Greetings!
So, My friend Ras from ATACXGYM asked me a question on his facebook group:
So. Based upon the objective data above. I think Cardio Capoeira is the weapon of the enemy and has failed our people but served said enemy extremely well. Precisely as it was designed to do. John Kevin Ashton agree or disagree? Why or why not?
I thought I’d make my answer into a blog post for all of you to read,because it highlights something I believe about capoeira, and almost every other martial art.
Now in case you don’t know who Head Coach Ras of ATACXGYM , is, this is what he does:
If you wnat to know more about him,here are his links:
Website: https://sites.google.com/view/atacxgymcapoeiraYoutube:ATACX GYM STREET WARRIOR CAPOEIRA
Facebook Group Page: NJIA UHURU KIPURA SELF DEFENSE, GUNS, KNIVES, YOGA, POLITICS
Instagram: ATACXGYMCAPOEIRA
Twitter: ATACXGYM
Blogger: CAPOEIRA THAT WORKS
Quora: RAS NJIA UHURU
SO RAS, to answer your question…
What you call “Cardio Capoeira” I call “Capoeira for the masses”. Of course, when I’m in not so good a mood, I call it “Capoeira for Dummies”. However, for this answer, I’ll use your term Cardio Capoeira
Let me explain.
I’ve always believed that Capoeira, with it’s vast movement vocabulary, can be totally functional in a fight. Or totally useless. It’s how the practitioners were TRAINED that mainly determines whether what they do can work in a fight or not. There are other factors as well, but that’s the main one.
Take Aikido for example. We all know that Modern Aikido is a joke…
But if you go up against somebody who can actually fight with it, you will have your butt handed to you.
Now this is to show you how this problem affects other Martial Arts as well, but we’re talking about capoeira, so… BACK TO CAPOEIRA.
As you have noted, Mestre Themba and his students know how to usee Capoeira Angola in a fight.
You said this yourself:
Unlike far too many Cardio Capoeira heads, Mestre Themba, CM Mo, CM Achebe and their crew are the real deal. I met them the better part of a decade ago, and unlike too many who were all about the chatter but too unskilled and unafraid for a face to face gather [ and I called these bruthas who were so boisterous and aggressive online on their phones, talked to them, and their hearts didn’t pump enough of our Ancestors to meet face to face ], Nganga Themba Mashama Brother Mo, CM Achebe, etc were more than happy to meet face to face.
These bruthas are skilled, legit, and the real deal. I remember telling the then “Mestre” Themba that my title Mwalimu Mtaalam is from one of our Alkebulan languages [ Swahili ], and that his title should be drawn from our Motherland as well. Our ancestors utterly refused to supplant their indigenous languages with the comparatively less expressive, less vivacious, less pre ise, less efficient, infinitely inflexible, less than vibrant clunky tongue of the would be colonizers.
Imo those who practice Kipura Ndongo incorrectly called “Capoeira Angola” are trebly required to restore our Alkebulan titles to our Alkebulan self defense and whole human development systems, as they distinguish themselves from more contemporary Cardio Capoeira by claiming to keep, protect the purity and Alkebulan lineage of, and transmit Kipura Ndongo to the masses.
Nganga Themba is one of the courageous, precious few who’ve actually attempted to do so. His entire crew has my respect and support.
But Why? Why can he and his students defend themselves, while others can’t? Well, we both know why.
Mestre Themba lives in Oakland, a place which has one big plus and one big minus when it comes to self-defense. The Big plus is,
WHATEVER SKILLS YOU LEARN, YOU GOT TO USE IT.
The one big minus is,
WHATEVER SKILLS YOU LEARN, YOU HAD TO USE IT, AND IT SOMETHING YOU LEARNED IDIDN’T WORK, YOU FOUND OUT VERY QUICKLY.
Not to put a bad light on Qakland, but it is what it is. Long Beach, Carson, L.A., Lincoln Park, is the same way, especially when we were growing up..
And also…
The Bay Area, with its vibrant mix of cultures and communities, has long been renowned for its thriving martial arts scene. From Oakland to San Francisco, this region boasts the highest concentration of martial art schools in the country. It’s a melting pot of diverse styles, with practitioners honing their skills in everything from Capoeira Angola to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and beyond.
This rich tapestry of martial arts expertise has cultivated some of the finest artists in the nation. These individuals have not only perfected their craft in the dojo but have also put their skills to the test in real-world scenarios. Facing off against formidable street fighters and highly skilled martial artists, they have demonstrated the efficacy and artistry of Capoeira Angola in the most challenging of environments.
The Bay Area’s martial arts community serves as a testament to the dedication and passion of its practitioners. Their commitment to their disciplines and willingness to push the boundaries have undoubtedly contributed to the region’s reputation as a hotbed of martial arts excellence. Whether in sparring sessions or competitive tournaments, these individuals have consistently showcased the beauty and effectiveness of Capoeira Angola, solidifying its place among the best martial arts practices in the Bay Area and beyond.
In contrast, take somebody who hasn’t had that kind of background, who doesn’t know what it’s like to experience violence, someone who’s ONLY experience in this art is this…
Then if they are unfortunate enough to find themselves in a real situation, they’re gonna be in for some nasty surprises, no matter how experienced they may be.
And sadly, this applies to the vast majority of Capoeiristas out there.
WHY?
Well, I partially agree with you that the Brazilian dictatorship of 1964 “created” Cardio Capoeira. I believe they did this by putting their full support behind certain groups and individuals who was willing to follow their agenda, and persecuting from anyone who didn’t fit. By doing this, I think they planted the seeds, hoping that the art in time, will become a pale shadow of what it used to be.
And I also believe that as Capoeira as we know it spread outside of Bahia and throughout the world, the majority of people learning it didn’t really want to but in the work required to learn the difference of Capoeira as a performing art, and capoeira as a survival art.
I remember a old article I read in Inside Karate magazine about Mestre Acordeon, written by one Amunka D’Avila.
When he started teaching in the bay area, his fist group of students were Martial Artists of other styles, and loved to explore the fighting side of Capoeira.
However, as he gained more students and started teaching in other spaces, he realized that these newer students didn’t realty want to learn the hardcore street fighting system he learned from Mestre Bimba .
They were from different backgrounds and though they loved learning the music, he athleticism, the CARDIO, they weren’t fighters and didn’t feel he need to really learn to fight or defend themselves, outside of a roda enviroment.
Nor did they have the stomach for it.
So, he and other Mestres i that situation, adapted, so they could retain students.
And when those students became teachers and Mestres in their own right, they taught what they learned, spreading this “Cardio Capoeira” like a disease throughout the world.
There are exceptions of course.
like This guy…
And these guys.
And groups like the aforementioned Ngolo Preto Velho, Mestre Themba’s group.
This issue appears to be quite pervasive, affecting numerous martial arts disciplines across the globe. It’s evident that this challenge is not isolated to a specific region or style, but rather has a widespread impact. Addressing such a widespread issue will likely require a concerted effort and collaboration among practitioners, instructors, and experts within the martial arts community. This underscores the importance of finding effective and sustainable solutions that can benefit martial artists and enthusiasts worldwide.
Jogo Corpo Fechado 