A Youthful Exuberance.

6 Aug 2011. So it’s been a year since my last post! I can’t begin to describe how that happened. I guess in the way I have been erratic in terms of training, I have been erratic in writing and sadly, I am starting to feel it. Anyway, I will leave that to another post.

Cape Town has seen a lot of exciting activity in the last year and a half. We have witnessed the birth of the Cordao de Ouro Academy in Church Street, Cape Town in December 2010 and now we look forward to the 2nd collaborative effort to host the UCT Capoeira Batizado in association with Cordao de Ouro in August 2011. This event will feature Mestre Chicote, who teaches in Paris France and who oversaw the inaugural Cordao de Ouro Batizado, O Nosso Jogo, at the beginning of 2010. The atmosphere is electric at the CDO academy as the students prepare themselves for the upcoming Batizado which will be the 5th UCT Capoeira Batizado since the inaugural ceremony in 2006 which was officiated by Mestre Bogado & Mestre Gigante. It’s also quite significant that UCT Capoeira is now a decade old! And still going strong!

So if we think about it, Capoeira has had a presence at UCT for 10 years. One might ask themselves, who was the first Capoerista at UCT and where are they now? I guess it is fitting to start with that. How did Capoeira come to be at UCT?

The History of UCT Capoeira (2000 – 2001)

Well like most Capoeira students who have come through UCT, it started with a group of passionate people who simply loved to do Capoeira. People might not know, but Abada Capoeira Cape Town and UCT Capoeira share similar roots. A while back, I met one of these Capoeiristas that kick started this whole thing. (He is actually my first teacher, but that is a story for another day). His name is Bheku and I posed this question to him in 2006. “How did UCT Capoeira come to be?” and this is what he had to say.

“… Capoeira at UCT effectively started with a bunch of capoeira mad guys, yours-truly included, that were led by Marcio (Beleza) in 2001. We kinda abused the martial arts section of the sports centre the year before and some people showed interest. I know I got roped into it during the 2000 academic year orientation week and trained at Obz (that is the current Abada class in Observatory) for the whole of 2000. I think it's at the sports centre where we caught the eye of the guy who was to be the chairperson for UCT Capoeira for 2001, sadly I forget his name (his name is . The mad bunch that I was telling you of, Marcio (Beleza), myself, Noor (latina), Michel (Buffalo Preto), Aladin (Yes from Abada), Riaaz and another guy who was an ex-Tae Kwon Do practitioner if I'm not mistaken, other ABADA members from the Cape would join us occasionally (this became roughly the demo team that did various demos around CPT, that's another tale on its own). We would train at UCT in a more 'advanced' class, heavier training, more acrobatics and techniques etc. UCT was the perfect spot and it was good advertising.

By the time we did a demo at UCT, we already had a large group of people from the previous year (2000) who'd seen us train on weekends, and those that were simply blown away by the demo we did during the Orientation Week of 2001. I'm not trying to blow my own horn but people were really impressed and I think for a new martial arts club, we had quite a big following. And soon Saturdays at the UCT Sports Centre were filled with Capoeira enthusiasts who would give up their precious afternoons just to learn more about this Capoeira thing. Of course as some would say, some girls were just there for Marcio (I think that is why they call him Beleza), but that's subject to debate. I know there were a lot of swooning women from all over the world who were falling for Marcio (Maybe Beleza had some potion that he used on girls while playing in the roda) big time, probably more so in the Observatory classes. This didn't change how much we trained though. Especially those of us he considered to be non-beginners. But passion drove us on and we excelled.

Seeing as we were limited to only 1 class on a Saturday, Marcio offered that the UCT students could train at Obz during the week and pay half-price or something like that. Man did both classes (UCT and Obz) get bigger!! We did a lot of demos and soon a few of the more adept UCT students joined the demo team. Through these and other methods, we were able to raise some cash to have the initial ABADA grading session in the middle of that year. That was awesome. Some of the UCT students also managed to get graded. I think you'd have to ask Marcio more details about how the grading came about though. He'd maintained a close relationship with the upper echelons of the ABADA structure. By the time I left at the end of 2001, UCT Capoeria was a thriving club.

The rest I don't know unfortunately. You'll have to dig around but Michel and Marcio would be your best bet for more information.”

