12/31/04 - Semester summary

Fall '04 was good to our group... we doubled in size... we've been learning songs and working with the instruments... we had something like 8 performances... everyone's game skills are looking good, I can see improvement in the "veterans" and nice development in the games of the new folks... and we're planning a trip to Salvador, Bahia for spring break next semester! Check out some of the semester's highlights in videos.

I was up and down satisfied with my own training during the semester, but now looking back I can see a lot of progress. I'm now fairly comfortable leading songs, though I still prefer slower paces! The family weekend roda was a highlight for me, as I led our largest roda ever - probably about 20 people - in singing while playing the berimbau. As always, however, there is still a lot of room for improvement. Regarding my game, I've really enjoyed some interesting, complex games with the more experienced folks, as well as been pleasantly surprised by some good ones with the new guys/gals. I've been trying to relax, to keep moving, to stay close to the other player and make every move count in our interaction, keeping my game simple to accomplish that. Next semester I'd like to train rasteira, banda, and vingativa so that I can actually execute them correctly rather than marking them. In terms of floreios, I got a standing backflip right at the end of the semester, which was nice. That's about it... I'm looking forward to the next year!

11/6/04 - Continuing development of the club

I feel I've re-adjusted somewhat to the style of my fellow capoeiristas here. Roberto and Phil say they see improvements in my game, that it's more relaxed, more fluid, which is encouraging! I've been off and on satisfied with my playing... sometimes I'm really "on" and interacting well with the other player, other times still sloppy and disjointed and I feel like I've regressed. Overall, though, I think I'm moving forward.

I've been focusing a lot on music lately; I've taught songs to the group and led the roda - not perfectly, but I think I'm doing pretty well for my first attempts. Playing the berimbau and leading the singing feels to me a bit like learning to ginga all over again - rather awkward, takes some getting used to. The first few times, I was extremely nervous, but now I feel more comfortable... it just takes practice.

I'm impressed with the new folks this year: they're really learning quickly, and the emphasis on playing this year has helped them develop good basic skills in their games as well as the confidence to jump in the roda and use them. The club has already had four or five small performance opportunities this semester, and just about everyone has played in them. When we got new pants for the club, we had a little "initiation" ceremony for the new folks: they had to play the all four of the club leaders (Roberto, Phil, Grant and I) in a row in order to receive the pants. Three of the newbies have been branded with nicknames: Freira (because she tends to put her hands together as though she were praying when she dodges), Punho (tends to clench his fists while gingando), and Passos (so enthusiastic that we often have to remind him to learn things in steps).

9/12/04 - Kicking off HamTech Capoeira's 4th year of existence!

It's been exactly three years and two days since I took my first gingas... man, what a ride it's been!

The HamTech club has started the semester off well - we have about 10 returning members and 8 new freshmen. We've gotten re-registered as a student organization and are applying for funding for instruments, new pants, and getting an instructor up here for a workshop.

Our first few classes have been going over the basics, and the new folks seem to be picking things up well. I swear every year the newbies pick things up faster than the last. Yesterday I led class: did meia lua de frente, esquiva, cocorinha, and au, then combined the above into combinations practiced first solo, then in partners. I then taught three songs, then had about 20 min of playing time, which was awesome! I had a couple really sweet games with Phil, and all the new students there entered the roda and did quite nicely - I noticed them using the combinations we'd worked on in class as well as trying movements that they hadn't yet been taught, but were imitating from the more experienced players. It was a small class and I think everyone who played got more comfortable with doing so. Everyone then stuck around for another half hour to work on moves. Conclusion: I wouldn't want the responsibility of leading class all the time, but it's fun once in a while, especially when it turns out so successfully.

As for my own training, I've been a little frustrated because my style has changed somewhat and I'm not interacting with the HamTech folks as well as I used to. However, I'm slowly re-adapting. I've been working on integrating sequences involving ponte smoothly into my game - three of my favorites are 1) compasso, turn towards back foot, roll into ponte, then kick out of it to the side; 2) handspin into ponte; and 3) rasteira-queda de rins-ponte-queda de rins on other side-role. And another small accomplishment yesterday - I managed to do the au batido switch for the first time ever!

*** The seven-month gap here is not due to lack of training, but instead to spending a semester in Brazil. I kept a training journal, but never typed it up and put it online. Sorry! ***

Class tonight was brutal. Another small group - three of us besides Fabiano - but we worked hard and I learned how pathetically out of shape I am. After a 20-min warmup and ab workout, we just ginga'd and worked the following kicks/dodges to death: bencao, martelo from the back foot, martelo from the front foot, chapas from each the back and the front foot, cocorinha, au, cocorinha-negativa-role, that hook kick (that I can't remember the name of), quiexada, quiexada-armada, and meia lua de compasso. It may not sound like much, but we did a lot of them to each side without stopping, with Fabiano yelling at us all the while to kick higher and faster and keep up the energy. It was really excellent practice, but by the end of it the soles of my feet were on fire.

