Month: June 2026

The blog series MALICIA AS A GAME OF POWER analyzes human interaction strategies, including leadership and conflict resolution, to help readers navigate power dynamics and build authentic relationships.

Today, we will delve into Law 17 from Robert Greene’s influential work, “The Laws of Human Nature.” You can purchase a copy of the book from AMAZON.COM by clicking HERE.

Law 17 of The Laws of Human Nature: The Law of Generational Myopia

This law focuses on the importance of seizing the historical moment. It suggests that individuals are often defined by the generation they belong to, which can lead to a narrowed perspective or “myopia” regarding the broader historical context. By understanding the spirit of the times and the unique characteristics of one’s own generation, one can better navigate social dynamics and influence the course of events.

From the perspective of an angoleiro, the Law of Generational Myopia manifests in the tension between preserving the ancestral foundations of Capoeira Angola and adapting to the contemporary “spirit of the times”. Just as Greene suggests individuals are defined by their generation, an angoleiro must navigate the specific social dynamics and historical context of their era while remaining rooted in a tradition that spans centuries. This struggle is often visible in the way older mestres emphasize the ritualistic, slower, and more theatrical elements of the game, while younger practitioners may be influenced by the speed and globalization of the modern world.

Overcoming generational myopia in the roda involves recognizing how modern biases—such as a focus on athleticism over ritual—might narrow one’s understanding of the art’s broader historical and spiritual significance. In the context of Capoeira Angola, this myopia often manifests as a disconnect from the ancestral foundations that define the practice. By bridging this gap, the practitioner can ensure that the malicia and wisdom of the past continue to inform the expressions of the present, allowing for a more nuanced and powerful engagement with the art form.

Expanding on this, the “spirit of the times” often dictates that faster and more spectacular movements take precedence, yet an angoleiro must resist the urge to let speed overshadow the strategic depth of the game. To truly master Law 17, one must synthesize the unique characteristics of their own era with the ritualistic and theatrical elements emphasized by older mestres. This synthesis allows the practitioner to navigate modern social dynamics without losing the spiritual core that makes Capoeira a profound game of power and resistance.

Robert Greene’s exploration of this law, which is the 17th of 18 laws in the book, helps readers recognize how generational shifts impact collective behavior and individual psychology, providing strategies to overcome these inherent biases.

The blog series “MALICIA AS A GAME OF POWER” offers an in-depth analysis of the intricate strategies that govern human interaction. By examining the concept of ‘malicia’—not as simple malice, but as a sophisticated form of social intelligence—the series unpacks how individuals navigate complex environments to achieve their goals.

Core Pillars of Interaction

The series focuses on several critical areas of interpersonal dynamics:

Strategic Leadership: Investigating how leaders utilize psychological insights to influence, inspire, and manage teams effectively.

Conflict Resolution: Dissecting the power shifts that occur during disagreements and providing frameworks for resolving tension without compromising one’s position.

Social Intuition: Developing the ability to read unspoken cues and anticipate the moves of others within any social hierarchy.

Building Authentic Relationships

While the series explores power dynamics, its ultimate objective is to empower readers to build more authentic and resilient relationships. By understanding the mechanics of power, individuals can move beyond being passive participants and instead proactively shape their social realities with clarity and purpose.

Today, we will delve into Law 16 from Robert Greene’s influential work, “The Laws of Human Nature.” You can purchase a copy of the book from AMAZON.COM by clicking HERE.

Law 16 from The Laws of Human Nature: The Law of Aggression

This law examines the deep-seated human impulse to assert power and control over our environment and the people within it. According to Robert Greene, aggression is an inherent part of human nature, often masked by social veneers but remaining a potent force in our interactions. Greene posits that this energy is not inherently evil but is a fundamental biological drive that has allowed our species to survive and dominate.

From the perspective of an Angoleiro

In the philosophy of Capoeira Angola, aggression is not met with brute force but is transcended through fluid motion and the strategic use of malícia (cunning). The law suggests that by understanding the roots of this energy, individuals can learn to channel their own aggressive impulses into productive ambition and persistence, rather than destructive behavior. For an Angoleiro, this involves the cultivation of axé (life force) and the internal stillness of the “Strategic Pause,” which allows one to look past an opponent’s immediate aggressive outburst to understand the larger strategy of the jogo (game).

Simultaneously, it provides a framework for recognizing and navigating the passive or overt aggression of others in the professional and personal spheres of the MALICIA power game.