Interesting start to it all isn’t it. I dug around a little more and found a little more from the Abada Capoeira Website. Beleza had come to study in South Africa in 1997. Though he had practiced some Capoeira in Luanda, where he is from, Beleza did not find Capoeira in Cape Town. So for the next 2 years, he was a body builder (no wonder the ladies where falling all over him.) However in 1999, the seed was planted when a friend Bufalo Preto, also from Angola, started teaching youth in a park, just for the fun of it. The interest displayed by the youth made them realize that there was a space to start teaching Capoeira in Cape Town. Beleza and Bufalo Preto then met some Swedish Capoeiristas (Billy Boy and Colorido) who were in Cape Town giving Abada Capoeira workshops. This connection would later enable them to form Abada Capoeira, Cape Town.

I guess what I am trying to elude to is that passionate individuals in Cape Town have lead to its spread and is continually driven by passionate individuals. We still see it at UCT today and events such as the upcoming Batizado serve to celebrate this passion and youthful exploits. As we will see in the next post, each era brings with it a new energy and focus. Meanwhile you can see this youthful exuberance yourself…

Uma nova casa de capoeira em Cidade do Cabo

16 March 2010. It’s been a little over 3 weeks since the 1^st Cordao de Ouro batizado, an event that ignited the Capoeira community. Following 2 weeks of teaching from Contra-Mestre Chicote, the event culminated in a final 4 days of workshops and a batizado at the end that included Afro-Dance, Maculele, and loads of Capoeira.

It goes little to say that most capoeiristas have found a ‘home’ for Capoeira, a place where they have the guidance of a teacher, a style they can call their own, a culture they can grow into and a buy-in into a seamless community that continues to extend its borders. To the Capoeirista that was part of UCT Capoeira between 2004 – 2008, they could be been described as the ‘wondering Capoeira nomad’ reliant on the few opportunities a master of Capoeira visited our shores or if they are fortunate enough to travel abroad and experience the numerous established Capoeira communities. For those just starting Capoeira, or are still young in the game, the arrival of the 2 Contra-Mestres is a dream come true to experience some “real authentic Capoeira.”

Drawing from all of this, it remains to be asked, “What does a home of Capoeira look like?” What does it feel like? Is there such a thing as authentic Capoeira? Do we need a teacher to learn Capoeira? What kind of environment fosters the growth and development of Capoeira? Most importantly, how does a seemingly Brazilian Art form integrate with local cultures and communities?

You may be wondering where I am going with all of this? Well, most of my colleagues with whom I used to train with in the past were honoured at the recent batizado and have subscribed to this breakthrough in the Capoeira community. In a discussion some of my colleagues, the prospect of finally obtaining a ‘home’ for this beloved art resonantly rang amongst them. While I always knew that we had lost home years back, I was led to question, what does it take to build a home for Capoeira? Where had we failed? Had we really failed? Or rather had our season passed and a new era is upon us? In that case how do u build a solid foundation for the future of Capoeira?

After brooding over this, I realised the single catalyst and cornerstone of any group leadership. Your teacher, the person that you look up to for inspiration, from whom you seek guidance from. While it is often true that we can teach ourselves anything, we will still need to engage with a teacher, a mentor or a guide to teach, provide guidance or facilitate learning. Before the academy days, it was common that a person would watch a roda in session and would pull away to the side and attempt to copy the movements that they saw. They would be extremely fortunate should a virtuoso come to assist them. It is also true that a teacher, guide etc has a threshold in what they can teach you, at which point the student either advances to another teacher or decides to take discipleship of the art-form and adapts his/her teachings to their perspective. Most schools recognise this and usually that is the point an individual is conferred with the title Contra-Mestre.

Unfortunately or rather fortunately, it is not simple to attain such status. It is clearly hard work and dedication is required to achieve and maintain such a level. Based on this very argument, the development of as many Capoeiristas as possible is the most important priority. Amongst the masses that will be taught will emerge those that have the will to continue with the work of Capoeira. Having a home and a reference point at which to nurture talent is thus advantageous to this end.

UCT Capoeira had this formula one point and Abada Capoeira has this formula the group continually has momentum with an annual Batizado that allows a constant reference point to a ‘source.’

At UCT Capoeira the annual cycle of new leadership makes it difficult to have a continual agenda. However it provides a structure which feeds the greater Capoeira system. In that regard, it fulfils its purpose of opening the minds of the masses to the existence of Capoeira amongst themselves.

