Tag: community

19 CM Pequinininho, an Angoleiro Path from Centro Tabcat, Detroit, Michigan

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What’s up capoeira nation! welcome back to the Capoeira Experience podcast, where we connect our capoeira community and help motivate in a very positive way our community to help with tips and advice to help you understand this beautiful art. This is your host Inst. Caxixi and I just want to say thank you so much to the capoeira community for the support.

So I get very happy when the capoeira community reach out to me to connect and talk about our beautiful capoeira, and I hope one day you out there reach out to me so we can have you on the podcast!!! that been said for today’s episode I’m very excited because it is my very first time that I will interview here on the podcast an Angoleiro, so he started capoeira in 1997 in Detroit after 7 years he knew that there was more than he could be tapped in, during that time he met Mestre Caboclinho Aruanda at his first workshop in Michigan falling in love with capoeira Angola so in 2007 he decided to start over in Capoeira Angola “Centro Tabcat” thanks to the blessing of Mestre Caboclinho Aruanda. Right now he has a nonprofit called “Creative Movement Brazil” helping kids, teens and even adults in Capoeira Angola, music, dance, and culture, so let me introduce you to Contra Mestre Pequinininho from Detroit, Michigan.

Caxixi: How are you doing man?

Pequinininho: Alright, how about yourself?

Caxixi: pretty good, pretty good, sorry for such a long intro

Pequinininho: oh no problem, muito obrigado!

Caxixi: of course! of course! our capoeira community how we were talking before you know this podcast is for our capoeira community and I strongly believe that capoeira was created to bring people together

Caxixi: so, before we jump into the interview and all the questions, what are your social media?

Pequinininho:

Facebook Here @tabcatdetroit

@creativemovementbrazil

Instagram Here

Website Here http://www.detroitcapoeira.com/

Caxixi: the show consists of 2 parts, to people to understand so people can stay a lit bit longer they can hear the whole story the first part is going to be about your story, capoeira story, your journey and everything till now then we are gonna jump to how you handle you no for-profit there and it works for the community there.

—- > Part 1 – Capoeira

Caxixi: Now that been said tell us more about yourself, who is Contra Mestre Pequinininho? and you can start however you want

Pequinininho: ok well let’s see, everything much started in my past I’m an artist ever since my mother would always make sure I was in some type of creative aspect so if it wasn’t science it was art by birth I’m an artist I like to draw that actually transpired into actual physical creativity from martial art itself so mostly everybody around we all grow up seen Bruce Lee as our martial artist but it is great I was like oh this is something unique that the actual body can do however there was always a thing that always itched me that is just I feel is something you know my culture actually has not just to say you know I never saw anybody like me then it came around when I saw couple different thing like James Kelly Raven Kleve different martial artist as well that we know now in the actual black community  and then they were inspirations for me wow something different

but later on, I’m gonna give you a good laugh this is about my capoeira journey, I actually came across my first movie everybody always will say sometimes that the first movie that inspire me was only the strong and the you know I heard the berimbau playing and then and I was like wow this is, like wow, so I’m 13 and I was looking at this I was like oh my god I want to learn this so bad and this is like so long ago when yahoo groups existed so it was a limit so the only time that I can research it so I was like is in brazil, well my mother is not gonna let go to a whole other country and been 13, yeah exactly and I was like aaahh so I was just like you know look at it try to mimic some things but later on in high school I actually met one of still one of my best friend his name is Tertius so we’re both in art class and he came in and he introduce himself and hey you do anime art work, and you do videogame art work and I was like yeah is cool then here comes the actually funny part, so I’m riding my bike back home and I heard you know at the distance I heard like “hold one second was is that” I heard the berimbau in the distance but then I heard they sinigang the chores “Parana e, parana e Parana” and I heard and soon as I turned really quick I saw somebody in the corner doing ginga doing au and a bunch of different things and I’m like wow now the funny part is that I turned really sharp that I flipped off my bike.

Caxixi: so, did you start with capoeira contemporanea in 1997?

Pequinininho: yeah it was contemporanea and it was like a lot of different things like again it wasn’t like a solid base like I couldn’t understand it was a little bit more like topical it almost felt like you know getting get out, you know get in get out, yeah yeah you know it’s like we are doing ginga from doing ginga what about the history of ginga, what about you know what was the past of meia lua, what’s meia lua de compasso you know, I’m American I don’t speak Portuguese so even that so a lot of the time where the question that I had there were never answered.

Caxixi: What made you fall in love with capoeira Angola?

