One of the most beautiful attributes of capoeira is its ability to adapt. It is in the non-committing, loosely phrased, sneaky way of the brazilian culture that glues the game together.

“Tira de la bota ca, Tira daqui bota li”
Take it from there and put it here, take it from here and put it there…

Capoeira is many things at once

Within its movements interchanging, merging, constantly becoming; capoeira seems to expand and contract, give and receive, question and answer.

Capoeira is who we are

Capoeira is a way I express myself. With all my faults, with all my attributes. Capoeira helps me to be human.

RODA AT MESTRE BOA GENTE”S ACADEMY

This footage is a game I saw in Boa Gente’s Academy in Salvador, Bahia Brazil in 2004.
I love this game so much, because it really epitomises the game of adaptation. I find it so beautiful because they keep the flow and communicate with each other without ever really committing to any one movement. I find adapting is one of the hardest aspects of capoeira to master, but it is one of the most important to try and maintain. If you can learn to adapt, it will resonate into every aspect of your life.

MESTRE BIMBA’S ADVANCED SEQUENCES

This is a clip of my mestre, mestre bamba and Instrutor Toinho doing the cintura desprezada.
There are a few variations you will see around the place, but these are the standard ones that are taught in the academy.
Cintura desprezada traditionally, was only taught to the formados or higher. It was traditionally used to help the capoeirista to understand how to get out of someone trying to throw you.
(it was NOT used to teach people how to get them into holds).

The capoeira itself is free flowing, but it has set sequences that occur within the game. This is like the advanced sequence of mestre bimba. It was used to help the students learn how to fall well, as well as overcome fear in complex situations.

It is to the tune of Iuna. With only one berimbau and two pandeiros.

This is a video of one of the instructors from the Associacao de Capoeira Mestre Bimba. Toinho is currently teaching in Russia. I was fortunate enough to train a lot with Toinho whenever I went to Brazil. He was both a good instructor and a good teacher. His style is very beautiful, I would have to say one of the most beautiful styles that have come out of the Associacao. He is a hard hitter, a loyal friend and a good capoeirista. Axe Toinho!

PART 2

This is a video of our mestre. He teaches out of the original school of mestre bimba, No. 1 Rua das laranjeiras, Pelourinho, Bahia, Brazil.
The school is called the associacao de capoeira mestre bimba. If you can read portuguese, please check out his site:
http://www.capoeiramestrebimba.com.br

He is definately one of the most amazing people I have ever met in my life.

THE SCHOOL OF MESTRE BIMBA

The associacao de capoeira mestre bimba, at No 1 Rua das Laranjeiras, is the last place Mestre Bimba taught in Bahia.Mestre Vermelho 27 was given the honour to take on the responsibility of running the school when Mestre Bimba left for Goiania.Mestre Bamba, Rubens Costa Silva was honoured with the responsibility to look after the school when Mestre Vermelho passed away.

MESTRE BAMBA

Mestre Bamba began capoeira at the age of 12, in 1977. He originally was introduced to capoeira by seeing classes of capoeira being taught by Mestre Gato da Bahia in the pelourinho. After he saw this, he went to the terreiro de Jesus and was brought into the capoeira world by Mestre Vermelho Boxel (who is a different person from Vermelho 27). In the same year, Mestre Bamba was introduced to Vermelho 27 who was Mestre Vermelho Boxel’s master and from then on trained at the Associacao de Capoeira Mestre Bimba.

Mestre Bamba learnt the most he could, and learnt a lot about the real history and society of the bahian people. He came to see all of the difficulties that masters of the past had experienced and after Mestre Vermelho 27 passed away in 1996, Mestre Bamba has tried to help preserve the Traditional Capoeira Regional methodology with an open mind, accepting suggestions and counsel from other mestres of capoeira.

Mestre Bamba always says that he is not the father or owner of Capoeira Regional, he is just helping transmit the teachings and instruction that have been passed onto him.The school is open to everyone from anywhere, it is almost like a museum with old photos hanging everywhere. The stench of sweat on a hot day from trainings linger in and out. At night, the drumming from the streets can be heard and seen from the training space above. The space feels sacred, with so much history, with so much blood sweat and tears soaked into the rough floor. It is definately a place everyone should see at least once in their lifetime.

There are demonstrations almost every night. With traditional Regional being demonstrated, some of the toques of the berimbau’s, and also a contemporary roda and sometimes some maculele.

Mestre Bamba’s wife, Dalva Silva is the administrator, so if you would like to do some classes you best look for her. From the many different styles and groups of capoeira I have trained in, Mestre Bamba’s school has a certain way of translating capoeira that I have not seen anywhere else.

There style is strong and they seem to know the mechanics of the game inside out. There are always many visitors from diverse backgrounds, and Mestre Bamba’s students always get to test their skills on many other capoeiristas. Maybe that is why I have never seen the students ever shy away from a challenge.

Some highlights from a Roda at the ACMB in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil 2005