It’s funny though how the lessons of Capoeira hold true in our daily walk. Always adapting, always changing form, Capoeira was and is merely evolving to suit the current environment. This also holds true in Cape Town and the arrival of the Contra-Mestres has opened a new era of Capoeira in southern Africa that adds a new dynamic to this space.

As such, the Batizado did not just christen individuals into Capoeira and acknowledge the advancement of others. It christened a new era of Capoeira in CPT.

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‘The Small sneeze’ ready to chow Cape Town

The Cape Town Capoeira Community welcomed Contra-Mestre Espirrinho, from Cordao de Ouro. Clearly the Capoeira community was craving an enriching Capoeira experience as they thronged the Karate Dojo, temporary home of Cordao de Ouro South Africa.

The classes led by the guest teacher covered basics in various levels of difficulty. Armada, Meia lua de Compasso, bencao and passa frente where the movements focussed on during the 2 hour session. For most of us, it felt like coming back into Capoeira after months or years of ill practise. This was clearly evident in the roda following the session. Most said they felt it hard to cope with the tempo of the young master, who easily flowed and connected each movement in his vocabulary of movements.

Espirrinho further held down the roda musically. Clearly he is gifted musically effortlessy guiding the roda where people sang to their hearts content. “Eh Parane eh parana, parana, parane eeeeh Parana,” went the roda and it felt like people were longing to go to Parana. Eish I felt my heart lift and I quickly forgot that I had not played in a long time. I felt like I could play like I did at my peak. Not that I have ever peaked in my Capoeira career, but it sure felt like I had a peak at some point.

But the contra-mestre’s arrival into South Africa had me question, what the whole development plan for Capoeira in the country? Capoeira has been in South Africa roughly 15 years when it sprouted in Cape Town and in Johannesburg. Since then, we have seen relationships built and destroyed and people coming and going. What remains is a core group of Capoeiristas that do not have a link or a relationship that collectively develops Capoeira in the region. The question arises then, how do we develop such relations that effectively develop and grow the art? How do we tap in the knowledge of the contra-mestre who is here indefinitely so that it contributes to the greater whole of Capoeira in the greater Southern Africa?

Well last Friday, the 5^th of February 2010 saw Abada host its 1^st Aulao of the year. For those not in the know, this is a monthly gathering of all the Abada classes in Cape Town at the main class in Observatory in Cape Town. Other Capoeira groups are invited to this modest mass gathering and well it’s your opportunity to test your Capoeira with your fellow class mates and visitors who happen to pitch up. I happened to come in late (eish Capoerista time) and boy the feeling of that roda leaked through the wall as I approached the venue. To my surprise, the Contra Mestre was on the berimbau with head instructor of Abada. I will just say the roda was absolutely amazing. It has been a while since I have heard people sing the way they did, play the way they played. The roda swayed to the hypnotic berimbau rhythms, some I have never heard in my short Capoeira life, and heads bobbed in the typical hip-hop head culture. And one point the whole roda refused to commence play choosing to sing along to popular Capoeira tracks. People could not help but smile away. I felt content and despite my long absence from Capoeira, I felt like I had been playing all along without a break. I genuinely felt the power of unity within Capoeira.

I guess if there was any apprehension to the arrival of the Contra-Mestre, it has been allayed. With a common goal in mind, the Contra-Mestre will add great value to the Capoeira in South Africa.

(Check out some more pics at the Facebook Roda Club!)

How liberating!

How liberating it is to move your body to the rhythm of an orchestra of musicians. To go against this rhythm will ruin the natural flow of the atmosphere created by those who have gathered to escape, to practise, to train for the real world. Those who have gathered wish to simply to 'play,' to learn how to move the rhythm of the world. Once it is understood how the world works, how the rhythm guides and how it guides the opposition, the realisation comes that within this rhythm, it is possible to have your own rhythm and not disrupt the rhythm and flow of the world. In this Microcosm, the the battle ensues, and until the lesson is learnt, the same situation will haunt the inhabitant of the world. Unless the inhabitant of this world learns to adapt and to live in the moment, they will always be a step behind the rhythm and pace of the world. The warrior within you knows that training is a vital component of preparation. Thus to 'play' in a microcosm prepares every part of the being to battle in the macrocosm.

The roda of Capoeira is one such microcosm. How liberating it is!

The prodigal son returns!

So! It has been a full year since I last posted something to this blog. Call it a lack of inspiration, a lack of initiative or the famed writers block, this has been a busy year for me. You may ask, what do I have to show for it? Well a new insight and all things that relate to the wonderful world we live in. Let me fill you in on the happenings of the year.