Pequinininho: well it was that I was able to find out more about the past, the history that you know wasn’t just Brazil, but it was more or even going back to the diaspora the whole transitions of everything, that really calls me because like I said as myself you know for me and couple of my friends we all grow and we didn’t really have that individuals that we can look like martial arts thing like this and that and this show that has a history that came from slaves and the something that was powerful that whole experience was like wow

Caxixi: how do you think capoeira Angola can help people or our community?

Pequinininho: I feel like a benefit for the community here is do something different and unique because more around here in Detroit, or Michigan itself we have different cultures here, we have someone teach dance, some teach Afro Cuban dance, some teach African dance, you know some teach we actually have a Philippine community, we have all kind of community, and Brazilian community here as well, except I fell that capoeira Angola can help everybody because how the community at large needs something different and needs something that has a rich history in it so they can know you know is not just this art but you as individual your story doesn’t end at the corner.

Caxixi: what do you think we can make our capoeira community stronger?

Pequinininho: I feel that what can makes stronger is that individual can leave their ego at the door, yeah because is not again it doesn’t matter what you title is it doesn’t matter what cardio you have doesn’t matter you know that you buy capoeira all the time it doesn’t matter you get to the roda and you gave 10 rasteira you mention rasteira for the game you know it doesn’t matter what matter is everybody is happy everybody is in peace everybody is learning is becoming a more infinite individual I feel that will make the capoeira community stronger

—- > Part 2 – Behind curtains

Caxixi: why nonprofit instead of LLC?

Pequinininho: well the nonprofit spoke to me more you know one I’m not really good with administration and everything as much so wife stepped in so she doesn’t hear me talking about her well which is a good thing but we sat down we talked about it initially we talk about the corporation part and the nonprofit we both came to an agreement one day you know something more for the community

Caxixi: how do you set the nonprofit up if you are by yourself?

Pequinininho: well the first thing I would say is that you really do know exactly what you want to do you have to know what exactly want you want to do you know my wife says oh we can do this oh we can do that and I’m like babe focus in this one thing so you have to have one thing, even if you want to make a nonprofit and teach people how you know paint just make sure you focus in this one aspect but there many things that creative mind wants to do

Caxixi: how are you promoting your classes?

Pequinininho: oh let see we use social media newsletter systems actual printed flyers word of mouth you know actual community events you know have vendor booth and give up flyers you know performances we actually are performing coming up this Friday for the city of Detroit at the spirit plaza is a lot of different individuals so thing like that

Caxixi: capoeira events coming soon?

Pequinininho: ah let’s see, we have our annual Brazilian festival Michigan coming up that’s September the 14th from noon to 7 here in Detroit

Caxixi: let’s break this in 2 parts, so the first part one advice to people that haven’t done capoeira, or they started capoeira what advice do you give?

Pequinininho: I would say know that is not going to be easy but you know just have a lot of patience a lot of faith not just into capoeira but in yourself you are gonna be able to grow, just have an open mind and just remember to that you are gonna be using muscles in your body that you don’t use on you on a regular basis

Caxixi: and the second advice that would be for that already do capoeira or teach capoeira what advice would you give to them?

Pequinininho: I would say don’t let ego take over, don’t let ego take over and remember that you are always an student a title is just something that yes you came to the time but remember all somewhere you have the responsibility to pass on to the next person make sure you pass on something that’s positive to the person don’t pass on you know your bad experiences you know anything like that because you can create another generation that’s not going to grow, they are gonna be static remember that you are still a student

Caxixi: tell me again your social medias

Facebook Here @tabcatdetroit

@creativemovementbrazil

Instagram Here

Website Here http://www.detroitcapoeira.com/

Hey thank you so much for your time and sharing your experience!!!

17 Inst. Caxixi – Tips and Trick to Learn Berimbau

Whatsp up capoeira nation! welcome back to the capoeira experience podcast where you will learn more about capoeira, how to keep your motivation and much more information.

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On today’s episode I would like to teach you some tips and trick to learn berimbau, if you apply these tricks to your daily routine you can learn to play berimbau in a very fast time and you won’t need the berimbau every single time to practice, but I still recommend you to have your own berimbau so talk to your instructor or professor if they have berimbaus in the academy that they can sell to you and you can support your school by doing that.

Listen, berimbau is a basic skill if you want to get into high ranks in your school also learning berimbau is really cool for many reasons, you can help to play in the roda, demonstrations, or any time a berimbau is needed – so all the time right? by learning berimbau you also are going to help a lot your instructor or professor, for example when you learn berimbau and you play it, you are allowing your teacher to play in the roda and that helps a lot and makes us happy so we can get to play with all of you, so put your hands on it, learn berimbau and show off your skills after this!