At the end of class the three of us had to play each other and keep buying the game. My endurance is practically nil and the recovery time between games was short, so this was really tough for me. HOWEVER, remembering Fabiano's suggestions last Friday, I focused on playing on my feet, and I succeeded! I esquiva'd under kicks instead of going to the floor, and if I did drop to the ground I'd get up within a move or two rather than getting stuck down there. My style was so out-of-the-ordinary for me that I actually felt like a completely different capoeirista playing. Fabiano said it marked a big improvement in my game, so I'm going to try to keep playing like that so that it becomes more of a habit. So although the class nearly killed me, it ended up being very encouraging!

For various reasons, I couldn't make it to Ubaldo's classes this week, so Friday I took the car and visited Prof. Fabiano's Bridgeport class. It was a small crew, 5 of us and Fabiano, and a productive class. We worked on a lot of interesting combinations:

- role/au
- role/au to negativa/role
- role/au/chapeu de couro
- esquiva to au sem mao
- role/au/chapeu de couro/au sem mao
- au batidos to both sides, focusing on watching the kicking leg
- handspins to both sides, focusing on the timing
- armada one way, then macaco em pe back the other
- same as above, but without touching the kicking leg down
- same as above, but with two consecutive macacos em pe
- armada one way, then au de frente in the same direction
- same as above except without putting the kicking foot down, and focusing on controlling the landing one leg at a time

Especially in the last couple drills, I felt really awkward, but it was very good practice. We played for a little while at the end of class, and I wasn't doing so hot - sloppy, too close to the ground, and just not moving or interacting well. Afterwards, over dinner, Fabiano proceeded to tell me everything wrong with my game... and give me suggestions for improvement. First of all, my ginga is too tense, too aggressive, and makes me look like I'm asking for a fight. I have to relax and watch myself in the mirror to see what I need to change. Fabiano said he used to have the same problem, so there's hope. Second, my game is too close to the ground. He completely turned around my excuse for liking the ground because I'm short, pointing out that my shortness lets me esquiva and get under kicks standing up; I don't have to drop all the way to the floor to dodge like taller people do. So I definitely need to continue working on my esquivas. Finally, my game is too repetitive and therefore predictable. Part of the cure for this is getting off the ground, since I tend to do the same movements there. It was a really helpful conversation; I definitely have some things to think about and work on. I think I'll be back at his class on Monday.

During the last few training sessions I've discovered that my armada really needs work. It looks and feels uncontrolled and off-balance. But on the up side, meia luas de compasso felt very good to both sides and with both one and two hands when we practiced them on Tuesday. I've been playing ok but not terrifically in the roda - some positive things have been good interaction with the other player, using all the space in the roda well, and not overthinking; negatives are lack of endurance, lack of variety in movement, and again playing close to the ground too much of the time (Ubaldo gave me a lecture on playing more on my feet). Here are some exercises that have been suggested to cure the latter problem:

- practicing getting up in different ways from the different ground positions, so that au, role, and other ways of getting up become more habitual
- to dodge, use esquiva lateral, negativa de frente, and others that keep me on your feet rather than immediately dropping to the ground. Use entradas, giras, and aus as dodges.
- follow up a dodge "on the feet" with an attack, a kick, a cabecada
- when I think I want to go to the ground, think of an equivalent movement on my feet, one that will accomplish the same goal, and do that instead
- the key is simply more practice; I'll have to force myself at first, but with repitition it will get easier

Oh, and I've also gotten to play the pandeiro a couple times - I had no problem keeping the basic beat and was even able to throw in some of the variations I learned from Mestre Marcelo. Though after a while my left arm would get really tired! Also, I have to remember to keep singing :-p

Yesterday Professor Fabiano of Ginga Brasileira (http://www.gbdance.com) visited and gave us a little maculele class. I learned some new steps, most notably that box-step-type-thingy that I've seen done in maculele rodas but never quite knew how to do. I only played in the maculele roda once - a decent game, I probably looked pretty spastic, but I was able to mix it up and use lots of different moves. One nice thing was that I knew well all the maculele songs we did, so I was able to sing with confidence. After that we had a capoeira roda, in which I played some decent games with fellow students as well as two crazy games with Prof. Fabiano in which I got completely schooled; was taken down often! After class we hung out and watched Joe Eigo videos. It was a good time; I hope I can make more of the Saturday classes.

One more interesting insight - Tuesday I got a ride down to capoeira from Grande (a native of Rio), and we were talking about capoeira in Brazil vs. capoeira in the U.S. He said that capoeira is so popular in Brazil that it's sort of commonplace, and many people aren't all that interested in it since they're exposed to it nearly every day. In the U.S., by contrast, capoeira is exotic, ususual, and rarely seen, so people get much more excited about it. That explains why a lot of capoeira teachers leave Brazil and teach abroad, where there is less supply and more demand for capoeira instruction. Also, it explains why Danbury has a huge Brazilian community yet a very small capoeira community - we don't even have a group in the city - which was something that had always puzzled me.

