The invitation:

“On Friday, December 18th, 2009 at 8:00pm Grupo Capoeira Malês (pronounced malays) will be having an open end of the year roda. All capoeiristas from all groups are welcome to participate. The focus of the roda will be giving the beginners the opportunity to play…a lot, as well as the more advanced. Please come and share your energy and experience as we bring 2009 to a close and prepare for 2010!”

Capoeira is a martial art. Actually capoeira is much much more than just a martial art in my view, but perhaps any adherent to any martial art will tell you how their art is a philosophy and etc etc.. but capoeira… oh my dear capoeira… it is more… There is a lyrical fill or line in the song “Paranaê” that goes, “Vou dizer a minha mulher parana, capoeira me venceu parana,” which, roughly translates to “I will tell my wife parana, that capoeira has conquered me.” Meaning, it has taken over my life and it is the most important thing to me. This is what capoeira often does to people. The art is so beautiful; it combines movement, dance, music, fighting, poetry and community, and is very much at the soul of the Brazilian experience.

However, in a city like Toronto, with so many groups, often students from one group don’t get a chance to meet with students from another group. Different styles, schedules, and sometimes even politics get in the way. Instrutor Falcão, from Capoeira Malês, hopes to change this with the Roda Aberta (Open Roda) event on Friday December 18th 2009. Falcão is an old schooler of capoeira in the city of Toronto. The Canadian-Jamaican is a TO native and has been doing capoeira for 14 years.

Instrutor Falcão, a really nice guy.

The roda (capoeira circle for the games), organized by Falcão and supervised by Contra Mestre Lua Branca, promises to give beginners from all groups a chance to play. What often happens in events, and cross-group events, is that older (more experienced) students tend to dominate the rodas and the younger (less experienced) ones, often intimidated by the prowess of the others, don’t get many chances to play. Falcão shares his thoughts: “Time and time again at our batizados the beginners never get to play often, this [event] will give them the chance to network with each other and get to know each other as we [older capoeira students] know one another. To be honest, capoeira schools are getting smaller and smaller each year and I see that pretty soon it will be weeded out of our community. So the Capoeira movement, if I can say, is in the hands of the beginners to keep it going.”

The night is gonna go down like this: It will start at 8pm and the first part of the roda will be played in the capoeira angola style, and as people get warmed up the games will become more contemporania (contemporary) with the focus being on beginners, people who have no belts to people who have their 3rd belts. Teachers and more experienced capoeiristas will be able to ‘buy’ games (cut in) and play with the beginners. Falcão says “Basically I don’t want it to turn into only high belts playing all the games. I want the beginners to feel comfortable that they can visit any school in the city and play their game.” His efforts should be applauded and he has the support of his teacher, Contra Mestre Lua Branca, and most definitely from many students from diverse groups around the city. I’m sure the energy will be festive and joyous like the time of year. “The Roda is not about who is better or any bullshit of such” adds Falcão. Rio Máte will be there with some refreshing ice tea for the participants. Check out our previous posts about the Malês batizado in the summer. Good roda!! Can’t wait!

Location for Friday’s Roda Aberta: Grupo Capoeira Malês Academy 1078 Dovercourt Road, Toronto Ontario.

photo: Robert Wade

capoeira angola

Contra Mestre Lua Branca

Roda!

Falcão on the atabaque

A video from Capoeira Males in Vancouver, but a nice collection of games in several styles and some cool music.

One famous capoeira angola master, Mestre Pastinha, said: “Capoeira e tudo que a boca come,” meaning “Its all that one’s mouth can ingest,” meaning it is everything for so many people!

Alex Bordokas