The Angoleiro utilizes a “Groundedness and Rooting” strategy, lowering their center of gravity through positions like the Negativa or Queda de Quatro to achieve enhanced stability and a reduced target profile against aggressive attacks. By maintaining a close proximity to the ground, the practitioner not only protects their vital organs but also gains a tactile connection to the environment, allowing for rapid weight shifts that can unsettle an opponent. Defensive maneuvers such as Esquivas (escapes) are not mere retreats; they are calculated geometric movements designed to side-step or sink beneath an attacker’s path, turning their forward momentum into a wasted effort and creating an opening for a counter-offensive. This tactical descent forces the aggressor to overextend, effectively using their own physical mass against them. In the broader MALICIA power game, this translates to maintaining a low profile during high-conflict situations, ensuring that one’s foundational principles remain unshakeable while the opposition exhausts their resources on a shifting and elusive target.

Furthermore, the concept of “Movement as a Shield” dictates that the defender remains a dynamic, non-linear target, making it exceptionally difficult for an aggressor to track and recalibrate their strikes. In the context of the MALICIA power game, this fluidity serves as a psychological deterrent; when a leader or strategist refuses to remain static or predictable, they deny their opponent the steady friction required for a direct confrontation. By mastering the psychological undercurrents of the roda, the Angoleiro transforms the fragile nature of social bonds into a durable foundation for leadership and mutual respect, ensuring their influence is maintained through genuine connection and strategic presence rather than simple coercion. This approach emphasizes that true power lies in the ability to adapt and flow with the energy of human nature, utilizing internal stillness to navigate external aggression.

Welcome to O VIDEO DO DIA DA CAPOEIRA ANGOLA, where we curate digital archives of Capoeira Angola to celebrate its profound heritage.

Online Capoeira Angola videos serve as essential cultural archives, documenting the fusion of music, movement, and history. These digital resources preserve traditional songs, the specific rhythmic patterns of the bateria, and the physical dialogue of the roda, including core concepts like mandinga, ritual, and malícia. Beyond technical instruction, these recordings bridge generational gaps by capturing the wisdom of elder masters and diverse lineages, promoting a global understanding of Capoeira Angola as an expression of Afro-Brazilian identity and a philosophy of resistance.

The music—comprised of the berimbau, atabaque, pandeiro, agogô, and reco-reco—is the beating heart of this practice. It is not a mere accompaniment but the conductor that dictates the tempo and energy of the jogo. The ginga, a fluid and swaying movement, maintains a state of perpetual readiness, while the philosophy of malandragem emphasizes cleverness and indirect resistance over brute force. This living sanctuary of art fosters community, shared history, and a commitment to safeguarding an ancestral legacy born from the struggle for freedom.

Today, we reflect on how Capoeira Angola serves as a living bridge between the present and the past.

A  Capoeira *roda* is also an encounter with ancestry—a form of reverence and a means of preserving memory. This sacred circle serves as a living museum where the traditions of the African diaspora are not merely remembered but reenacted through movement, song, and the rhythmic pulse of the berimbau.

For a long time, Mestre Moa do Katendê, together with Mestre Valdec, hosted the *Roda do Dique* in Salvador as a tribute to Mestre Bobó of the Academia 5 Estrelas. This specific gathering at the Dique do Tororó became a significant cultural landmark, reinforcing the lineage of the masters and ensuring that the teachings of Mestre Bobó continued to resonate within the community. Through these efforts, the *Roda do Dique* functioned as a vital space for the transmission of Afro-Brazilian heritage and the strengthening of the social fabric in Salvador.

This occasion marked the first year following the tragic passing of Mestre Moa do Katendê, transforming the nature of the event into a solemn act of remembrance. The roda is now held to honor his enduring spirit and massive cultural contribution, under the dedicated leadership of Mestre Valdec and Mestre Plínio—two of Moa’s closest companions and lifelong keepers of his tradition.

Following the conclusion of the roda, the community engages in a deeply symbolic procession toward Dique Pequeno. This historic neighborhood in Salvador serves as a living monument to his legacy, as it is the primary site where Mestre Moa do Katendê lived, taught, and dedicated his life’s work to the community.

The procession moves in unison to the vibrant and sacred rhythm of Afoxé, a musical expression that bridges the spiritual and the communal realms. As they walk, participants actively recall and sing the Mestre’s original compositions, ensuring his voice and message of resistance continue to resonate through the very streets he once walked, preserving the ancestral wisdom he championed.

These songs represent far more than simple melodies; they are a profound cultural legacy. Each lyric encapsulates a philosophy of resistance and serves as a vessel for the cultural soul of Salvador, preserving the ancestral wisdom and Afro-Brazilian identity that the Mestre championed throughout his life.

Check it out!