MARTIAL ARTS:CAPOEIRA

[JD06]

HI , DOES ANYONE HERE PRACTICE THIS MARTIAL ART?, IT CAUGHT MY ATTENTION FROM SOME MOVIES I WATCHED(OCEANS 12 IS ONE), IT LOOKS REALLY COOL AND LOOKS LIKE A VERY FUN WAY TO GET IN SHAPE.
DOES ANYONE KNOW A GYM THAT TEACHES CLASSES FOR IT?
ALSO IF SOMEONE HAS ANY PERSONAL EXPERIANCE WITH IT ,PLZ SHARE

[victorious lebanon]

Capoeira is a brazilian martial art invented by African slaves in brazil. It looks really cool and it's very acrobatic from what i've seen,but if your interest is self defence then it's not for you.

[JD06]

Originally Posted by victorious lebanon

Capoeira is a brazilian martial art invented by African slaves in brazil. It looks really cool and it's very acrobatic from what i've seen,but if your interest is self defence then it's not for you.

no no im not interested in self defence, it just seems like a cool way to get in shape so just checking if anyone here has tried it and knows if any gym has classes for it

[Stella]

I have attended capoeira few years ago, and that was the best of the martial arts I tried so far! I liked it especially because its giving you a nice body, a thin, tall, but muscular body, and it wont make you that robust like karate for example! So this way I can really recommend it for girls (and because of the samba parts as well:p) but of course for guys as well, as the capoiera guys look really gorgeous:p:D

There are many types of capoeira schools, if you want to be more close to its martial arts elements then choose the Capoeira Brasil school, if your more into the rythm and dance elements then the Capoeira Angola is better. I done the latter one, but was always tempted by the first one, simply because its much more spectacular and dynamic, although more violent as well, and they often go into fights, not just imitating it.

Those who like to be in the center of attention, they would really like the "roda" part of the training, when the fellows are standing in circle, the musicians on the opening side of the roda, and the guys entering the circle paying their respect to them first. Then going into the circle to "fight" inside the roda, harmonizing their movement with the rythm of the music, and with each others.

Although basically in capoeira people dont fight with each others actually, they are doing rather a mixture of dance and martial arts elements, their techniques can be lethal indeed. I learned some lethal kicks or bone breaking movements right at the beginning, and when being in the roda with your fellow "fighter" you shall use your self control too over your emotions and moves! Something what the Brasil school kids hasnt really mastered. In overall you can learn many things from capoeira, but it is also very important to have a really good trainer. I was lucky to train with a Brasilian mestre, salute Mestre Ponta Pe!:)

What I disliked about capoeira, that everybody has to learn to play on the special instruments (birimbau for ex.) and learn the portuguese songs! In addition sometimes it was too much to be among them, like in a closed little society, which wants to take away all your life, and leave nothing beside capoeira. I wasnt ready to have my life go around capoeira only!

But if I had the time for it, I would do it again beside my dance classes, because nothing can put you into a fit shape in a very short time than capoeira! Like with every martial arts, almost 1 hour from the 1,5 hours training is just working on the muscles.

[JD06]

Originally Posted by Stella

I have attended capoeira few years ago, and that was the best of the martial arts I tried so far! I liked it especially because its giving you a nice body, a thin, tall, but muscular body, and it wont make you that robust like karate for example! So this way I can really recommend it for girls (and because of the samba parts as well:p) but of course for guys as well, as the capoiera guys look really gorgeous:p:D

There are many types of capoeira schools, if you want to be more close to its martial arts elements then choose the Capoeira Brasil school, if your more into the rythm and dance elements then the Capoeira Angola is better. I done the latter one, but was always tempted by the first one, simply because its much more spectacular and dynamic, although more violent as well, and they often go into fights, not just imitating it.

Those who like to be in the center of attention, they would really like the "roda" part of the training, when the fellows are standing in circle, the musicians on the opening side of the roda, and the guys entering the circle paying their respect to them first. Then going into the circle to "fight" inside the roda, harmonizing their movement with the rythm of the music, and with each others.

