Capoeira Angola in Oakland

A lot of stuff has happened over the last few months, but I think I'll reserve this post for what I've been spending most of my extra time doing ... capoeira. That would be because I finally have some footage of one of my games, and it's playing against Mestre Themba.

For those of you not familiar with Capoeira Angola, it a martial art disguised in dance-like movements. Because its still fighting, though, you have to not get so caught up in the beauty that you forget to protect your head from being elbowed, butted, or kicked.

As it is with Mestre Themba, as I imagine the case would be with any Mestre, a beginner like myself has to take great care with every step ... or else. Every twist and turn has to mean something, otherwise there might be a foot waiting for your teeth at the end of your movement.



For an example of Capoeira with a little more grace added to it, the clip below shows the senior student in our school, Achebe, playing with Themba. Maybe in another 10 years my game will be this smooth.



Next, I have to get some Kali footage. I've been practicing my 3-sectional staff movements. That should be entertaining.