so closely connected! At least I realize it now rather than later.

An epiphany is probably too grandiose a word to use in this context, but it's the closest word I can think of to describe it. I shall update this blog with any ideas that are solidified for the use of any readers who happen to be capoeira instructors.

-Feiti

Brain Droppings: A Sense of Comfort

2011-04-24T10:54:00.001-07:00

This entry will delve into particularly sensitive and personal issues, so feel free to skip reading it if that's not your thing.

As the event draws closer and closer, I find myself not so much thinking about the things involved in the event, nor the weekend itself. My thoughts drift to the subject that has popped up once in a while for the past three years and is continuing to do so at an alarming rate as of late. It's a strange conundrum, where I feel that my personality is best suited to someone who should be in a long-lasting relationship, yet my actions and choices aren't what is best for that lifestyle.

Don't get me wrong, I am proud of the work I have done in schools and libraries across Tucson and I'm glad of the progress I have made in capoeira and the progress I have yet to make. My students are enthusiastic about capoeira and I am excited to see them get their belts in a few days. Yet there come times when I find myself sitting at home after training or waking up in the morning thinking about whether this will get me on the path to finding a life partner to share these experiences with.

There have been times where I have consciously given up on exploring a relationship with someone I've felt a deep connection with just for the sake of them. It would be nice to be able to have something steadier, where we'd end up being equals in a relationship, but with the fluctuating nature of what I do, I can't put them nor myself through that kind of hardship unless they were ready to handle it. Perhaps it is the idea that the usual gender roles have been switched that makes me uncomfortable, I'm not sure. So I keep myself isolated, protected from these situations.

I've come to the point in my capoeira experience when I can't think of doing anything else, unless it feeds into supporting my capoeira. It's one thing to have a mestra and group that is both supportive and encouraging to continuing with my training. It's another to have that with a life partner. It can be done, I'm sure of it. But I won't personally be happy with it until I'm able to meet on equal grounds. So I let these opportunities pass by, knowing that those I feel a deep love for will be happier with others that are more secure in their lives.

It still hurts the spirit.

--F

The Advanced Student Belt

2011-04-11T19:53:00.000-07:00

I'm nervous.

Let's just get that out of the way at the beginning, lest impatient readers become bored by my verbose explanation of my current mentality (or by this sentence).

What's so ironic about being nervous for the ceremony is that I feel prepared enough and confident in my capoeira to be able to handle at least some of what the higher belts will be able to bring. Yet, in a curiously egocentric fashion that is somewhat uncharacteristic of my previous belting games, I feel the need to let these mestres and other higher belts know that I am ready to push myself to the limits of my game and beyond as my life in capoeira continues. Perhaps this attitude change is from the development of my communication skills, or from teaching in a place with a positive attitude about what I've done so far.

Yet I'm still nervous.

In all honesty, it feels like the first time I went from elementary school to middle school. I wasn't as nervous going from middle school to high school, strangely enough. Teaching my classes has helped me alleviate the stress. It's funny, I forget whatever was bugging me before class as soon as I see my students. What an odd, yet pleasant effect. I wonder if they realize how much I care about them. I certainly hope so.

Preparations for the batizado have been going well. Ganso has been a delight as the Club President and I am sad to see him leave town, but the new batch of students are gung-ho and enthusiastic so I have high hopes for the future of the club. I'll be there to oversee things as usual, just in case they have questions that Luar might not be able to answer immediately. While doing assistant teaching at the Rec Center for the past year, I've had some time to reflect on the training expectations for kids and adults. As I let capoeira help me mature, I find my comfortableness with teaching adults growing, and my care with which to teach kids developing for the better.

Perhaps during the summer, after the last session of the year is ended, I will reflect on all that has happened and what has been learned. It will be a nice diversion from the constant training I have subscribed to as of late (which I am putting on hiatus during the next couple of weeks; I really need the energy).

-F

Some pictures from presenting at a TUSD School

2011-03-07T21:59:00.000-08:00

I can only post a few (the ones without student faces), but here are the ones I am able to share with my readers.

It was a fun presentation, and the kids seemed to really enjoy it. Thanks again to Ms. Gonzales for inviting me over to her school.

-Feiti

January 12, 2011 - On the Way to ESC6

2011-01-23T10:12:00.000-08:00

An entry from my journal during my flight to Rochester, NY several weeks ago, this entry is the only one from that trip. I had spent most of the time playing, so I didn't have much time set aside to write. Regardless, here it is.

Roughly 2:15pm

Normally, I'd make sure the time would be accurate. I, however, am currently flying towards Rochester for Eat Sleep Capoeira 6. Judging from the landscape below, it seems we're passing over either northern New Mexico or one of the neighboring midwest states. It's a much different view in contrast to last year's flight, which had blankets of snow covering the plains. A fantastic view for any longtime desert dweller to behold.

As the flight began an hour ago, I reflected on my time in Rochester last year and what it meant to me then and now. The circumstances surrounding each trip color my attitudes to each, of course. Regardless of those circumstances, these trips signify a viewpoint whose shattering is more than welcome.

A big part of why I've rarely had the drive to travel has been the fear that I was not welcome. The environments I live in, work in, and play in color my personality deeply. While I show an exterior positiveness in a stressful situation, I know deep down I will not want to revisit the instigation of those feelings in the future.

So to be welcomed as I was for last year's event was a wonderful eye-opener. The world isn't as vast as it was, and there can be wonderful places to visit if you have good people around.

There's crops outside the window now. I wonder if we're over Cedar Falls now... maybe not, but a guy can dream.

-Feiti

My Current Perspective on Capoeira

2010-11-13T20:53:00.001-08:00

It's the month of Thanksgiving. My feet are slightly chilly from the drop in temperature these past few days (even with socks on) and now I spend a depressing Saturday evening sitting at my computer writing my thoughts out instead of out with close friends like I should be. Not out of any anti-social attitude, but other circumstances that leave me aggravated and depressed, wondering if I made the right choices in life and if there's still time to fix it all.