Although basically in capoeira people dont fight with each others actually, they are doing rather a mixture of dance and martial arts elements, their techniques can be lethal indeed. I learned some lethal kicks or bone breaking movements right at the beginning, and when being in the roda with your fellow "fighter" you shall use your self control too over your emotions and moves! Something what the Brasil school kids hasnt really mastered. In overall you can learn many things from capoeira, but it is also very important to have a really good trainer. I was lucky to train with a Brasilian mestre, salute Mestre Ponta Pe!:)

What I disliked about capoeira, that everybody has to learn to play on the special instruments (birimbau for ex.) and learn the portuguese songs! In addition sometimes it was too much to be among them, like in a closed little society, which wants to take away all your life, and leave nothing beside capoeira. I wasnt ready to have my life go around capoeira only!

But if I had the time for it, I would do it again beside my dance classes, because nothing can put you into a fit shape in a very short time than capoeira! Like with every martial arts, almost 1 hour from the 1,5 hours training is just working on the muscles.

sounds good,,ive been searching around bt havent found any place in lebanon tht teach it,,,how hard is it ? do u have to be very strong to do it?(u have to be to hold ur whole body weight on one hand,atleast thts what i saw on oceans 12 )

[Stella]

Originally Posted by JD06

sounds good,,ive been searching around bt havent found any place in lebanon tht teach it,,,how hard is it ? do u have to be very strong to do it?(u have to be to hold ur whole body weight on one hand,atleast thts what i saw on oceans 12 )

I have no idea about capoeira centers in Lebanon, am living in Europe.

Well everything depends on how much you practice of course. I barely seen girls doing those acrobatic stuffs, usually the guys are more into it. Indeed you have to be strong and also flexible, thats why the thin and muscular body is what is ideal for capoeira.

Anyway go and try it, you will have to taste it anyway to get a clearer picture.

[Iskandar]

Nice, a fellow Capoeirista!

I practiced Capoeira for about a year now, and I'm really loving it. It depends what you're looking for in a martial art. If it's self defense you want to learn, you won't gain much from Capoeira, (even though some techniques and kicks can really hurt, you'll rarely get a chance to use them on the street).

Only recently did I begin to be able to actually "play" in the roda. By the way, it's not a dance. It's a game. It's playing around in a friendly way, although it can become quite competitive. Playing Capoeira is like a dialogue between two people, one attacks, and the other responds with a counter attack, and done in a sequence (especially when it gets faster and faster), it looks like two people dancing and fighting at the same time.

The reason it looks like a dance is because the African slaves in Brazil weren't allowed to practice any form of self-defense. So they disguised it as a dance and would entertain their Portugese masters, while they trained themselves in secret. There's no punching in Capoeira, all attacking techniques are with done with the head or legs, because back then if they hurt their hands by punching someone and couldn't work, the slaves wouldn't be able to provide for their families.

As a workout, it's incredible. I've practiced other forms of martial arts, but Capoeira works every single muscle in your body like no other style.

JD, I've seen people of all sizes do capoeira, you don't have to do anything, everyone develops their own style of playing, and you do what you feel comfortable doing. I'm not sure if there's a place in Lebanon that teaches Capoeira though, I live in Montreal...Like Stella said, there are things you'll like doing, and other things that you won't enjoy so much (you learn to sing Portugese songs and play certain instruments, which are pretty simple)...But that's a cultural aspect that many people actually enjoy.

[Stella]

Originally Posted by Iskandar

...Like Stella said, there are things you'll like doing, and other things that you won't enjoy so much (you learn to sing Portugese songs and play certain instruments, which are pretty simple)...But that's a cultural aspect that many people actually enjoy.

Well its all nice just when its becoming obligatory /in order to be accepted fully in the group/ then its not my style anymore.
In addition here they organized so many programmes outside the gym, which really swallows you whole, after a time it would be like your whole life going around capoeira, and you would be part of a little society.
At least thats how it is here, dont know about Montreal. For me this was the negative aspect, I need more freedom.

[LebanesePride]

Originally Posted by Stella

I liked it especially because its giving you a nice body, a thin, tall, but muscular body,

It makes you taller?

[Stella]

Originally Posted by LebanesePride

It makes you taller?

lol dont know, but its giving this impression, as all the fellows looked like so. It made me personally too thinner and muscular, even if taller not really:D