Alright, so this is the way I learned berimbau 18 years ago and after I practiced this way for a few months I was able to play berimbau in the roda, I wasn’t able to sign in the roda but I was able to play, and singing and play instruments come with a lot of practice so I encourage you to do so after you learn berimbau, so this is how I usually teach berimbau and it works for a lot of people they learn pretty quick, so after this it will be up to you put this in practice so be accountable for it.

Before, we gotta learn the part of the berimbau, the berimbau consist of 6 parts and the names on Portuguese of these 6 parts are: Verga (which is the body of the berimabu), Arame (which is the wire), Cabaca (which is the gourd), Baqueta (which is the stick to play it), dobrado or pedra (which is that big metal coin or the stone or rock) and of course a caxixi (which is the shaker).

That been said, there are a few basic berimbau rhythms that you can learn and they can help you to get set up to learn the rest.

  • we have Angola
  • we have sao bento pequeno
  • we have sao bento grande de bimba
  • we sao bento grande de angola
  • and we have one a little more complex one called Iuna

All those rhythms are composed by only 3 kinds of sounds, but each of them is on a different pattern.

These 3 sounds are:

The xiado (is with the rock very softly pressed against the wire): xixi
the don (rock won’t touch the wire): dondon
and the din (press hard against the wire): dindin

Now that you have and recognize these 3, you are going to practice these sounds with your mouth:

For example:

Xiado you are going to do: xixixixixi
don: don don don don
din: din din din din

AGAIN

practice those sounds every day with your mouth so you can recognize these sounds. if at some point you listen to capoeira music anywhere, pay attention to the berimbau sounds and try to copy them with this sounds I just gave you.

Rhythm practice:

Now we put them together to do the first rhythm, “Angola”
makes this sound with your mouth – warning: don’t be shy to do so

The are 2 xiados, 1 don, 1 din

Sounds like this: xixi – xixi – don – din

It repeats over and over

Sao bento pequeno

Now this one is just backwards as angola

The are 2 xiados, 1 din, 1 don

It sounds like: xixi – xixi – din – don

It repeats over and over too

Practice these 2 with your mouth and with the berimbau so you can get into the more complex ones

Sao bento grande de bimba

This one is a little more complex but it is pretty easy once you get it

I’m going to break it in 2 parts for you

The first part is:

First part sounds like: xixi – xixi – don – xixi – xixi – din

Second part sounds like: xixi – xixi – don – don – din

It repeats over and over too

Sao bento grande de angola

This one is a little easier and fun as well

I’m going to break it in 2 parts as well for you

The first part is going to be:
xixi – xixi – din – don – don

It repeats over and over too

All these sounds are very easy to practice, you just gotta comment and keep practicing with your mouth but especially with the berimbau and ask your teacher to help you practice some music and I am sure you are going to be able to play berimbau in a few months if you really really practice this tips and tricks.

Thank you listing!

12 Canarinha – Capoeira Brasil Indianapolis “The wife, The student”

Whatup capoeiristas, welcome back to the capoeira experience podcast, where you are going to learn from all kind of experiences to increase your knowledge in capoeira, and even to find your whys in capoeira.

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Today I have the pleasure to have with us my very first student in the US, the first American that I wanted to teach capoeira and pass on not just my knowledge but also my passion in and out of class, not just as my student also as my wife and this is Canarinha from capoeira brasil Indianapolis

[00:02:02] Caxixi: We gotta start from the beginning I usually start all the interviews from the beginning I just want to know how everyone starts in capoeira from day one till right now, tell me a little bit of your story from the very beginning

Canarinha: ok well I meet you in 2012 I heard that you did capoeira and you were staying in the US just for 2 months so I asked the person that you knew if you can teach me capoeira and maybe we can get together, do something. The guy finds out that I liked you from there he kind of introduced us and we started talking, hanging out. We didn’t really do capoeira, we you were here, but when you came back, I would say I officially started training with you, probably in 2014? I started training with you.

[00:07:38] Caxixi: For you what was that eye catching for capoeira?

Canarinha: the kicks, for sure! I think all the kick are amazing, throughout the years the acrobatics got me be the initial thing that got were the kicks.

[00:09:03] Caxixi: what do you like the must about capoeira?

Canarinha: I like the energy the most I think all the people all the moves and everything that brings together when you are in the roda, I think is that explosive energy and that makes me want more you know is very like I said, when I saw you it was very contagious and I think your energy is what attacked to it, so for Capoeira when I’m in the roda when I’m in a festival or class is definitely the energy that fires me up.

[00:12:15] Caxixi: if you have to choose on word for capoeira what it would be?

