Filed under: Videos
This is a pretty cool ad for the PSP version of Tekken: Dark Resurrection.
Tekken is close to my heart because it was one of my first introductions to (and teachers of) capoeira. Even though Eddy Gordo may be one of the cheapest characters in the game (not the cheapest, because look at Hwoarang), he’s still badass and the best representation of capoeira in a video game (just ignore the breakdancing/gymnastics stuff, he gingas!).
Filed under: Tips & Guides
When I first started this blog, I couldn’t really find that many other blogs about capoeira. Since then, I’ve discovered that I’m not alone out here.
Bahia-Capoeira Blog – This is a promising blog with some great content. Be sure to check out their tutorials on how to string the berimbau. They also have a store, always a good thing.
Gringa - The author’s description is perfect: “THIS IS THE STORY OF HOW CAPOEIRA, THE AFRICAN-BRAZILIAN MARTIAL ART/DANCE, BECAME PART OF LIFE FOR A BRITISH WOMAN WHO NOW LIVES IN BRAZIL” A really great personal history of one woman’s capoeira journey.
Jogo Log - This one hasn’t been updated since April, but it has some good stuff. Check out the Learning Portuguese for Capoeira post.
Generic Capoeira LJ – A LiveJournal community for capoeiristas.
’s Capoeira Blog – ’s blog about Capoeira, where he writes about experiences, sequences, and some thoughts about capoeira in general.
Mandingueira – Mandingueira is a blog about women, capoeira, and women in capoeira.
Soul Capoeira – A great resource with a wide range of subjects (tutorials, history, thoughts, etc).
So give these other internet capoeiristas a try. But remember to come back here to The Capoeira Blog every once in a while! =P
Whether you call it an au batido, amazonas, au malandro, au quebrado, or beja flor, the broken cartwheel kick is one of capoeira’s signature moves. It’s the move that almost everyone does automatically when someone wants to “see some capoeira” or wants to take a picture. This is with good reason, of course, because it’s a pretty cool move.
There are two very important things to remember when doing this movement:
1. It Is Not An Au – Though this move looks like an au, and can be done from an au for a surprise attack or defense, when it is done for “pose” purposes you should not think of it like an au. It is vital that you stop your momentum in the middle, and not continue over as you would in an au.
2. Kick To The Front, Not The Side – This move looks like a side kick, but it’s really a front kick. Your hips and torso need to twist a bit, almost so your back starts to face the ground (and in some advanced variations, especially the double leg, your back can totally face the ground). The leg kicks as if you were standing and kicking your leg straight up in front of you like you’re trying to kick yourself in the face.
Ok, so now we have those important reminders out of the way, let’s get on with the actual “how to.”
As the video says, you start “almost” like an au, but you need to stop your momentum. When you start to get airborne, you need to twist your hips a bit (so you can kick to the front), and kick the leg out. Try to keep the leg as straight as you can (but remember, there is much room for personal variation). The non-kicking leg can stay straight, or it can bend, or it can go with the other leg for the dual kick.
Your knee should come to rest on the side of your chest. Again, this is not a side kick. To see what I mean, stand up, and try to kick your leg up to the side and hit your head. It’s pretty much impossible (unless you’re super flexible) because your hip joint just doesn’t go that way.
After you’ve kicked you can grab the leg and try to hold it for a while, but if you’re using this as an actual attack you don’t have to do this.
To end the move, your leg should automatically snap back the way it came. Keep your leg pretty straight when landing, or else you’ll crouch down when you land, and unless you want to do that on purpose, it’s not the best way to land.
So now you know how to do the au batido. Once you’ve mastered the basic movement, you can try to switch it up a bit. Variations can include: two legs kick, bring both legs to your chest and bend knees (like a skater pose), switch au batido where you do follow the cartwheel momentum and kick on both sides, grab your kicking foot or your non kicking foot. The differences are endless.
If you have any questions, or requests for other movements, please don’t hesitate to leave a comment. The most important thing you can do is practice, practice, practice.
Good luck!
Filed under: Videos
Some very tricky malicia going on in this really smooth game between two masters. Watch and learn.
Filed under: Capoeira Life
In The Little Capoeira Book, Nestor Capoeira explains that there are three levels of the capoeira game. As he says,
[T]hese three levels occur simultaneously. However, in any given individual, due to his or her personality, knowledge of the game and level of maturity, one of the three aspects will manifest itself more strongly than the others.
The First Level - The first of these three levels involves the physical aspect of capoeira. The practice and mastery of movement and form. This is when highly trained warrior/dancers put on an impressive display of skill and coordination. Nestor Capoeira says, “At this level, it is important to be physically fit, to have efficient and well-placed kicks, to be quick and have good reflexes.”
This level of the game is very important, and it is the most visible and immediate, but you should not focus solely on the physicality of capoeira and neglect everything else. Capoeira is so much more than winning, losing, and showing off.
The Second Level - This is when you start to become aware of capoeira in its entirety. You move past the technical and physical, and pay closer attention to the philosophy and history, the call of the berimbau and traditional songs, and the intricacies of malicia.
Here, the capoeirista feels at home in the roda. He feels the rhythm of the berimbau and understands that it is speaking to him. He realizes that capoeira is more than flashy kicks and tough takedowns. He begins to experiment with malicia, he starts to become the sneaky malandro. He learns about the traditions, the culture, and the mestres of old. This is when he starts to look like an expert in the eyes of onlookers, but he realizes that he is merely a beginner.
The Third Level – Nestor Capoeira writes that the third level is achieved when you’ve grown, matured, aged, and lived in capoeira. Here there is no “you and capoeira.” Here, you live capoeira. You are capoeira.
The third level was there since you stepped into your first roda, but you could never fully understand it until you matured in capoeira. Nestor Capoeira calls it understanding “the mystery and the deceitfulness of the game of life.” The third and final level is a mastery of capoeira.
Most of us, I would assume, float around the first and second levels. Perhaps there’s a mestre out there somewhere who reads this blog, but I kind of doubt it.
Which level are you?
Filed under: Videos
Mestre Paulo from groupo Mar de Itapua has some of the most insane flexibility and movement control skills I’ve ever seen in a capoeirista. Mestre Pequeno comes in at the end and he’s also impressive.
But, Mestre Paulo. Wow. As my friend said, it doesn’t look like he has any bones. He’s out of control.