1/10/04 - crafty capoeira chicas weekend!

Although only one of the CCCs (Sarah) was able to make it, we had a pretty sweet time.

First stop: Professor Ubaldo's class at the academy in Bridgeport (http://www.grupoesporao.com). The academy is really cool: though it's a small space, it's got mats, mirrors, and the walls are decorated with berimbaus, pandeiros, capoeira photos and newspaper clippings, and drawings/paintings of capoeiristas, and the images of Mestre Bimba and Mestre Pastinha overlooking the room above the full-length mirrors. We warmed up with jogging, skipping, running backwards, jumping over a stick, limbo-ing under it. Also some ginga work: tapping the ground in parallel, twisting the torso, and ginga baixa. Next, we practiced a bunch of movement combinations involving both kicks and dodges, high and low movements, twenty times for each sequence. Although we were rotating two groups on and off to give everyone more room, it was a solid workout. Then we practiced instruments; I played pandeiro and Sarah played both pandeiro and atabaque. Finally, the roda: this group plays with a nice fluid style and a lot of interaction. I knew I was going to get pulled in sooner or later, but when I did, I played pretty well! My worst moment was definitely a headspring straight into the mirror (which had a sign on it that said "Fragile, do not touch" - I had visions of the entire thing shattering and the group banishing me for life), but my other games were good, especially the last few, one of which was with Professor Ubaldo. Sarah played several nice games (tripped Ubaldo by accident on one fateful buy-in) and looked comfortable in the roda. The roda ended with a few minutes of compra-compra play, during which I managed to get a smooth buy-in without collisions. The class ended with crunches and pushups, and we stuck around to chat and stretch for a while afterwards.

The atmosphere of Grupo Esporao was very welcoming; many people took the time to introduce themselves to us and ask where we trained and if we'd be back for more classes. Professor Ubaldo is very nice, patient, and a great instructor. Training was focused, but fun: I couldn't believe how much we did in 2 hours; I definitely got a workout. However, it didn't run like boot camp; the group is laid-back, good-humored, and you can tell that they really enjoy capoeira. I was impressed with not only the skill of the more advanced students (effortless mortals, reversaos, and takedowns during fast, close games) but also with the students who had only been training for a few months - their technique was quite good, as were their games.

Friday night we headed down to Mestre Efriam's Bridgeport class (www.gbdance.com) but the guy at the YMCA said they no longer had a capoeira class there! :-( Hmmm... we were disappointed, but we made the best of it by taking some kickin capoeira pictures on the YMCA playground. We ended up going skating, and then out to the K & N Grill for some food and live Brazilian music.

Saturday afternoon we headed to New Rochelle for a class with Bom Jesus, who wasn't there, but the instructor of Capoeira Ariranha in White Plains was teaching. They've got a sweet training space too; three rooms with wood floors and mirrors surrounding a lobby with couches, capoeira pictures, and videos. This class was a little less laid-back and more intense. After a thorough warmup similar to that of Grupo Esporao, we did "animal movements" - frog hops, running on all fours, crabwalking, alligator crawling, etc. in lines across the room. Then we had to spread out and move around each other (there were a lot of capoeiristas for the space) using the animal movements. This was really good for fostering both awareness and movement creativity. Next came some ginga: first we worked on making sure that every position of our gingas was technically sound, then we practiced adding some creative movements to the ginga and using them to fake out or move around another person. We did a few movement sequences - this group uses an entrada to the quiexada instead of doing it directly from base as we do, which was a bit hard to get used to - involving queixadas, rasteiras, roles, a lot of negativas de angola, and chapeu de couro. The next exercise was really, really helpful: we made two small rodas in which we were supposed to play without kicks. We could au, role, do floreios, fakes, and esquivas, but no kicks. The emphasis was on using all the space in the roda and moving around the other person, cooperating with them instead of colliding with them. The roda filled the last 20 minutes. I planned to just watch, clap and sing unless invited in; most of the songs were ones that Sarah and I either knew or could pick up. The instructor did make me go into the roda, and actually I played a couple pretty good games - I was able to use a variety of movements although I didn't dare to try anything too spectacular, and one of my games had quite good interaction as well; I think the kickless gaming drill helped that.

The atmosphere of the New Rochelle class was not quite as warm or easygoing; Sarah and I both felt more comfortable in Grupo Esporao. However, the New Rochelle class gave me a solid workout, some nice ideas for new combinations and exercises, and I was pleased with my gameplay, so it was a good experience.

There were several awesome things about both these classes. First of all, the level of physical activity was high throughout each two hour class, so that I actually felt like I got some exercise. Second, I felt like I grew a bit as a capoeirista during these classes, because we practiced a lot of drills and played for a long time. Also, the chance to practice the instruments and songs and to play in a roda with so much energy is fantastic. Finally, it was great to meet and play with capoeiristas outside my group. I'll be training with Grupo Esporao for the duration of winter break, and hopefully Sarah will be able to join me for another class or two.