Canarinha: contagious, don’t matter who it is or what it is or where it is, if you are at a capoeira event no matter what kind of group who or whatever you are always going to be like in a Roda, you always end up in a roda with some people not even like a playing Roda, you are standing, you are talking you are creating this group of people.

[00:17:07] Caxixi: Why Canarinha?

Canarinha:  well is definitely not because I sign amazing I feel in capoeira people base it of a look, or characteristic  or personality or something that at the moment have to be with you, so when you first met me I was partially blonde, I was half blond half brunet I probable kept that for about 3 years? yeah yeah 3 years and I think that probably that pop in your head.

[00:019:07] Caxixi: from the student-wife perspective, what do you see from there, like from outside, behind the scene and everything?

Canarinha: well first of is more than love of capoeira, you have like an obsession with capoeira, I would say that you love capoeira more than me but that’s another story, I think is awesome, I think is awesome, you know as partner wise if you have something in common that you both love or both really like to do I think it really helps your relationship you know push each other both up.

[00:29:33] Canarinha: I have a question for you, so I know that you’ve dated capoeira people in the past, how does it feel to take or to meet someone that never do capoeira you know never has any experience on that but you know you brought them into it, how does it feel, 1: dating someone outside of capoeira and 2: your wife, getting your wife into capoeira, having student as your wife?

Caxixi: That’s a good question, I’ve never got that question before. yeah I dated a few out of capoeira, at the beginning is definitely hard, is hard but exciting at the same time, because that person doesn’t know about capoeira unless that person is interested in capoeira of course, like you were at the beginning because you were looking at me with such a big eyes, I got more excited because I wanted to show off.

[00:38:08] Caxixi: what kind of skills of benefits capoeira has bring to your life?

Canarinha: for sure not being as shy and as nervous and I wanna say thank you to everyone I’ve meet you know in some way you actually have helped me to come out of my shield and not be as nervous or be self-conscious in capoeira you know you’ve definitely made me a better person who I am today weather was bad or good or you know, kick me in the face whatever I just feel that I’ve learn so much from each person I’ve met.

[00:47:17] Caxixi: what do you recommend to capoeiristas out there?

Canarinha: don’t hold back, don’t be scare to do what you wanna to do, if you wanna to try something don’t be scared, don’t hold yourself back because what you think other people think or what other people judge you or you look silly you know I mean.

[00:00:00] Caxixi: what are your social media?

Canarinha: I do I little bit of everything but it’s

Instagram here @jessimateran

11 Prof Espirito Grupo Ginga da Alma

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What up capoeiristas, welcome back to The Capoeira Experience Podcast, where you are going to learn about the Capoeira community, where all of you are more that welcome to express your experiences because we all got experience, so that being said, on today’s episode we have a guest form Europe, he teaches in the Netherlands, he is from Grupo Ginga da Alma… Welcome to the podcast Prof. Espirito.

Caxixi: How are you doing man?

Espiritu: I’m doing fine man! what up!!

Caxixi: I like to start with capoeira stories.

Espiritu: I started capoeira late 1997 in the Netherlands a lot people from my generation were not Brazilian, grew up with a movie – really bad movie, only the strong, I saw later when I read about capoeira, but my introduction to Capoeira was from a tv commercial, from a Nokia cellphone, Nokia commercial and what I can remember there were 2 people on a beach dressing white and making beautiful movements you know, I was mesmerizes I was like “what? what is this?” because since my youth I grew up in martial arts like karate aikido, you know, did some gymnastic, and already did some crazy stuff on my own, jumping around you know, my mom going crazy, she was just like “just go outside and do your thing” but when I saw the commercial, I was like “what is this” because I didn’t have any knowledge about it “what is this” and I was memorizing by it, and also in that time I also was into gaming and 3 fighting games at that time, was street fighter, mortal combat, and tekken you know, you know tekken?

Caxixi: oh tekken! yeah yeah when tekken just came out, yeah Eddy Gordon of course!

Espiritu: yeah yeah I already had tekken, then tekken II, and then I was waiting for tekken III because I knew I like tekken III,  and I bought tekken 3, and there was a character, you know the character, and I was like “oh is new so let me choose the character” Eddy Gordon, so what the hell is this, and I was meshing the buttons and was like, “eehh what is this this is awesome” I recognized it this is the same thing that I saw on television you know.

Caxixi: what kind of benefits does have capoeira bring to your life? like some positive influence on your life?

Espiritu: Friends, family you know, you travel a lot to different places you meet people that share the same thing also being secure about myself and be less aggressive because back in the days, and not because I was aggressive but I had a temper capoeira helped me, yeah self-control you know be more aware of my surroundings, be more aware of people you know and yeah it helped me a lot specially meeting people you know and sharing, and yeah self-control and be happy.