As melancholy as that sounds, right now my thoughts dwell on movement. Oftentimes, I really want to tell people how deep my dedication is to capoeira, but I find my words caught in my mouth and it transforms into tangential rambling that strays from the point. It's not out of some need to prove my dedication, far from it. It is more of wanting to help people find the capoeira deep within themselves by sharing my path and my methodology, hoping they find some sort of nugget of information that will guide them towards a new level in their games.

My imagination strays towards the negative more often than I let on. Working myself up to the point of frustration, my outlet for my anger has changed from video games to capoeira. My introversion and unwillingness to socialize during my initial years of training left me with a large amount of free time, during which I trained. When my hearing problems frustrated me, I trained. When I was bored, I trained. When I couldn't afford to go out with some of my friends, I trained. I gave up watching television regularly because I could train instead. Through training in classes and on my own, I found a love of the game that I didn't see when I first started. As I continue to train, this appreciation only increases my drive to train even more and do what I can to make my training possible. If I have to lose sleep to play, then I'll do it. If I have to have a smile and a positive attitude every day to play, then I'll do it.

I give as much as I can to capoeira and it has given back to me equally, sometimes I feel it's given more than that. Capoeira helps me when I'm down, pushes me when I feel lazy. I'm not a rich man by any means, but even at my lowest, Capoeira brought me back up and it makes me feel richer than any form of money ever could.

My way of dealing with stressful situations in a roda is to laugh it off and keep going. It's a nice way to deal with life's problems, no matter how stressful they may be. I forget that from time to time, but we all do that once in a while. It's a part of maturing in capoeira and in life.

-Feiticeiro

Peripheral Vision

2010-05-04T22:01:00.000-07:00

Just out of curiosity, what are people's thoughts on the use of peripheral vision in relation to capoeira?

-Feiticeiro

Song with Video

2010-03-30T10:54:00.000-07:00

The first song in the video for The Michigan Center for Capoeira, led by Instrutor Baz.

-Feiticeiro

Contra Mestre Esquilo - CDO

Quando eu sai la de casa
Trago o Berimbao na mâo
Tenho meu corpo fechado
com os cinco salomâo...
le le le le le
le le le le lea
(CORO)

Coro:
E E E
O batuque vai rolar
E E E
Abra a roda que eu vou
E E E
Abra a roda pra jogar
E E E
Capoeira ja cantou

Trago a voz forte no peito
Pra espantar qualquer bichâo
Quando chego numa roda
bato com o pe e com a mâo
le le le le le
le le le le lea
(CORO)

Vamos se embora seu moco
Tira esse pe do châo
Vamos plantar bananeira
Rodar de piâo de mâo
le le le le le
le le le le lea
(CORO)

Song Lyrics: Eu Vim Aqui Buscar

2010-03-02T20:54:00.000-08:00

lead: eu vim aqui buscar um poquinho de dende
chorus: ditto

lead: pra passar no atabaque, um poquinho de dende
chorus: ditto

lead: pra botar no meu pandeiro, um poquinho de dende
chorus: ditto

lead: pra passar no berimbau, um poquinho de dende
chorus: ditto

-Feiticeiro

Stream of Consciousness: Group Photographs

2010-01-14T21:28:00.000-08:00

another night of boredom, another stream of consciousness blog post. i tend to think too much with my free time, of which i have an excessive amount as of late. for further details on that matter, make them up, because i won't discuss it any further than it has been discussed already.

When someone thinks of exciting capoeira pictures, the first thing off the top of their head is usually the description of a really impressive kick, floreio, or narrow escape. Two active players really communicating well in their games, demonstrating impressive physical feats, while the bateria plays in the background, standing like statues exuding an unheard force that continues on past that captured moment in time which drives the souls that feed the body. Or is it driving the body which feeds the soul...

Regardless of the back and forth of that idea, that is what usually appears at the top of the stack of visual memories when consulting the category "exciting capoeira pictures." Pictures such as those are thrilling, no doubt, but the other type of pictures that are frankly more envigorating and energizing are group pictures.

"But they're not doing anything!"
"Yes, they are."
"They're just sitting and being goofy!"
"I thought you said they weren't doing anything?"
"Shut up, you know what I mean. They're not doing any cool moves!"
"Yeah, they're not. So?"
"What?"
"So."
"That wasn't even a question."
"Now who's being nitpicky..."
"..."
"I sense some confusion, grasshopper."
"DAMNIT JUST TELL ME WHAT YOU MEANT BY 'SO?'"
"I meant that so what if they're not doing cool moves? It's still exciting."
"What's so exciting about a group of people smiling like idiots and acting stupid?"
"That they can smile like idiots and act stupid with total sincerety around each other."
"I still don't get it."
"I bet you do get it, just not consciously."
"You're not going to give me your amateur psychobabble bullcrap again are you?"
"It depends. How does it make you feel when I do that?"
"Well, I'm a litle taken abastop that, you jerk."
"Ha!"

Oftentimes my mind jumps back and forth between written prose and dialogue to help wrap my head around ephemeral or complicated concepts in order to understand them better. Mr. Blue does bring up valid questions, but Mr. Black's answer, while odd, conceals a deeper, personal answer underneath. Regardless of the group, why do those pictures feel more exciting than action shots?

Belonging, family, friends, energy, relaxation, good spirits, giving, love, understanding, relating, communicating, regarding, feeling, seeing, motivation, hope, support, comfort...

That's what I see in these pictures, and these are what matter to me more than any fancy kick or escape. Slowly, as I expand my horizons in capoeira beyond what I have experienced so far, I realize that I can find these qualities anywhere I go if I know where to look. Upon returning, I then realize how much I have missed these qualities in my own "family."

Thanks for all the support that has been given to me during this unfortunate turn of events. It has kept me from being stagnant and reaching further than where I was before.