Batizado

The beginning of the saw saw Mestre Bogado and Mestre Santana visit our shores and the UCT Capoeira group for the 2nd time. I advanced in my grading system (a discription of which will follow later) and I represented the group as a trainee instructor. The event was somewhat well attended and the new kids on the block also got a feel of Capoeira from Brazil. As always Mestre Bogado had a lot of knowledge to impart on the group and Pinokio (collegue) and I were given a bit of a hard time, but all in good faith. Mestre Santana's energy infected all around us, and a song that he sang stuck to me. In all Mestre Bogado noticed an improvement in the group and this was pleasing to note.

Contra-mestre Polegar visits UCT Capoeira

Well we had an unexpected visitor to our group, Contra-mestre Polegar (now Mestre Polegar ) from Grupo Capoeira Angola Palmares. The most amazing Capoeirista with a deep love for Capoeira and moves to show for it as well. My first game with him was lets say very one sided :) His approach to the game is simple, effective, well timed, playful and respectful. His energy went on to infect Casa da Capoeira and groups in Mozambique (a quick You Tube search will show you what I am talking about). I think the most important thing I learnt from his visit was the multi dimensional, multifaceted approaches that exist to the game of Capoeira. The way an individual uses Capoeira to express him- or her-self gives that dynamic that is unpredictable and as such is most effective for an individual. A thought comes to mind in that people train Capoeira for various reasons. This purpose is what determines the effectiveness of the artform to the individual.

I hope to meet this guy again soon. I have a score to settle with him in this game.

Contra-Mestre Salles visits UCT Capoeira

This blog represents my thoughts on Capoeira and this visit by Contra-Mestre Salles was poorly attended by the UCT Capoeira club. I think back and I realise that "Capoeira chooses you!" Even with 4 people in attendance, Salles said "Lets train, this is what I came for." It turned out to be one of the best workshops I have been to in a while. Salles approach to the game, Chow! Funny I know, but this is a necessary aspect of the game to address. Not everyone plays nice and for some it is a fight, a Martial art (Will follow up on this topic in the near future). So things like efficiency and dealing with hostile situations is an important part of the game. We had long chats as well about Capoeira in the region and the "politics that exist. Maybe I will touch on this topic as well soon, but what did become evident is the need of a collective understanding of the way forward for the growth of the artform. Unfortunately, there is all this baggage that dates back the 30's that needs to be understood and taken in to account before any strategy is put forward. This will definitely be a major post for another day. The weekend Salles was here was well utilized and the lessons haves stuck ever since.

UCT Capoeira! Where to from here?

UCT Capoeira is under new management as they say, the era of the Soldiers has passed and a new era begins. This is not the platform give my thoughts in the direction of UCT Capoeira, so I shan't do so here. I guess I should change the heading above; but I won't. I still think that UCT Capoeira is an important node for Capoeira in the Cape. As such, Capoeira in this region will benefit greatly from the efforts of the club. As for me..... I don't know. Stay tuned to find out!

Roda @ Camps Bay: May 2007.

This is UCT Capoeira at its best. (May Workshops with Mestre Paulo and Contra-Mestre Lucas. One of the best rodas I have participated in.

A new insight!!!

If you are following this blog you will have noticed that I changed the title to A Roda de Capoeira.

I have lately been thinking a lot about Capoeira which means I was also thinking about the path that I will take in life. Consider when you are playing in a roda, you are surrounded by the rhythm that guides your movements, the commentary that encourages, or makes a mockery of your game, all in good faith. Also consider your thought patterns, your reactions. Your orientation in this microcosm of the world is constantly changing. The participants of the roda demarcate the space you play. I guess that most exhilarating thing is the uncertainty of what is going to happen next. We can't dwell on events past nor can we try to anticipate future events. One can only live in the present, the instant. One can only react to whats coming at that instant and as quickly as it came, its is gone and is in the past. Thus it is important to live in the now and present. To live in this state, one does not worry about the future, but they surely learn from the past whether it is good or bad. I guess the future is influenced by the decisions one makes in the now. How good or bad those decisions will determine an appropriate outcome.

See how Capoeira teaches us so many things all from a little jogo enclosed by a circle. I love Capoeira!

(Insprired by Nestor Capoeira's Book, Capoeira: Roots of the Dance Fight Game."