Caxixi: how do you like the capoeira community in Europe?

Espirito: so far I didn’t go everywhere in Europe but what’ve seen what’ve been through, the capoeira community in Europe is good, like you said people are ore knowledgeable also about capoeira you know they are seeking they are hungry no just for capoeira itself, also the community, the community part of capoeira you know.

Caxixi: How did you get your nick name? when and how?

Espirito: ok, first when you started capoeira I was the only black guy in the class, I was the youngest in the class so my teacher back then, because I have several teachers, he came with the name feijao, I didn’t know it meant back then “oh feijao, nice nice” so I went with then they started calling me feijao, and I started asking what does that means that means Bean and I was “oh alright” like feijao preto. I was the only black guy but I also was the only guy that could jump and do crazy stuff because my gymnastic background you know, so jumping bean, feijao, alright whatever you know, I think I got call that name on 1998 or something 1999 but it was not official it was not during a batizado the teacher wanted to separate from that thing you know from his own group we weren’t part of a bigger organization big association was just a own small group.

Caxixi: how do you like about teaching?

Espiritu: the main thing, is to seeing people being happy, thing like I show you something I will help you and if I see and smile, I like it.

Caxixi: What are your social medias? or how people can find you?

Instagram:

Ginga Da Alma Here

Prof. Espiritu Here

Facebook:

Bernardo Lendore Here

Ginga da alma Here

Website Here

Caxixi: Do you have any event coming up, or are you planning something for 2019

Espiritu: yes, this coming June 14, 15 and 16 of June we have our Capoeira festival, I will make an event on Facebook (here) and I will post on social media you know.

Caxixi: What Advice would you give to Capoeiristas out there?

Espiritu: play with a smile, sometimes we have that series game face, whenever we are playing you know, sometimes people forget to smile to be a kid in a big playground when you go in the roda, when you are playing in the roda be happy that you get to playing the roda be happy that you are able to play with one of your idol

Thank you so much!

10 Inst Quebrado CBLA

What up capoeiristas! Inst. Caxixi here! Like I always say, everyone has a spot in this podcast, doesn’t matter your level, where you come from, doesn’t matter what is your group or even if you don’t do capoeira, that’s valid too, all I want to do is help OUR capoeira community. So today I have the pleasure to have one of my hommies from LA! I met this guy my very first time I went to LA in 2013, we have been following each other journey since then and I am very excited to go back to see you and play some capoeira with you again and do your class, today I want to introduce you to Inst. Quebrado from Capoeira Brasil LA!..

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Before we start, what are your social medias or how people can find you?

Instagram Here

Instagram Classes in Burbank Here

Facebook Here

Website Here

[00:05:50] Caxixi: Speaking about social media, dude I see that you are killing it on social media man!!… Tell us what are you tricks man! how do you make so much noise in social media?

Quebrado: I think with social media it’s really tricky my point I have no idea what I’m doing, is working sometimes it doesn’t work sometimes it does work really good you gotta know what they want they are waiting for something that they wanna see, they are waiting for that cool trick, or they are waiting for that moment in the roda and then hashtags help a lot, #Capoeira #CapoeiraBrasil #Rio #SaoPaulo #Brazil #berimbau #Africa #axe is like different hastangs a lot of people that I know, sometimes I do it go a research #Capoeira and go over 100 post and see who is doing what and like people’s hashtag with #Capoeira.

[00:08:11] Caxixi: so, lets jump back on time for a sec here, and tell me a little bit of your story man, how did you get into capoeira?

Quebrado: in 2006 I moved to America to California from Lebanon, from an Armenian family, Armenian descents, no capoeira, we only had people in breakdancing and hip-hop, I was always active I was like 8 years old and I had my own hip-hop class and it was like no space like underneath in a building that wasn’t built yet I had like 3 students like couple years younger than me they paid me with like a chocolate or half a dollar you know with coins stuff that I never took a class before I just liked the movement I kind of follow and followed this guy he was a really good hip-hop dancer back in Lebanon, he’s still kind of famous right now he is a dancer big choreographer so I kind of started hip-hop with him and we started breakdancing as a whole group of good friends like 6 or 7 of us so we go together we train together and I was kind of dedicated you know I wanted to be good at it, I was a little more chubbier and I just wanted to do something and stick with it and a month or two later they were all gone nobody stayed there and then was me and the teacher this is amazing is like private right now, the I started to getting better breakdancing, and then I started b-boying more and more, 2004, 2005, and then at 2006 moved to California actually I’ve seen capoeira once in Lebanon, in the dance school there were couple morocco guys, from morocco, and they just showed up and I think there were dancers that they’ve done capoeira before then, I remember them so well and they just came in the were b-boy and by that time they came together, and then they were “oh Brazilian moves” and then that was it, it was just a small memory.

