Capoeira (ages 5 and up)
The Martial Art of Brazil
The art and thought behind Capoeira comes directly from the Brazilian slaves who created it. If a plantation owner became aware that those he forced into labor were training themselves in a "martial art" - one that might later be used for escape, or for self-defense when threatened with recapture - the slaves would be punished, divided or killed. So the slaves disguised Capoeira as dance, with music and behind their musical instruments, so they might continue to strengthen themselves and prepare for their eventual escape.
Today, this playful sport and fighting art values physical expression, spontaneity and creativity among its participants, cultivating a joy of being and interacting without causing harm to one another, promoting each practitioner's physical and emotional well-being.
Capoeira in practice
In Capoeira, we alternate between game and martial art according to the levels and interests of the players, where "winning" is not the goal, but instead the interplay of the practitioners, and a conquest of new understanding and greater skill, without diminishing one who is less physically developed, or is less advanced in the art.
In short, we fight, play and laugh so that our shared experience might form a basis for our daily lives: working together in this way we contribute to a more humane world, promoting justice, and cultivating happiness.
Capoeira improves the motor skills and emotional strength of practitioners age 5 and up. Our oldest student today is 87 years old!
Each class begins with the greeting: "Cada dia que passa, estou melhor em tudo que faço." ("Every day that passes, I improve everything that I do"), in both English and Portuguese.
From there, we move to stretches and warm up exercises that strengthen our bodies and improve our overall flexibility. The Mestre then trains the group in sequences of attacks and escapes, for both solo practice and work in pairs, according to the level of the student. These may include acrobatics, abdominals, techniques in falling and in interaction while sparring.
Our Capoeira class is based on the principal of learning while playing, and playing while learning. At the end of each class we deepen our understanding of the art by bringing all we have learned to the Capoeira roda, or circle, where we practice with our partner, and not against him or her.
Those practicing in the Roda de Capoeira are accompanied by music and the support of the group. It's a time of both exercise and relaxation, and a time to have fun!
At the end of each class, we part with the words we used at the beginning of class, greet each of our classmates with a handshake and wish of good health, and look forward to seeing one another at the next class!
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