Something New: Capoeira!

Today’s workout called for “capoeira lunges.” Since the Monkey Bar site didn’t have any information on what these might be, I set off on the great yellow brick road of the Internet to find out. And boy did I find out!

According to Wikipedia, Capoeira is “an Afro-Brazilian blend of martial art, game, and culture created by enslaved Africans in Brazil during the 16th Century.[1] Participants form a roda (circle) and take turns playing instruments, singing, and sparring in pairs in the center of the circle. The game is marked by fluid acrobatic play, feints, subterfuge, and extensive use of groundwork, as well as sweeps, kicks, and headbutts. Throughout the game, a player must avoid a sweep, trip, kick, or head butt that may knock him or her on the floor”

Subterfuge! And headbutts!! Do workouts get any better than that? From what I could tell, it’s a mix of gymnastics, martial arts and dancing where two people spar in the middle of a circle without touching each other. It’s a blast to watch. I’d probably pee myself with joy if I ever get to actually try it.

In Turbokick we do a move called the “Ginga” which is the primary move of Capoeira. We also do a move called a “capoeira” that bears no resemblance to any Capoeira I could find in the videos but is nevertheless very fun. I was thwarted in my mission though as I quickly discovered pretty much everything in Capoeira involves lunging. So we improvised this morning but still had a great workout (handstand pushups!! Wheeeee!).

But now I’m left with a serious yen to try Capoeira (every time I type that it looks weirder). It combines the two athletic loves of my life: dance & gymnastics and has some seriously awesome music. Please tell me one of you have tried it!! What is it like?

If you want to see more, try this video. It even has a few girls in there!

8 Comments

  1. DUDE – that is wicked awesome!! (I think I was a surfer in a previous life 🙂 I would love to be able to have the strength to do that! I have a TurboJam DVD which I LOVE and she says a lot of her stuff is inspired by Capoeira. Let me know if you ever find a class, I’d be willing to give it a go!

  2. What a video! If you ever try that, Char, I want to watch! The stamina alone was fantastic.

  3. for awhile i was doing a martial arts called “wushu” which is basically chinese kungfu that’s more for show, (like in the movies). it was also very similar to dance and gymnastics. so much fun!

  4. That is definately not what we did this morning!! I could totally see you doing that Charlotte. You have gotten the upper body strength resently and I think you should ask the instructor to Zumba to incorporate some of those moves just for you!
    Candice

  5. Wushu! That sounds fun too! Of course, all I know about that is that’s the name of the dragon in Mulan. But still. If it has a Disney character named after it, it’s got to be fun!!

  6. Never tried it, but when we were first married our neighbor (from Brazil) went outside to teach his 3 year old son some of the moves. We loved to go outside and watch them. Occasionally some of their friends would come over and do it with them. It was a blast!

  7. I just found your blog (and WOW have I not gotten anything done for the past 3 hours…thanks a lot!) and this post is old, but I’ll comment anyway on the off-chance you’ll see it.

    My bro “played” capoeira for several years. I only dabbled with him and a bit in college, but I’m still waiting for the day when I’m living in a place with a local team so I can turn in my gym membership once and for all–it’s SO much fun! You don’t even have to be that great at it for it to be a blast (and an appropriately rigorous workout). It reminded me of acro classes as a kid–having a good ‘ol time moving your bod to the music, and noone was the wiser that it was also fantastic for heart, mind, and muscles.

    I’d love to read your blog posts about a capoeira experiment….

  8. Anon- Good to see you here! And yes, I read ALL my comments:) Thanks for taking the time to write me! I would loveLOVElove to do a capoeira experiment but there is nowhere within any reasonable distance that teaches it. I am however always on the lookout. It really does look fun! I’m glad you enjoy it!