[00:12:10] Caxixi: Why Quebrado?

Because of breakdancing, so the first few months I mean I was tough with myself I was going through a lot I didn’t know how to communicate with other people I was very shy I kind of only talked to Pavao a Chegado at the beginning I was very timid and after class I always wait to everybody to leave then I used to breakdance and I used to train and they looked at me and then “oh the breaker” and the breaker translate to broken and got translated to Quebrado.

[00:16:14] Caxixi: where have you travel?

Quebrado: this past year as did go to Bali, to capoeira me leva with Mestre Pedro, also went to Japan to capoeira Batuque events, and then I went to Lebanon, to see family and did capoeira as well, this was last year, and the following year Shanghai, Hong Kong, Mexico, I don’t even consider Mexico because Mexico is right here.

I like to travel, I like to travel, if capoeira can be part of the travel it’s even more amazing and for capoeiristas I think traveling is really really important, and no matter what level you are no matter if you are invited as a guest or you are student or your friend is having and event, traveling helped me a lot to grow.

[00:35:55] Caxixi: any event coming up for you? Local at your class?

Yes! Local events yes, so in December I hosted Mestre Itabora it was amazing, so that event with Mestre Itabora getting to know him personally more and share his energy, share his story, I couldn’t even, how you say it? is priceless, spend time with anybody as a person with that much energy that much love for the art that much he does for the community I was very privileged for him even to be in my place in my house a share a few hours with us and I’m very thankful for him and I would love to keep going, I’m very thankful with the community, because their supporting.

In March 16, is Saturday I’m hosting a workshop with Instra. Foquina and Instra. Borracha they both capoeira brasil green cords and green cords are dope!

[00:39:54] Caxixi: Mestre Boneco events is coming up when?

last week of September is the 28th 29th, 29th is the batizado but our event usually starts on Tuesday nights, last year was amazing, amazing diversity.

[00:41:50] Caxixi: What advice do you have for beginners?

I mean capoeira has change my life, and still is changing my life, at work I still think that I’m in the roda, and right now my mission for beginners is nothing fancy like I said at the beginning of the podcast I don’t them to do crazy floreios and helicopters and flips, I just want them to enjoy capoeira which it mean capoeira just coming to class ginga, kick and Esquiva and them to do that for long time if they do stick with it for long time and become consistent their life is gonna change when committing to something.

[00:45:11] Caxixi: you mentioned couple of time, fir the last question, during the whole conversation you mentioned couples of time that capoeira has change your life what do you think or where did you change?

change in life is how I think how I feel you know I mean places that I’ve been people that I’ve met, someone like you I would never do this podcast if we have never met.

Thank you so much man!

09 Bambu Morales GCB DTWLA

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What’s going on Capoeira world!!… Inst. Caxixi here!… As I always say, on this podcast everyone gets interviewed, any experience works to help our community grow, so today I have the pleasure to have as a guest one of my Capoeira Brothers, you know when you travel and you meet new people and you just click with them, he is been doing capoeira for 5 years, and I met him my first time I went to Chicago and since then we became really good hommies!!… He is student of Professor Saracuru from Capoeira Brasil Downtown LA. I want to introduce you to Bambu!!

 [00:01:45] Caxixi: How are you doing man over there?

Bambu: good man, just enjoying the raining southern California

 [00:02:38] Caxixi: So, I like to start the episodes with our guest stories, now tell me when and how did you start capoeira?

Bambu: ok so I tried capoeira a few times when I young one when I was 16 ones again like at 20 something years old I really caught on when I met my professor, professor Saracuru, I met him walking one day and he was like “yo, why don’t you come a try the class?” and I’m like “alright yeah!!”

my mom lives in downtown, coincidently on the same block that he does, so I just happened to be there and yeah just randomly ran into them just a conversation that was brought up, I was already doing martial arts at the time I was already doing judo, but I was kind of like uh falling you know.

 [00:13:18] Caxixi: how many times per week do you train?

Bambu: so that’s a tough one it depends on the week, average it used to be I can tell you this right now for sure is twice a week but I’m gonna start wrapping it up I used to train every day like every day you know every day we would go we would meet up, or we said let go to a park.

 [00:15:38] Caxixi: have Capoeira been helping you on something?

Bambu: I mean I would definitely agree with that, outside from right now, how nervous I am right now you know, but usually you know I’m very hey what’s up what’s happening, you know very out there, very out spoken, I mean I try to be out spoken, it really brought out my personality it gave me like a confidence that I never had before to be honest, it really gave me strength, like a different kind of strength.