--Feiticeiro

Eat Sleep Capoeira V: The Pictures and Videos

2010-01-14T21:12:00.000-08:00

There aren't that many that I took, but here is the link to the gallery.

Here are some videos of the event (I believe I'm either in the background taking the aforementioned pictures or on one of the instruments).

--Feiticeiro

Eat Sleep Capoeira V: The Second Day

2010-01-01T23:10:00.000-08:00

The second day started off with workshops (after warm-up, naturally) where we were split into two groups, those with more than 2 years of experience going with Ariranha from Capoeira Angola Quintal. He gave us some great training for delivering an effective, juicy headbutt with optimal push-age.

Things worth noting were the small details, such as the slight rolling of the head which hits before the front base foot steps down. That turns it from a ballistic headbutt into one with a good push. We also did partner work looking at our straight backs and making sure that our hips were below our knees. Other details, like foot balances, were wonderfully torturing, but necessary for effective delivery. We also worked on Au Giratoria as an escape from a headbutt.

I had to sit the next one out with Prof. Graveto since I had gone to get some chicken for lunch.

After that ended, Giratorio from CAQ ran our workshop, working a sequence that included the following moves:

A: Meia Lua de Frente, entrada the other direction to Meia Lua de Compasso, knes together to pass through the Tesoura with one leg, bending it into Negativa

B: Esquiva Lateral from the MLDF, turn to the straight leg into Negativa, do a small role, escape the MLDC by turning the toes and bending the back leg into Negativa, to Tesoura

Harder to write than to do, that's for sure. After we worked that sequence, Prof. Graveto helped answer some questions at length about the meaning of rasteiras in a game, talking about the showing of it and to take it seriously regardless if it wouldn't be effective.

After that was a dinner break, but a few people stuck around to play instruments and we just kept playing until everyone got back and had another really long roda. Pictures will of course be posted when I arrive home Sunday night.

I'd write more details, but I need sleep. On to Day 3!!!

--Feiticeiro

Eat Sleep Capoeira V: The First Day

2009-12-31T10:34:00.000-08:00

Right now it is about 1:36pm Eastern Standard Time in Rochester. Eat Sleep Capoeira V officially starts in 4 1/2 hours with a four hour roda, followed by a New Year's Party at a local establishment. What a way to start the event and the new year off!

The snow is falling outside; I can see it through the window I am sitting in front of. Regardless of how mundane it must be for the residents living here, snow casually falling remains mesmerizing to my eyes. The architecture here, for some reason, makes me feel like I'm caught in a fantasy town of sorts, the kind of town you'd see built around the tracks of a model train set set up for the holiday season. It must be a similar feeling for anyone from this region who travels west to the desert areas. It's a different type of culture, but not different by much.

Four hours left now...

This will be updated later after the four hour roda

While it is a day late, New Year's Eve was a valid excuse to not immediately update this blog after the roda. I may be obsessive about computers, but I try to socialize once in a while, jeez.

The rodas were great and getting to play some of the east coast capoeiristas was a wonderful treat. Getting quite schooled by Professor Graveto from Capoeira Angola Quintal was humbling to say the least. Being able to jogar with some of the Mandinga Rochester people was a definite treat as well. Lots of good games, great energy, and it's hard to describe it, especially at this late an hour.

I'll write about the New Year's Eve party later. Now it's on to writing down the workshop details from Day 2.

--Feiticeiro

Eat Sleep Capoeira V: Trip Log

2009-12-30T09:08:00.000-08:00

these entries are copied exactly from the book I have written them down in. once I arrive home, pictures will be added

Rochester Trip Log: 10/29/2009

A 4am wake-up isn't usually my cup of tea. If I'm awake at 4 in the morning, then it's usually because I haven't slept from the night before. Such is the behavior of a night owl. Yet I'm stunned that I'm as awake as I am, most likely a byproduct of the impending flight to parts unknown and the event I am traveling to attend.

The anticipation had a negative effect the day before as I had stupidly packed too much into a large suitcase, intending to check it in. The baggage fee, something unexperienced from a Southwest Airlines customer, gave me a hard reality check. Thankfully I still had my wits about me a few hours later, so I repacked and avoided the dreaded baggage fee.

Wonderfully, the early flight time allowed me to get my boarding pass and get through security in record time. I sit at the gate entrance about an hour before boarding time, eagerly anticipating the experience to follow in the coming days.

-F

To Chicago

The white haze outside the windows of the plane hide the feeling of traveling. It reminds me of a ride at a theme park, but with a poor backdrop. Frankly, Captain EO was more visually pleasing. There was some turbulence, but due to the namesake of Chicago, it more than likely will persist for quite a while longer.

Time is uncertain due to my phone being shut off at the moment. The dreamy quality of the weather only adds to the surrealness of the situation.

I feel the plane turning, but do not see it from the window's viewpoint. Like I said, a quite dull park ride. Hopefully the cloud cover will abate for a while so I can enjoy the view for a few seconds or minutes.

-F

Snow

The clouds have cleared up below the plane, more or less. Lands below are spattered with seemingly thick blankets of snow. A desert-dweller such as myself rarely has the opportunity to take in such views. There is almost a veiny, sinuous look to the contrast of snow and clear land, a circulatory system of winter weather patterns. I anticipate the view from ground level excitedly.

To Rochester
One of the Great Lakes flows thousands of feet below the small plane headed for Rochester. There wasn't much time to take in O'Hare Airport or Chicago proper. A pity; it looked like an excellent city from the terminal window. I must visit it again someday and spend more time there.

The weather's partly cloudy in Rochester. More than likely it'll feel like Tucson, but less sand and more snow. We'll see upon arrival.

