I have a solid group of students at Holy Cross College and I am pretty sure Clark University has a small club as well.  Besides that I am not aware of any other Capoeira in Worcester.  So what do I want?

If you are part of the Clark class, any other class, or have done Capoeira or would like to be part of the growing Capoeira community in Worcester please leave a post on this blog.  Leave some information about yourself, like where you train or trained and if you have any information that might improve the Capoeira community in Worcester.  Those interested in taking Capoeira class are also encouraged to post. 

If we are not part of the solution then we are part of the problem!

The first semester of classes at Holy Cross College was a great success and I can’t wait until mid-January to start up next semester.  Hopefully everyone will return from last session.  I leave you guys with a nice Capoeira clip from youtube: it is from Artes das Gerais in Brazil.  Highlights are a beautiful song along with several dynamic games really demonstrating the conversation between two Capoeiristas in the roda.  Enjoy and talk to you soon.

The Capoeira Bug has been known to change peoples lives.  This bug is so powerful it can cause you to change your daily routines, spend less time with old friends, introduce you to new friends, and the deadly venom can even cause you to lose weight and gain muscle.  Now the question here is, once you have been bitten by this bug, what should you do?

If you have recently started training Capoeira and you find yourself thinking about it constantly and longing for the next class, there isa good chance you have been bitten.  Once bitten:

• Do your very best to attend every class your school is offering.  If you miss classes the poison only gets stronger. Be commited, don’t make excuses for missing classes. 
• Ask your instructor and teacher as many questions as you’d like, chances are he or she has been bitten by the Capoeira Bug and they know some good remedies for it’s effects.
• If you get the chance to experience a different teacher or workshop in your local area, jump immediately at the chance.  Chances are your instructor will invite you to other events that are happening in the local Capoeira community.  Try the best to attend those events and feel the support of those who also have the same symptoms as yourself.
• When you have free time, practice Capoeira.  Capoeira music and movements will help put your mind and body at ease.  Be careful, without your instructor present you increase the chance of injury.  Stick to basics that you have already practiced in class.
• Be part of the movement, tell your friends and family about Capoeira.  Bringing in people close to you will heighten the experience for you.  If Capoeira is at you local highschool or college, help that program grow and you will be rewarded for your efforts 10 fold. 
• Lastly, take it slow.  You would need 2 lifetimes to master everything that you can learn in Capoeira.  You will never get anywhere if you burn yourself out in the first year.  Focus on coming to class, working hard, asking questions, and taking advantage of any resources and connections your instructor has from their Capoeira experience.

Wednesday night was a great class and roda with students from Framingham as well as a few new Holy Cross students.  The new students wasted no time jumping in the roda to show of their new moves.  I have witnessed some people attending classes in Framingham for several months and still refuse to go in the roda like a 5 year old running away from the bath tub.  So to those 3 new students – Congratulations, you are so far ahead of the curve already. 

I want to thank Socks, Jeans, Andrea & Ali for helping in our efforts to expand Capoeira throughout Holy Cross.  Without you guys the class would not be possible.  I look forward to bigger and better things in the 2nd Capoeira session of the year.  We hope Maria, Becca, Yayre, and Andriene join us as well

(2nd session starts Monday November 3rd @7pm in Hogan Suite A)

It’s very sad, but here in New England we are approaching some of the worst months the calendar has to offer.  Winter As the warm weather leaves so does our motivation, just ask our Superbuff friend Soldado.  It happens to all of us, but here are some tips that I can offer to help overcome your desire to stay in your warm bed as the winter draws near or stop you from heading out with some of your friends ( that can’t understand why we spend so much time training, talking about, dreaming about Capoeira ) instead of making it to Capoeira class.

1.  Be prepared – Get everything ready for class ahead of time.  Clean pants and shirt, bag of extras, etc.  If it’s convenient and you have everything you need prepared there is less of a chance of you getting distracted and missing class.
2. Don’t go home or do anything that you know will lessen the chance of you completing your ultimate goal of going to class.  For example:  Don’t go to your house or room to take a 25 minute nap because we both know that you are not getting  out of a warm bed to head outside in 30 degree weather.
3. Don’t go out with your friends before class.  Things seem so much more fun when you have to leave.  Do your self the favor and resist the urge to hang out, even if it is “just for a little while but then I have to go”.  We know that usually never happens.
4. Don’t plan your schedule too tightly because that will only increase the chances that something runs longer than expected and your spread too thin and your class time gets sacrificed.  Give yourself some time before class so you can prepare physically as well as mentally.
5. Just remember how much fun Capoeira is. Think about the health benefits and how much better you will feel when class is over and you just had a great roda.
6. Remember that you are an important component of that class and the others in the class are counting on you being there and bringing your energy.
7. You paid good money for the training, get the most out of it.

Mester Jelon Workshop

This past Saturday I got the privilege to be in the presence of Capoeira greatness.  It was a rainy, dreary afternoon here in New England but that did not stop the energy from filling up a small dance studio in Natick, MA.  Instructor Morcego hosted a Capoeira workshop given by his long time teacher, Mestre Jelon Vieira of Capoeira Luanda.  Mestre Jelon started training Capoeira in 1963 and is regarded as one of the Capoeira pioneers that helped bring Capoeira from Brazil to the United states.   Needless to say it was a great time, here are some of the highlights:

• I have never attended a workshop with Mestre Jelon before.  I only knew of him through his work, so it was truly special to be involved in that experience.
• My teacher, Contra Mestre Ze Com Fome was there and took the whole workshop along side everyone else.  This shows us that Ze has an enormous amount of respect for Mestre Jelon and it was cool to be doing the same workshop as my teacher.
• Mestre Jelon took a few minutes to speak with us about the evolution of Capoeira throughout the past 5 decades.  He said the Capoeira of the 70′s was not the same as the 60′s and the Capoeira of the 90′s was not the same as the Capoeira of the 80′s – etc.  He has been involved in Capoeira for 45 years so he has experienced first hand this massive evolution of Capoeira. 
• There were several groups represented there and that made for a really exciting roda at the end of the class.

Overall, it’s tough to put into words everything that happened and all of the emotions that were present.  All I can tell you is that when I left the dance studio, I was extremely motivated and couldn’t wait to play Capoeria again.  That is what the really good teachers do.  They inspire and they motivate.   See you guys in the roda

These types of experiences do not happen often but I have to say that in Capoeira they are definitely more common.  The beauty, style, and sound of capoeira is very attractive and it lures people into it’s web.  Even those that are hearing impaired are not immune to the alluring sounds and sights of Capoeira/Maculele.  Last night was one of those nights that I was so proud to be Capoeirista