[00:24:24] Caxixi: if you must describe capoeira with one word, what it would be??

Bambu: man, that’s a tough one, if I have to say one word I would say “inspiring”

 [00:37:49] Caxixi: Are you planning on traveling for any events?

Bambu: there’s the big one for this year is in July Mestre Paulinho sabia is having his batizado in Brazil so that ticket is not cheap, so I think that’s gonna be the one for this year.

 [00:38:25] Caxixi: how many times have you travel in these 5 years?  even locally?

Bambu: like locally, vie been Chicago, san Francisco, san Diego Mexicali I went to Colombia couple years ago

[00:41:33] Caxixi: what is your favorite song?

Bambu: there’s a lot of songs out there, I usually like very simple songs, you know the song “laa laaue, laaue laaua” something about the sound that pumps me up and I’m just like “alright we are about to play” dud is like “is about to go down right now”

 [00:49:39] Caxixi: an advice for beginners?

Bambu: I mean, as hard it is, is gonna be tough at the beginning it always is, but that’s the fun part you know, cut in the future, I’m sure you experienced it you remember when it was so hard you remember when like the struggle trying to do this moves try to figure out how to play the instruments, it was so hard but you love those moments, you know those moments are gonna stay with you forever, like “man I remember when I was a wacky at this” it makes you feel proud you know.

[00:51:50] Caxixi: how people can find you?

Find Bambu on social media:

Instagram Here
Facebook Here

07 Instra Valente GCB Cali Desert

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What up Capoeiristas!! This is your host Inst. Caxixi!! And todays episode we (and BY WE I MEAN YOU AND I) are having a very very good friend of mine!! I met this person a while ago as always Capoeira does, in a Capoeira event and since then we have been good friends!! and I am very happy to have you with us INSTRUTORA VALENTE!!!!!! From Capoeira Brasil Cali Desert!! SO happy to have you here today!!! How are you doing my friend??

[00:01:25] – Valente: I’m good thank you so much for having me, I’m excited to be on your podcast

[00:01:30] – Caxixi – Yes Yes thank you for making the time, the little window for sharing this experience, so like any interview I’m gonna start from the beginning, from your very beginning on Capoeira, so when you started from the first day until today and you can start however you want.

[00:01:55] – Valente – ok so actually I sing up for my first capoeira class in San Diego at university California San Diego, in the year 2000 and was a recreating class from campus and unfortunately last minute before I started the class I had to change my academic curse schedule to another class that was schedule on the Capoeira nights and I was sad I already paid for it so actually one of my best guy friends at the time I said “hey you know have you hear about Capoeira?” and he said “no” and I said “well it is this kind of like breakdance thing you should check it out” and I said “I paid you should take my spot” and he ended up becoming very good capoeirista practicing every day for a few years and I went to his batizado I believe 2003/2004 and I saw him and his friends doing Capoeira at a party in about I think was 2005 then I said ok that’s really cool but I wanna learn breakdancing.

so I moved to Seattle after san Diego and I was living up there 2005/2006 and 2006 ok I can’t find a breakdancing class but there is a capoeira class, I’m gonna try then breakdancing from Capoeira so I went to group axe capitol hill in Seattle and an amazing class it was Coquinho who was the instructor at the time and it was a great group very very friendly and after the first class I said ok I don’t care about breakdancing Capoeira is it, Capoeira is my thing and I knew from day one that it was for me for the rest of my life.

[00:05:30] – Caxixi: What is the story behind your nick name, Valente?

Valente: I receive my name I believe after a year, year and a half in Capoeira, end one thing that anyone who remember, when I first started in Capoeira in los Angeles, I didn’t really have a good understanding in my level compare to people much more experienced so I’d play in the roda as if I’ve much more experience than I did I’m sure didn’t look that great but I didn’t care I just went forward, I played every one very hard and thankfully I did not die in that processes but just had no sense of fear at all I just didn’t have any worries about it I just went forward I just loved it so much that I didn’t care, and no matter how it looked so I be alive that’s why I got the name “Valente”

[00:08:08] – Caxixi: What do you think about the business and Capoeira? Your own perspective on how or what do you think about those combination?

so I’m in a interesting situation because Mestre Mindinho and I actually created a non-profit for our academy, I receive no income at all for teaching and we put a lot of heart and soul into this so for me it’s all about the love of Capoeira even thigh it takes up about as much time as my day job and I work in a hospital, even though it take about as much time as my day job, you think about my training the administration the website, read the communication with families, the marketing, everything, teaching itself, cleaning the academy, I think the academy, Mestre Mindinho cleans the academy. I would say I spend as much time in Capoeira as I do in my day job, and personally I’m not receiving any money back that’s a choice from me. I absolutely love Capoeira and I just wanted move it forward with that being said of course still a business for example we have a standalone studio, there is nothing other than Capoeira in our studio and is a nice space, so in order to maintain that of course we have to treat that as a business, so of course is constant marketing to get more students, sell uniforms, having events, we have lot of workshops, keeping cost low, and I do actually have to deal with the business side every single day.