-F

editor's note: the comparison to Tucson is a sign of affection, so don't get the wrong idea :)

Winter Reflection

2009-12-19T23:45:00.000-08:00

The school has been let out for two weeks for Winter Break. Students and teachers alike get to stay home and enjoy the holidays and the start of a new year and a new quarter. A peaceful night such as this allows for some reflection on the past few months and what has changed about how I teach and a few of the lessons I have learned along the way. This will not be all of the lessons I have learned, however, since I am quite tired from an excellent workout earlier in the day. They will be written down, however, as they come to mind in no particular order of significance.

My first thoughts go to the Mandinga Instructor's Packet being written by Instr. Sumido and others in the Oakland group. An important contribution to the packet, if it is not already included, would be to cover Education State Standards and which ones are relevant to the teaching of capoeira in a more formal environment. Arizona's Standards are more than likely different from other states/countries, but they can be used as a template/example for other instructors to reference.

Recently, I had substituted as teacher for one of Professora Luar's classes while she attended a Batizado with another member of the group. One of those classes was a kids class. The method in which I taught that particular class had been different than the way I had taught before. I can feel that there is a bit of blending now between the Way I Want To Teach and the Way I Have To Teach. The sternness of my teaching has increased quite a bit, but without sacrificing too much of my quiet attitude. I've also explained capoeira movements in much greater detail, but not over-explaining it and losing the attention of the students.

Even though I feel I have a large amount of patience, teaching has pushed that level to its limits several times. There were several times during these few months when I had thought I made the wrong decision about teaching Capoeira. I thought, "Why should I keep teaching? All this stress and no time for myself?" I look back at those moments, and any future moments that will inevitably pop up, and realize that if this were easy, then everyone would be doing it.

The struggles, falls, and rises one goes through in any career are a given in life. I've done the best job that I can to accomplish my goals as a teacher so far, and there will be many more challenges lying ahead of me. I will be well-rested when I come back from Mandinga Rochester's Eat Sleep Capoeira 5 in a few days and ready to start anew for 2010. A better person, a better teacher, and the only way is up from here on out.

-Feiticeiro

Maneira and its Relation to Conflicts

2009-10-25T22:38:00.000-07:00

I wish this ridiculous cough of mine would go away. It's quite annoying that I've had it for just over a week now and the cough drops are only a temporary fix (if they work at all).

Anyways, during my usual late night wandering through capoeira videos, I let my mind glaze over while watching a game played by a high-level Mandinga group member. Knowing what I know so far about the Maneira playing style, and how the game itself is a conversation, I began to let my glazed mind process the Mandingueiro's playing style from a perspective of a conversation.

Here is the video in question

It feels like both of the players has a point to make. Being different people, their points are going to differ in some areas. These differences will more than likely lead to arguments, but before the argument gets too heated, the Mandingueiro backs off and prepares to make the point from a different perspective. He goes back and forth between various ideas before making an attempt to catch the other before he (the other person) works his way around it. The conversation goes on and on like this, the points each person is making often relating and agreeing with each other, but punctuated with the occasional disagreement.

From this angle, the Maneira style feels like it could relate to a way to deal with conflicts outside of the roda: not to rush headlong into them, only to make things worse, but to go with whatever the conflict has handed you. Then to take a step back from it and resituate your position to best address the issue, adapt to the conflict, and to not see it as a conflict, but as an obstacle that you can learn from. In the end, you will be a better person for taking the rational approach instead of the hard-headed approach.

If this is anywhere close to how Maneira is seen by the rest of the Mandingueiros/Mandingueiras in my group, then it's an approach to life and capoeira that I can definitely appreciate.

--Feiticeiro

The Importance of Basics

2009-10-20T23:01:00.001-07:00

It's odd how sometimes thinking about a subject in the shower can lead you to some interesting thought paths. Only rarely do they come out with some semblance of organization.

I've met a few people who have had a disdain for learning the basics of capoeira. Even with their appreciation for the art, they still did not think that learning, say, Bimba's Sequencias, was worth their time. "Yeah I know them, why should I have to do them again and again?" was a phrase often repeated, words varying between individuals but carrying the same meaning. Pondering this issue, I thought back to the dialogue of the game. I asked myself, "What does this have to do with the dialogue of the game?" Dialogue, words, you're learning words....

Parents talk with their infants so they can learn words. Words are often repeated, 'daddy' and 'mommy' for instance. During infancy, the child is just learning how to say these words and form them with their facial muscles. If the child uses them enough, soon they will be able to say it clearly, but not necessarily use it in a sentence. This reminds me of learning my first kicks and movements in capoeira. It wasn't about fitting them in a sequence, it was about working them into my own body, forming them with my entire muscular system.

Now the child can say the words 'daddy' and 'mommy.' With education and parental encouragement, the child can now put these words into sentences to communicate simple thoughts, wants, or needs. Again, repetition comes into play since a child has only a few basic needs at this time, like food, sleep, cleanliness, care and attention, and a few other things. This is the stage in capoeira where sequencias come in. The learning of stringing movements together is similar to the process of putting sentences together. There is a situation where you would use these "sentences" of movement in the world of capoeira, and mostly everyone knows what you mean to do when you "say" these movements.

By now, the child is a little more grown up, and may call his parents 'dad' and 'mom.' The child may have learned different ways to say phrases like "Dad, can I have some water?" The child could be angry and say, "I want some water NOW!" or be shy and say "Water please?" Essentially, the request is the same. For capoeira, this is where the sequences of movement become more personalized. The two players can challenge each other in an angry, forceful way with those basic movements, or be polite and slow to allow the other to react accordingly. The movements are the same, it's the way you say them that is important to notice.

As the child's language increases in terms of vocabulary, so does the complexity of their simple request. "Dad, as I was researching for my paper on the internet, I found this article on CNN.com that said that the fluoride in the water pumped into our home is quite beneficial..." and so on. So as the capoeirista increases their repertoire of movements, so does the complexity of a simple phrase.

