Adrenaline-pumping classes on Wednesday and Friday evenings. A non-stop cardio workout for two hours. Leaves one dripping with sweat at the end of every session. Despite its rigour, satisfied and smiling faces emerge at the end of every class.
That's just the shortest summary of my adventure with Capoeira so far. And, no, the above doesn't do It justice. Not even slightly. Let's try again, and this time, make the short story, loooonnngg. Here it goes..!
My fascination with Capoeira started while watching an episode of the Oprah Winfrey Show sometime in August, where Oprah was speaking to Halle Berry, the star of the movie, Catwoman. In the movie, Halle Berry executes a number of fluid martial arts cum dancey moves as Catwoman, when she's fighting off the bad guys. The moves were creative, artistic and sexy. To put it simply, they were a low, growly "meeow!". Ha, NOW you know why I was attracted. So in the show, Halle tells Oprah about the training she received to keep her body in excellent shape and the capoeira techniques she had to learn and master in order to move with such grace. I was truly captivated. Although I admit that she made it look really easy, I was excited at the prospect of learning an art as adrenaline pumping as that and that it would be such a bonus if it could help me shed the extra blubber that had become a permanent fixture on my body.
So I went to watch the movie twice and decided that yes, I needed to learn Capoeira. So I started asking friends whom I knew were part of the martial arts circle in NUS, if they knew about the existence of Capoeira. I hit many dead ends until a member of my mentoring team, Yan darling.. (Ha), excitedly pounced on me during one of our many coffee sessions to tell me that there was indeed a Capoeira Club in NUS and that I should join it asap. And THAT is what I did.
Although the first few classes weren't anything unexpected (I had done my reading before I started), I returned home training after training, hurting from top to toe. As my body slowly conditioned itself to "kick higher", "bend lower" and "balance... balance..!" I felt a change; I was enjoying Capoeira more and more. And I realised that there were virtually no limits to this art-form; one can be as expressive as he wants once he's learnt the basic techniques, and yes, that's a major drawing point for me. Although I've not quite mastered most of the basic moves, I walk out of every training feeling more confident and more polished; and of course, upon adding the pleasure of having had a good workout, the end-effect is magnificent.
After about a month of training, Mestre (that's Master in Portuguese, the native language of most Capoeristas from Brazil) presented us with a hard-to-come-by oppurtunity - attending a 3-day Capoeira Workshop conducted by about 11 Mestres from all over the world. I grabbed the oppurtunity and went for the first training in high hopes. 15 min after the session started, I felt my confidence wavering, my patience draining and I was just extremely unhappy and uncomfortable to be there. If I could have run out of the hall, I would have. That's the lowest point I've had in Capoeira so far. After the session, I took a break, I did not attend the 2nd one, and went back for the 3rd one totally rejuvenated and ready to make a go at it again. And this time, I'm truly grateful, everything worked out fine. I enjoyed myself immensely and couldn't stop thinking or talking about it for days.
That weekend, a Batizado (Graduation Ceremony) was conducted at a fairly grand-scale at Suntec City. I got the chance then, to watch a Maculele (Traditional Warrior Dance) performance, which is closely affiliated to the art of Capoeira and learnt to appreciate the necessary use of various musical instruments in Capoeira. It was such a wonderful feeling watching the Mestres having a ball of a time playing the instruments and singing songs in praise of Capoeira, on stage, and I felt very proud to be part of this huge, yet unique family of individuals. I remember thinking to myself that come next year, I want to be on that stage strutting my stuff too and that at least one person in the audience would feel the joy I felt at that very moment.
Well, I've come quite a long way from those remarkable milestones in my life as a to-be Capoerista. I've a renewed sense of passion, energy and dedication to this art-form and I'm just going to take things as they come and in my stride. This is in hope that the next time I should write about Capoeira, I would already be a full-fledged Capoerista, and one who proudly shoulders the responsibility and drive that is bestowed on one with such a title.
God bless! And I leave you with these words I have now learnt to proudly proclaim,
"Lift your limits, Free your soul."
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1 comment:
at least you're not a slacker like me :P
-dez
Post a Comment