by Josh Young » Mon Oct 24, 2011 5:52 pm
in capoeira there are some amazing conditioning and coordination training exercises
you can reap the benefit of these without being a capoeirista
i refused my baptism into capoeira and don't call myself a capoeirista but i learned a lot from training with it from an instructor
Malicia should make people uncomfortable, capoeira is an art that comes from the darkest and most brutal side that humanity has to offer, it isn't nice stuff, but that is old school cap, the newer stuff is much flashier and more about showing off than it is about life and death.
It isn't just for attacking the unaware, but it certainly has that element in it. the new school cap is kind of predictable in movement too, Angola is better IMO, but imagination is a vital part of the art that can get left out. I recall being told by my classmates that i was doing things 'wrong', they scolded me over and over, but when the instructor saw it he praised it and knew it for what it was, this created a divide between me and my classmates that was so large that i stopped going to class, but had my children attend because as basics go it is really good for the body and coordination and balance etc. i was always friends with my teacher though, still am, but i am autistic and don't do well in a group setting anyway
when i approached my instructor i told him i didn't want to learn capoeira, i wanted to learn two kicks that are very important to the style, he told me he would teach them to me and he did. He tried to get me to join... told me i had to attend a ceremony in white clothing where i would be 'baptized' so i attended covered in black and did not join in. He laughingly accepted this quite well and we are friends.
I can tell you that capoeira is not for me and that the benefits from the training in it are excellent. I still practice the basics from it but will never be a Capoeirista.