But that is only semi-related to the point I was trying to reach while thinking about this in the shower. Let's just take one word: 'daddy.' An infant first learns how to say the word. They grow older, they learn how to say it in the context/meaning that everyone understands. They grow even older, they learn how to say it in the context/meaning of their own little world.

Replacing certain words, and you get...

Let's just take one movement: 'meia lua de frente.' A beginner first learns how to perform the movement. They train it more, they learn how to use it in a sequence that everyone understands. They train even more, they learn how to use it in a sequence in their own game.

In a simpler, more capo-movement-related explanation, working on my macacos a lot have brought me to start working on back handsprings. Of course, they need practice, but hey, what doesn't?

--Feiticeiro

From Fun to Work

2009-10-11T23:34:00.000-07:00

While I'm take a brief break in between writing the week's lesson plan, writing up a capoeira history exam, and pondering the finer details present on Mr. T's A-Team-era golden chains, I'm providing an update on a thought that's been stirring around. It may not be as coherent as previous posts, but this is just to stir discussion.

As I have been told before, reaching my current belt level is a big step. From this point on, there's an apparent fork. Well, two main forks with different sub-branches. One is to be comfortable at the level, enjoying the fact that you've learned as much as you can while still balancing it with the non-capoeira half of your life. You feel knowledgable enough in your jogo, but not necessarily pushing yourself further because you have other things on your mind. Nothing is wrong with this choice, though those from the perspective of the other path can see this as disappointing since they won't have a chance to really break down their game.

The other path is for those that make an effort to learn and absorb more and more, training hard, developing their games to a greater depth. While this can come unconsciously from the casual playing that the former pathwalkers take, here these latter walkers take the conscious approach. Time is set aside especially for training new movements and refining the dialogue with those added into the mix.

Of course, to take such a black and white view of the paths one can take when reaching a certain level in the game would be naive. People are complex creatures and can learn how to balance one life of non-capoeira activities while still remaining a dedicated capoeirista. It just appears at first glance that there is a correlation between the life of the capoeirista inside the academy and outside of it. What are your thoughts on the matter?

--Feiticeiro

State Education Standards

2009-10-05T01:20:00.001-07:00

To teach in a formal setting, one has to expect the watchful eyes of the administration and the State making sure the children are receiving a well-rounded education according to the principles they have set. Since capoeira covers a wide range of subjects, I will make note of the ones that relate to the teaching of capoeira the most. They are in no particular order, as it is important to emphasize each subject as much as possible when teaching.

The Arts: Dance and Music - These subjects are expected to be covered when teaching capoeira. Complicated movements taught to the rhythm of capoeira music, to teach one and not the other would be silly. Students learning the songs should not only be able to remember the songs, but to sing them on key.
Physical Activity - Some concepts from this category are shared with Dance. This category covers movement at a basic level, while Dance covers it at an expressive level.
Foreign Languages - Since Capoeira songs are all in Portuguese, to teach basic Portuguese to students is a natural extension. With this subject, students can learn what the words in the capoeira songs mean in English, and be able to ask simple, every day questions.
Social Studies - A teacher should cover Brazil itself through subjects such as Geography and World History. Students should understand at least where Brazil is, what continent it resides in, and what in history caused capoeira to come into fruition and bring it to what it is today.

The State Standards for Education vary between locations. For those looking to provide professional standards with their lesson plans, consult the website of your state's Department of Education. It would also be good practice to take care of this several weeks before teaching to give yourself some time to consult and absorb the concepts and requirements that the state has set out. Oftentimes, representatives from the State Department will visit the schools so that they can be assured students are being taught according to the standards, so it would be best to understand the concepts well.

--Feiticeiro

How An Unchecked Ego Can Hinder, Not Help

2009-10-02T00:35:00.000-07:00

Through the start of a career, you can start to realize certain peculiarities about your own personality if you are willing to look at yourself from a critical point of view. While an ego can help with confidence in the classroom, letting that ego get carried away can lead to alienation from your colleagues and those that wish to help you improve your teaching ability.

While my teaching techniques have worked in the past, those were different situations compared to the current one. Those varied from brief presentations, week-long summer camps, substitutions, and assistant teaching roles. The values of my current workplace are not so much different, but ones that I have not had to experience until now. I realize that all the commotion and mis-communication that has happened was not due to anyone else other than myself. Common sense would usually kick in when I started to feel anxious, but as stated before, aligning the school's values with my own has been a humbling first experience.

All in all, this is really just venting for the sake of easing my excessive amount of worrying. It is about time I begin to change my childlike mentality that I have treasured for so long and realize that other people (students included) are depending on me to bring these children a proper education in capoeira. Even though I am a new teacher, I have to understand that I should not have to be coddled like an infant every step of the way. Professionalism is, oddly, a tough concept for me to adapt to since I have treated capoeira as a very personal, fun thing that I enjoy doing. To suddenly go from fun to job has been a very huge shock to me and I have yet to absorb it all.

The administration is willing to help me, I know that. I just have to talk to them more and not let my ego get in the way of teaching the children what they need to learn.

--Feiticeiro

Pictures from Capoeira Mandinga Tucson's 2009 Batizado, Formatura, and Troca de Cordaos

2009-10-01T11:55:00.000-07:00

http://hermangordon.com/2009_04_Batizado/index.html

Check them out, there are some fantastic pictures here of great capoeiristas.

--Feiticeiro

A Brief Update on Courage

2009-09-28T23:08:00.000-07:00

On Aus (cartwheels):

Student: I can't do them, I'm too scared.

Me: Well, do them anyways.

Student: I don't want to be scared when I do them though.

Me: Unless you start practicing them while you're scared, you won't get to the point when you're not scared.

Student: Why is that?

Me: Were you really scared when you were at school for the first time?

Student: Yeah.

Me: It was because it was something new to you.

Student: But now I'm not that scared of school.

Me: Right, because you've been going to school for a while. So, like with the au, you just have to understand that you will be scared the first few times you do it. The more you practice, the less scared you'll be about it. You understand?

