Mestre Bimba’s Sequence #3

Next, we will learn Mestre Bimba’s Sequence #3!

Player One (Plain Pants)	Queixada, Queixada, Cocorinha, Benção, Aú
Player Two (Striped Pants)	Cocorinha, Cocorinha, Armada, Nevagtiva, Cabeçada

Step 1	The two players begin to ginga
Step 2	Player One steps forward (with the right leg)
Step 3	Player One attacks with Queixada but Player Two defends with Cocorinha
Step 4	Once Player One finishes the kick Player Two stands up
Step 5	Player One attacks with Queixada, Player Two defends with Cocorinha
Step 6	Player One finishes the kick and Player Two stands up ready to attack
Step 7	Player Two attacks with an Armada. Player One defends with Cocorinha
Step 8	Player One stands and attacks with a Benção. Player Two defends with Negativa
Step 9	If Player Two were to pull Player One’s leg he would fall badly
Step 10	Player One escapes with an Aú. Player Two attacks with Cabeçada

Again, here is the video for sequences #1-5. Look out for the techniques mentioned above in Sequencia #3:

Review: 

• Sequence #1
• Sequence #2
• About the Sequences
• Basic moves of capoeira

Mestre Bimba’s Sequence #2

Next, we will learn Mestre Bimba’s Sequence #2!

Player One (Plain Pants)	Martelo, Martelo, Cocorinha, Benção, Aú
Player Two (Striped Pants)	Banda, Banda, Armada, Negativa, Cabeçada

Step 1	The two players begin to ginga
Step 2	Player One attacks with Martelo but Player Two tries to sweep him with Banda (but doesn’t!)
Step 3	Player One attacks again with Martelo (opposite leg) and once again Player Two tries to sweep him with Banda (but doesn’t!)
Step 4	Player Two attacks with Armada
Step 5	Player One defends with Cocorinha
Step 6	Player One stands and attacks with Benção
Step 7	Player Two defends with Negativa
Step 8	Player One escapes with an Aú
Step 9	Player Two attacks with a Cabeçada (while Player One is still in the Au)

Review: 

• Sequence #1
  
• About the Sequences
• Basic moves of capoeira

Video: Brett Hoebel Demonstrates Capoeira on “The Revolution”

Did you know capoeira can burn up to 1,000 calories in an hour?

Or… that Halle Berry did capoeira to get in shape for Catwoman?

Learn a few basic moves and some fun facts about capoeira from Brett Hoebel (recently a trainer on The Biggest Loser).

http://www.hulu.com/watch/363637/the-revolution-swimsuit-in-20-days-the-capoeira-craze

Did you notice Brett’s form? He kicks his bênção with his heel out, and returns his foot to the back after each kick. Contra Mestre Bomba would approve for sure!

Pop quiz: Can you name any of the moves Brett does in the intro and outro? Leave your guesses in the comments.

Hat tip to student Ben for posting this video in our Facebook Group! Obrigada!!

Video: Sequences of Mestre Bimba

This week at class we have been practicing the beginning sequences of Mestre Bimba. According to Capoeira Cinco Seixos:

Mestre Bimba, the creator of the Regional style of Capoeira, created the first method to learn Capoeira, it consisted of a logical sequence of attack, defense and counter attack movements, put into a simplified form for the initiates.

It permitted the students to learn how to play with a strong sense of motivation and security. Jair Moura, ex-student explains, “These are a series of complete physical exercises and they are organized in a number of practical and efficient lessons for the beginner in Capoeira. They are executed inside a small with as little time as possible to convince the student of the value of the fight, as a system of attack and defense.”

The original complete sequences of learning were formed with 17 strikes, where each student executed 154 movements to 308, to condition the student physically and to teach specific motor skills to the practitioners. See more movements.

Here is a video showing Sequences 1 through 8:

You can find a complete step-by-step guide to all 8 of the above sequences at Capoeira Cinco Seixos website.

Why not give these moves a try at the next capoeira class here in Washington DC?

washington dc capoeira: graduation testing coming soon

Classes have resumed at Bloombars on Saturday and Sunday mornings and at BTI Dance studio on Sunday afternoons. We will be having a graduation within the next month or so, so keep coming to class and practicing. Also, wear your uniforms to class so that we can take pictures for the website. When we have an exact date for the graduation, we will post it on this blog and the Facebook Page.

Washington DC Capoeira: Making a Traditional Capoeira Corda Rank Belt

Part of learning Capoeira involves learning the traditions that are handed down from teacher to student and have survived in tact since slave times. By the time someone reaches the rank of mestre, they will not only be skilled in the movements of capoeira, but they will be able to play all the traditional instruments, know all the capoeira songs and be able to make cordas (rank belts) and even instruments like the berimbau, pandera, and attabaque from scratch with nothing but some wood and hand tools.

After class on a recent saturday, contra mestre bomba was showing some of his students how to make a traditional corda rank belt by hand. It involves four people and two very long cords of rope that are made of strings that are twisted together by hand.

The following three videos show the manufacture of the corda in three phases, the beginning, middle and end. It’s not meant to be an instructional, but should give you an idea of what is involved in something as simple as making a belt. Note that all four people must work together to make one belt. Like all things in capoeira, teamwork is key. You don’t achieve anything worthwhile in capoeira by yourself.

Washington DC Capoeira: Biggest Loser Trainer is Capoerista!

On TV’s “The Biggest Loser” it was revealed that one of the mystery trainers is Capoeira intsructor Brett Hoebel. Anyone who has ever taken a capoeria class could tell you what a great workout it is. It encompasses all elements of physical fitness: strength, speed, flexibility, balance and coordination.

In the video below, we see Brett giving some advice on practicing basics.