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In case you were wondering why we haven’t had many updates, it’s because we have a fancy new website for our DC Capoeira group.
Please visit www.capoeirafitnessdc.com for the latest updates about our Washington DC capoeira classes!
The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2012 annual report for this blog.
Here’s an excerpt:
600 people reached the top of Mt. Everest in 2012. This blog got about 5,600 views in 2012. If every person who reached the top of Mt. Everest viewed this blog, it would have taken 9 years to get that many views.
Have you been thinking of learning the Brazilian art of capoeira? This dynamic combination of fitness, dance, music and martial arts is catching on in Washington, DC and throughout the world.
February is a great time to start! For only $8 each, you and a friend can start practicing the basics at any time this month.
It’s not necessary to bring a partner to capoeira class — but it is fun to get a great price!
Check out our class schedule here… then either register online or simply drop-in to class before February 28th to take advantage of our February special.
No prior experience is necessary. Beginners should wear loose fitting clothing and light footwear; advanced capoeiristas should wear traditional white capoeira pants and a t-shirt.
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:
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:
This week we have been practicing Mestre Bimba’s sequences. These are drills between two players to help learn how to put the movements together into combinations of attacks and defensive movements or evasions.
We’ll start with sequence #1:
| Player One (Plain Pants) | Meia Lua de Frente, Meia Lua de Frente, Armada, Aú |
| Player Two (Striped Pants) | Cocorinha, Cocorinha, Negativa, Cabeçada |
| Step 1 | The two players begin to ginga |
| Step 2 | Player One steps forward towards Player Two in order to be in the position to attack |
| Step 3 | Player One attacks with Meia Lua de Frente, while Player Two defends with Cocorinha |
| Step 4 | When Player One finished the kick Player Two stands up |
| Step 5 | Player One attacks again with Meia Lua de Frente. Player Two defends with Cocorinha |
| Step 6 | Player One finishes the kick but instead of taking the foot back to the ginga position, finishes with the foot forward in a position to attack with Armada |
| Step 7 | Player One attacks with Armada |
| Step 8 | Player Two defends with Negativa, positioning the foot behind Player Ones support leg, in order to take him down |
| Step 9 | Player One escapes with an Aú |
| Step 10 | Player Two attacks with a Cabeçada (while Player One is still in the Au) |
Read more about the sequences here: Mestre Bimba’s Sequences
Practice the moves and learn more at our next Washington DC Capoeira class!
Capoeira is a Brazilian martial art disguised as a dance and performed to musical instruments and traditional Brazilian songs. It is comprised of specific offensive and defensive movements and, unlike in other martial arts, the participant is constantly in motion because of the basic movement, the ginga. The movements also consist of positions on the ground, kicks, sweeps and acrobatics.
Our style, capoeira regional, is practiced to a quick beat and kicks are performed in an upright and aggressive style. The result? A high-energy, always exciting workout!
No prior experience is necessary. Beginners should wear loose fitting clothing and light footwear. Advanced capoeiristas should wear traditional white capoeira pants and a t-shirt. Shirts and capoeira pants are available for purchase.