Student: Yeah, but I'm still scared.

Me: There's nothing wrong with that. Just don't let that stop you from learning what you want to learn.

--Feiticerio

Class Paperwork and Songs

2009-09-26T22:55:00.001-07:00

As this new venture into the world of teaching capoeira unfolds for me, I have made some use of the teaching techniques that are expected from a more formal setting than some teachers may be used to, myself included. With the help and guidance of the school's director, Sara Riegert, the adaptations applied to my curriculum have, hopefully, helped to further enrich the students' views of capoeira not just as a martial art, but a cultural centerpiece of Brazil.

The timeframe of these classes is much shorter than the 1-to-2 hour classes I have taken/taught, so there is not much time to discuss with the older students the finer points of capoeira in the history of Brazil. There is enough time for the physical movements and for one or two songs every week, some repeated to make sure the students learn the words and sing them loud and on key. The youngest students, those in the primary group (Kinder through 2nd grade) have learned the songs I have taught so far very quickly and sing them quite well. Those in the intermediate (grades 3-6) also learn the songs fairly quickly, yet do not sing them with as much enthusiasm as the primary group. Students in grades 5 and 6 do bring up interesting questions such as Why do we sing? and What do the words mean?

The second question can be answered by translating the lyrics from Portuguese to English. That is the simple answer to that particular question. A more elaborate, underlying meaning behind the question proposes What are the words talking about? With the aid of the translated words, an instructor could come up with an assignment for students that relates to (in the case of Marinheiro so) Brazil's strong connection to the fishing trade. This assignment could also work with the Puxada de Rede dance. This might not work with songs like Sim Sim Sim, as they cover the dialogue of the game, something that could easily fly over the heads of many of the students unless they have trained for at least a few months. If you think the students can handle a discussion about the dialogue of the game, however, then it would definitely be beneficial.

As for the first question, I had answered that in a very silly way, but it seemed to fit at the time. Use this example at your own discretion.

Several of the intermediate students are fans of the Jonas Brothers. Two of them had recently attended one of their concerts and were very near the front row. After a brief discussion about how awesome the concert was for them, we worked on a song. One of the two, during a break, asked the aforementioned question. The first part of my reply consisted of recounting the history of the music and the instruments, shortened for the sake of their attention spans. Realizing that this may have been a true, yet boring answer, I asked the student if the audience sang along to the songs the Jonas Brothers sang.

"Of course!" she replied, "I know them by heart and so did everyone there."

"I bet the Jonas Brothers felt really happy that they had so many people singing those words to them."

"Yeah! One of them came right up to the edge of the stage and looked right at me!"

"Did you think it was great that they had so many fans come to see them?"

"YES BECAUSE EVERYONE SHOULD LIKE THE JONAS BROTHERS BECAUSE THEY'RE AWESOME."

"Alright, calm down, I know you're a superfan. So that Jonas Brother came up to the edge of the stage with his mic because everyone was singing along and he felt that energy and excitement. Now imagine the audience is standing in a circle and the Jonas Brothers are in the center and you're singing their songs to them while they're playing. Do you see where I'm going?"

"Kind of. So if we sing capoeira songs like everyone did at the concert, then the people in the center will do something cool?"

She pretty much hit the nail on the head. Thankfully, the rest of the class understood as well. A collective "Ah..." was a pretty good sign. It is a silly explanation, but it fit well enough.

This was all a digression from what I was supposed to be writing about. Admittedly, I still find the example kind of funny.

Paperwork! For the format that I have to teach in, there's not much time to explain the history of capoeira and as such, I had written up brief assignments (vocabulary, fill in the blank, story + questions) for the students to do as homework. An instructor could easily spend a few days to a whole week talking to students about the history, but paperwork assignments work out better in terms of giving the intermediate students something in writing to easily consult at a later time instead of just going by some fuzzy recollection of a discussion. The discussion format actually works out better for the primary students, as many of them cannot read yet. Do not doubt the memory of primary students, as they absorb this information like a dry sponge absorbs water.

In a later post, I hope to cover other topics such as grading systems, newsletters to parents, and performances.

--Feiticeiro

Shaking Hands

2009-09-26T20:48:00.000-07:00

It has been a long time since I have posted in this blog. Many things have changed since the last posting, which have left me with my current torn emotional state.

I have been hired to teach capoeira five times a week at a charter school in town to grades K-6. There are around 54 students or more in this school. Thankfully I do not teach all of them at once, but by grade level (kinder, 1 &2, 3&4, 5&6). Regardless of this split in grade level, my initial anxiety about the classes remains at either a gentle humming in the background or a shiver-inducing spirit of what may happen if Murphy's Law should decide to rear its head in my general direction.

54 students. At most, I've taught around fifteen students at any given time. To suddenly be thrust upon an opportunity to teach 54 is both amazing and frightening. The former because I can welcome such a large amount of students into the world that I love so much; the latter because it carries with it such a burdensome set of responsibilities, both as a teacher of capoeira and as a teacher in general.

Questions buzz through my head at light speed when my anxiety is at its worst: What will happen if they don't like it? How do I set a grade for an artform when I've never done it in the past? Are there things I should or shouldn't tell the students? What will the parents think? What will my boss think? Are they mad at me? Did I do something wrong? How will I screw this up? When will I screw this up? Are my students ready for this event or that performance? Who should I bring in as a guest? Will the students like him/her for their technique or for their tendency to show off?

There are many, many other questions besides the ones listed that have passed through my thoughts during these first two months at the school teaching. They come back up again and again as the days go on. I feel that I'm beginning to improve from a teaching perspective, but will these changes get in the way of the message that capoeira has given me that I wish to pass on to my students?

