Capoeira -Afro-Brazilian Martial Arts, Dance, Music and Acrobatics.

 

With origins as a form of martial arts and fighting in Brazil, capoeira combines martial arts, music, acrobatics and dance, a promotes a great deal of flexibility and strength. It was loosley developed in Brazil mainly by African descendants with native Brazilian influence most likely beginning in the 16th century. It came from many other African systems that reportedly fused together in Brazil. It is known for quick and complex moves, using mainly power, speed and leverage for a wide variety of kicks, spins and highly mobile techniques. Practitioners, or capoeiristas, are quite healthy and fit. Capoeira today is more art form than Martial Art. However highly effective when used properlyfor self defense, self actualization and freedom.

 

      Stress reduction: A regular capoeira practice does wonders for relaxing the mind and body.

       The exercise boosts endorphins, which puts you in a      better mood in no time.

 

• Strength: Capoeiristas are always moving around on their hands with handstands, rolls, poses, etc. This makes a marked improvement on upper body strength. Also, so many of the movements require one to engage the abs and core strength. Capoeira training causes one’s body to cope with the rigors of the ridiculous movements. The movements inherently build slow and quick twitch muscle fibers, enhance breathing and blood flow, build flexibility, build hand and eye coordination, balance and much more.
   

• Flexibility: Some capoeiristas are on par with serious yoga practitioners in terms of their flexibility. But even those who moderately improve their flexibility lower their risk for injury and increase their everyday mobility.
   

• Cardio and stamina: Many times athletes from various sports are surprised when they feel winded from a capoeira workout. This is because capoeira uses muscle groups and cardio fitness in unique ways. Intense capoeira practice can require enormous amounts of energy. This, combined with constant repetition of movements and techniques, makes capoeira a valuable cardio exercise that can boost endurance.
   

• Overall fitness: Capoeira will improve your strength, flexibility and stamina, thus improving your overall fitness. It may take a while to become fit, but once you start to take capoeira seriously you can become the picture of fitness.
   

• Gain confidence: If nothing else, capoeira is perfect for instilling a sense of pride and confidence in anyone who practices. Not only will you feel stronger and more courageous once you become comfortable in the jogo (game), you’ll find confidence in knowing that you are unique among your peers because you can do things they couldn’t imagine doing.
   

• Live authentically: Capoeira is a total body, mind and emotional expression. It involves one’s whole authentic person. As one grows more confident in the martial art, he or she also grows more confident in the ability to express one’s unique voice.
   

• Meet new people: When you join a capoeira group, you become part of a family. You will meet people from your own city and all over the world through capoeira events and practice. Capoeira is at once a widely communal and a deeply individual experience. You will gain the ability to do things that most of the general public could never dream of. And in doing so, you will discover a true sense of uniqueness.
   

• Learn a new language: You may not become fluent (though that’s always a possibility), but there is no doubt that you will come to understand and perhaps speak a bit of Brazilian Portuguese.
   

• Learn about a new culture: Capoeira is deeply connected to Africa and Brazil. In a time when many martial arts are reduced to aerobic workouts and cookie cutter dojos, capoeira maintains all of its roots and traditions.

 

Students in this class can expect to learn the following

Strength, Flexibility, Increased coordination, Endurance, Sense of timing, and Body awarness
 

Training is part Physical /Part Mental.

Dicipline, Respect, Balance, Community

 

Capoeira is a Martial art that is taught and used  more as an art form than Straight forward  Martial Art in the begining.

Described by devastating kicks, trickery, sweeps, trips, take downs, escapes and acrobatics.

 

Percussion Music of Capoeira and Samba

Utilizing the Berimbau, Pandeiro, Drums Atabaque and Conga, Agogo used to help create the experience of Capoeira in the Roda. There isn't Capoeira without music. Samba de roda- Rythems of samba de roda using the above mentioned instruments to dance Samba. Typically at the end of the Roda.

 

Acrobatics

Capoeira being a dynamic, highly expressive dance/martial art where one escapes the attacks and moments where one could be attacked while expressing oneself through literally thousands of possible combinations of acrobatics done on the ground, in the air, for escapes, attacks, takedowns and most importantly self expression that builds strong warriors out of its practicioners. 

 

Dance

We do everything from Jinga. In Brazil Martial arts we outlawed and slaves were not allowed to practice. Capoeira was a martial art disguised as a dance, so that people would not be able to percieve it as a fight. Today it is a ritual, world wide community, a dance and a fight, an outlet for expression.