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Capoeira, a very respectful martial art form, it is more than just a "dance"
This was me a few years back, when I was training in Capoeira
A martial art that is more than just a dance
Honor, Respect, more than just a dance, Capoeria.
As many people that don't know Capoeira, or if they do know about Capoeira which
is a martial art form, the one thing they say about it, "Oh it is a dance, not really self defense".
You can call it a dance in a way, but if you look at if from a self-defense point of view,
what better way to disguise self-defense than to disguise it as a "dance".
Now for myself, when I was training, those are the exact words that I would hear from
people, "just a dance" or that "Capoeira" is a joke and not really a martial art".
Open your eyes and heart and follow my words as I write;
In my experience a few years back in Capoeira, I actually was searching and
trying to find back home in Boston, Jeet Kune Do which was Bruce Lee's martial art
form.
I didn't really know where to look at the time.
I actually drove around and did come to Broadway in Everett, Massachusetts and
knew a dojo there.
I knew that in the building there were martial arts being taught and the one that
I saw actually being taught in the window was "Capoeria".
So I entered the dojo and was allowed to sit and watch.
I decided, ok I will give it a shot and was like, "Am I nuts?"
I also thought, well I'm going to probably get kicked in the head,
little did I know I was right about that, but it did happen a few times.
Yes, go ahead and laugh and you might think that, if you really
knew me, that would explain alot.
But the history of Capoeira started in Africa and transcended
into Brazil.
You could say it was came from the slaves of Africa.
At one time, it did become "illegal" for many years.
But the best defense, is when you do "disguise" something
as in Capoeira, they disguised it as a dance and what
better way to protect yourself if your "attacker" has no
clue what your doing? You would have a better
advantage to survive.
The thing is, it was taught around campfires with music.
Sometimes the slaves had their hands bound together by
chains and had to even take it a step further to learn
how to defend themselves with their hands being "bound".
I guess it took awhile for it to become legal again.
But back to training, in the dojo it was taught mostly
in Portugese, so there I was in class trying to learn
and I'm going one way while the class is going another way.
So learning some moves, even basic trying to keep up
half way through the class it got so very intense I was
sweating so much!
I can't even tell you how much water I would consume
and even after training, I peed alot too because I was
always very thirsty.
In Capoeria you are given a nickname. I was given
the nickname "Po Do Arroz" and had no clue what
it meant. Now when I ask question, I am kind of
asking them like a kid, naive that I am and just
thinking what does that mean?
At first I learned it meant "White Powder", so
I asked my instructor why would I be given a name
like that, is it because I'm white and I said, I wish
I had some sort of animal name, so he laughed
and said maybe I call you "bandana" because
I always wore one on my head while training.
I said, it is ok, I will just stick with what you gave
me.
But one of the students actually told me what it meant.
Now I'm a big kidder, and kid around and when
I enter a dojo I know all about being respectful in class
or any dojo and must show respect.
Po do Arroz meant "humble clown", and when the student
told me that, I was like "Oh wow" and didn't know what
to say.
Every name given to you in Capoeira is something
that really suits you.
I am not sure, but I have heard the reason why
people are given this martial art name, I think it
might have something to do with the "Slaves".
I think it might have been given to the slaves,
a martial art name, it was to protect them
because if they were ever to take an attacker out,
it would protect them for who they really are.
I heard that, but I could really be wrong on that.
Anyway, I am indeed happy to have this name.
Even though I have not trained in this martial arts form
for quite sometime now, I am happy that I had.
It indeed was such a wonderful experience at the
time I trained when I was doing it.
I never will forget this martial art. It will always
be forever in my heart.
Slowly and more slowly people are starting to show
it more in films and that is truly a delight to see.
Capoeira is indeed a truly wonderful from of
a martial art.
It is about honor, respect, and helped many to
build their self-esteem and self confidence which
in return has helped out people in real life.
Capoeira, beautiful, unique and expands across
the globe as a very highly form of self defense.