Whether or not it does or doesn't, what helps bring me back to an emotional center is that I do this for the students and the students alone. Whatever the case may be, it is the students I care for, and they are the ones that I care about more than my personal anxiety level. It is a heavy responsibility to have thrust upon me, even with the five years of experience that continues to accumulate.

Maybe the anxiety is a good thing. Maybe it means that I actually care about what I'm teaching. It would likely be worse for the students if I wasn't anxious about it at all.

In other news, I have started to learn back handsprings. My form needs to be polished, but this is a new toy that I must play with for a while before adding it in with the others. Check off another box for "Reasons why my hands are shaking."

--Feiticeiro

Why Capoeira? - A Personal Take

2009-06-12T19:45:00.000-07:00

My mother and I argued on the way home today. The subject of course was on capoeira and teaching. This hasn't been the first time we've argued about capoeira and training while I teach it as well. She still finds it hard to understand that I would need to also be a student while I teach. Numerous times she has stated, "You could be doing something else instead of training." This week was no exception, since two of the classes were to be taught by another in our group.

From her perspective, it's understandable that she wouldn't like someone else that she works with to come to the class even though they weren't scheduled to teach. For these classes, I would not be the instructor, but a student. Yet she didn't understand why I would do that, learn from the person in our group the same movements that we've been taught and that I have learned for the last 4 1/2 years. She has often suggested that I just stop training at the academy and learn from the books that have been written about capoeira.

I don't think less of her for not seeing capoeira from my perspective. She has been supportive throughout my learning/training. Even though I cannot put my feelings into words that make it any clearer for her, I try my best. All I can really say to her is, "There's more to capoeira than just the movements and the techniques." I do not just mean the music and the Brazilian culture that is weaved into capoeira. There's the outside meaning and the inside meaning.

The outside meaning relates to the class situation this week. For some, having a co-worker come in when they are not assigned while you are can be very frustrating. Yet, I do not plan to attend class as a co-worker, but as a student willing to learn. We each have our own way of doing capoeira, and to respect that is to respect the community that is present in every academy. There is a give-and-take expected from people who want the group to be strong. We give ourselves (our voices, our musicality, our energy) to the community of the roda and that should not be any different during training as well. My friend comes to teach and I will learn because I know my friend has her own perspective on capoeira and I respect that.

The inside meaning is the personal part of this note. While our energies and our expression through capoeira is definitely a personal thing, for some their reasons for playing go much further.

Before the summer of 2005 began, I was in a very confused state of mind. Those of you who knew me freshman year understand why I was, so there's no need for a reminder. Needless to say, I did not know who I was anymore and I felt lost. I had to get away, so I left for San Diego to take summer classes and stay with my brother and his fiancee, who is now his wife. Coming back, I still felt like something was missing and I needed guidance.

As a random pick, I decided to sign up at the UA Rec Center for a Capoeira class. I didn't like the other martial arts offered because 1) I didn't like getting hit and 2) Capoeira looked cooler. There I made friends that I hope to know for the rest of my life and their lives. I didn't train the first year as much as I train now, but two things happened over the next year after I received my first belt that kept me connected to capoeira. One was the first batizado that I went to, the 2006 Mandinga San Diego Batizado held by Paulo Batuta. I have so far only been to two batizados outside of Tucson, and both were in San Diego. The San Diego Mandinga group means a lot to me and I truly love everyone in that group, experienced students and new blood.

The other event came after a yearly visit to my father, whom is buried at the South Lawn Mortuary and Cemetary. He had passed away when I was 7 years old. For most of my life, my mother had raised my brother and I by herself. Not until that time had I ever thought about why I still felt there was an empty part of me. I was looking for guidance, for help. The kind that my father had given me for the first several years of my life. I had not found it again until I had started Capoeira. The community that I was a part of and am still a part of has become what my father meant to me when I was younger.

What I do for the group, for the family of capoeiristas that I have come to know and appreciate, and for whomever I teach, I do because I hope that they find meaning in it the way it has given me meaning. Even if the meaning is, "It's fun."

Because it is.

Capoeira song lyrics (with translation)

2009-02-18T13:33:00.000-08:00

http://www.capoeiraholland.com/lyrics/ is a great site with many song lyrics to learn. Check it out!

--Feiticeiro

A Worry

2009-02-18T12:11:00.000-08:00

At this point, I'm left to wonder. And when I wonder, I usually worry, which isn't very healthy for getting things done except for blog posts. My feelings now warrant a new post, I think.

Today, my instructor asked me what brought me to capoeira and made me stick around. Usually I have an answer for a lot of questions when people ask me about capoeira, but I could only draw a blank when she asked me that one. What did draw me to capoeira?

Was it the martial art part? Partly, but not completely. Music? Not at the time, no. I didn't really get into the music until a good year into the class. I could barely dance/keep rhythm, so it couldn't have been that. Most of these things interested me when I was well into training.

What it could be, and if I had mentioned it over the phone it probably would have been bad, were the people I had practiced with. What's keeping me going now is that one day, our group will be strong and that those days will be back. Back then, attitudes were different with those at the higher belt levels. Not only that, students were fleeting, as it usually has been within the university setting. It's an inconvenient disadvantage, and one that is difficult to deal with.

The attempt to find a balance between finding people to train with at the Rec Center vs. the Academy has been tough. There's different attitudes with students in each: some of the rec center students who have never studied capoeira before often see the class as an extra-curricular type of activity, one that can easily be dropped/ignored if things get frustrating or if classes overwhelm their free time. With the academy, the students there are training by choice and have time set aside already just for capoeira and other things. Being in the mindset of an academy student, therefore, would not be a good mindset to figure out how to get more university students to train at the rec center.

This is something that I'll have to talk to club members about separately. So far, the best idea that I could come up with was to have more non-training outings with the people in the group. We do not do that enough, so I think it would be good to bring those back. We need to bring the family feeling back into the group at both the rec and at the academy (not so much there since it's already like that).

This might sound like dissent and the start of a transition to another group, but there is no way that I will leave Capoeira Mandinga. No matter what the group is like, I will be Mandinga for life. And while I do feel a bit lonely without more people my age to train with, I have endless hope for the group's future.

--Feiticeiro

Thoughts on Capoeira

2008-09-27T23:29:00.001-07:00

I wrote this a few weeks before today and I have posted this on my other blog. Since this is definitely relevant to the subject, I thought I would repost it here.

When I first started capoeira, there were many different voices saying many different ways of doing the same thing. It was confusing to people who had just begun, including myself. I was told not to think, but do. In spite of that advice, I thought more about the movements and what they meant, not only in the roda, but to myself as well. Perhaps I thought about it more than my peers, but that is how I have done things and will continue to do with other endeavours. This will, ideally, lead to minor realizations as I continue my practice of this art.

As much as it is emphasized in capoeira that training with a group, even if it's a group of only two, is best, there is a part of capoeira that is internal. Capoeira is a martial art and dance, so the personal exploration of each of those categories is very much present in capoeira. In fact, it is almost essential to the nature of the jogo.

Many times, from the time I began training to the writing of these words, I have seen students go from group to group, teacher to teacher. This is understandable for those that are just beginning. Schools have varying personalities. With students who have trained for longer periods, though, it is confusing. While one teacher demonstrates a movement in one fashion, another could show the same move explained differently. In the meantime, you're forced to adapt to their teaching style and their explanations, potentially hindering training beyond the classes or workshops.

A great student reaches beyond the boundaries established by the instructor to develop their vocabulary in capoeira while always having that "home" to return to if one gets lost. Going from teacher to teacher training for long periods of time is like moving from one country to another, but still thinking you're in the first country. How can you explore what's beyond the borders if the borders keep moving?

Any one, capoeirista or not, can learn the movements. To not think about where and when they can be used is to walk blindly into a roda, confused as to their significance to everyone and yourself. Of course, a student can learn and become a great capoeirista alone, but without guidance, knowledge, and-above all-respect, progress will become slow or stagnant.

It is only now, after three to four years of practice as of writing this, that I have grown a taste for discovery beyond what I have been taught. My boundaries and base are solidified and my will to push forward is increasing exponentially. My passion for the game is growing; my thirst for expression must be satisfied. This would not have been possible were it not for Capoeira Mandinga.

I owe a great deal to this group that I want to thrive because everyone on my path through this maze of movement and music has given me something that I will treasure. I owe it to Mestre Marcelo and Luar do Sertao for having a family that I can feel at home with, even when far away from my own. More importantly, I find the will and strength to do what I do not just for my instructor, or my mestre, or even the group. I do it for Capoeira in its entirety, and that gives me hope.

Title changes and clarification

2008-09-27T23:17:00.000-07:00

Before I get messages from upset people in the global capoeira community (if anyone does read this), I thought I'd apologize for possibly sounding arrogant or presumptuous, especially given my level of experience in capoeira.

I have much respect for those that have dedicated their lives to the art and do not mean to offend the mestres and the other capoeiristas that have enough experience to teach the finer points of capoeira. I hope to learn about them one day. In fact, if anything I write on this blog happens to not agree with your personal viewpoint, please let me know. I would love to have a discussion about capoeira.

Once again, if any instructors, professors, contra-mestres, or mestres read this and are offended, I apologize ahead of time.

--Feiticeiro

Why choose to teach?

2008-09-26T14:17:00.000-07:00

Teaching is a respectable profession. Even though teachers do not get their fair share of respect most of the time, the perseverance through all of that is, and should be if it isn't, commendable.

So why choose to teach? What motivates people to teach?

From my perspective in my training with capoeira, there were several factors that made me want to teach. One factor was that I had hit a plateau in my training. At one point or another, there comes a time when you're learning at a slower pace and you think for some moments that you can't learn anymore than what you know. It's a frustrating feeling when you first encounter it, but in capoeira, there are other ways to keep training so that the stress is lessened.

The plateau in my training led me to search for people to train outside of our group so that I had more people to play with in the roda. I talked to whoever was interested in capoeira in the slightest. I explained what I knew about the history and what I did not know, I read about in books or asked mestres or other teachers. Those that I demonstrated the moves to enjoyed it, but some lacked the time and motivation to push themselves further, leaving me in a way stranded with no one outside the group to teach. In retrospect, this was a somewhat selfish way of teaching capoeira because I wanted others to play at my level rather than letting them explore the movements on their own and finding their own voice over time.

So I looked back at the history of the group and of capoeira as a whole. How it was passed down over generations and generations to become what it is today is amazing. What that led me to was a two-fold mission statement of sorts if I were to become better than I was before. One, that capoeira's rich history of movement, music, and philosophy should be passed down by those that know it and respect its traditions; two, that as a capoeirista, I should push myself in all aspects of the art so that each little improvement brings me a step closer to truly understanding capoeira.

I think that teachers teach because they feel and understand that there needs to be those that are responsible enough to pass whatever information they decide to teach down to the next generation. It's a vital part of capoeira, and of life in general. Of course, that shouldn't stop the teachers from furthering their own knowledge as well, for we never lose that inner passion for understanding what's around us or inside of us at any age.

--Feiticeiro

Introduction

2008-09-26T14:10:00.001-07:00

My capoeira name is Feiticeiro. I have been practicing Capoeira for almost three and a half years to this day. I do not see myself stopping anytime soon, and because of that, I have created this blog.

During a plateau in my training, I had made the decision to explore the teaching aspect of this art. Through trial and error, I have begun to develop my teaching style while respecting what my instructor, Luar do Sertao, teaches to myself and the rest of our group. This blog will serve as a place for me to express my thoughts of capoeira from a teaching perspective, as it is a unique position in a group.

I do not claim to know everything there is to know about teaching, so being able to document my teaching experiences will definitely be useful in tracking my progress and development.

--Feiticeiro