[00:15:03] – Caxixi: what do you think the benefits that Capoeira can bring to society, from your own perspective?

Valente: I’ve been teaching probably, I wanna say I’ve been teaching for like 3 years, 3 and a half years, in my own studio each time, both time have been in my own location and because of that all my students come to me without any Capoeira experience, totally fresh and I’m going to tell you it is so dramatic the change that I see in confidence, all my students for me that’s everything

Valente Social Media:

Website Here

Instagram Here @mindinhoValente

Capoeira Brasil Cali Desert Here

Facebook Here

06 Mestre Mindinho GCB Cali Desert

Whatup whatup Capoeiristas!! I am your host Inst. Caxixi… So for this episode, I have the very big honored to bring to our show one of the many Capoeiristas that I personally admire a lot, this is MESTRE MINDINHO from Grupo Capoeira Brasil, Cali Desert, Puebla Mexico, and other schools!!!

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[00:01:16] Caxixi: How you started in Capoeira, from the first time you saw it?

[00:01:32] M. Mindinho: Well is Basic, I started as a kid, I started since 11 years old in Brazil, I am from Rio de Janeiro, and like everybody else a funny story, is just like I heard about capoeira some times on TV but I never really have any experience with capoeira, but I was in school, and have this girl that I had a crush on it, and she come to me and said “oh I’m going to my first capoeira class today” I said “wow that’s awesome, let’s go together” and I went with her, we took the first class together, it was really fun, she never came back and I’m still here today!

[00:04:05] Caxixi: Everyone in Capoeira, obviously, each of us have a nick name, capoeira apelido, how did you get the Mindinho? How People find you as Mindiho?

[00:04:18] M. Mindinho: That was very natural, like when I started Capoeira at 11, I was very very short, small and my teacher used to teach class just for adults, for long time I was the only kid in class, everybody was huge in class I was the little one, “Mindinho”, mini, like a Pinky, and that’s why, like a little finger, then I was the little one in class.

[00:14:00] Caxixi: What do you think about the good benefits that capoeira, I know is many, but the benefits that capoeira brings to society, like how do you think that can help our communities?

[00:00:00] M. Mindinho: well has so many ways in Capoeira, is amazing, has so many stories, capoeira has work with refugees, that’s advantage in our communities around the world, but I wanna go a little more specific, to United States, because I’ve been here for 16 years now and those years has been absorbed how capoeira works. One of the main things is I think Capoeira has really help many communities in the United States, is about create an open community, like a family sense.

M. Mindinho’s Social Media:

Check M. Mindinho’s Website Here

M. Mindinho’s Instagram Here: @mindinhovalente

FaceBook Here

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05 CM Bambu Axe Capoeira Chicago

Whatup capoeiristas!!! I’m your host Inst. Caxixi and today we have the pleasure of having Contra Mestre Bambu from Axe Capoeira Chicago! very happy to get the pleasure of having him today, CONGRATULATIONS ON THIS NEW ACCOMPLISHMENT by the way!!


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 [00:01:00] – Caxixi: You can start from how you saw capoeira for the first time, or your capoeira story pretty much.

CM Bambu: I started capoeira in 1998, I started a lot like most of the more American of people foreign from Brazil, on movies, “only the strong” I saw a preview for that, in the movie theaters, then later I saw it in video games, then other couple cultural outlets, got me interested, I always wanted to do martial arts as a kid, my parents never put me into it because it was a lot of money, we didn’t have a lot of money back at that time, they didn’t think I was stick with it because as a kid I wanted to do something and the next week I wanted to do something else. Then they did when I finally move away from home for school originally, there happen to be a capoeira class at the university, which is Indiana University, yeah they had a little group there so I have the opportunity to start my brother started before me, he really liked it so I kind of joined in, it was a small school just students, no real teacher, no real master, just a group of people who like capoeira, that got together, who has some teaching and training from other people in the past.

[00:03:04] – CM Bambu: then we met a guy, he said there was an event in Chicago, with a local group here and then we came up to participate in the event, in the workshop, and then from there I met my Mestre, Mestre Barrao, I met him here, he was just a guest, end we talked to him about wanting to find a master to pursue our training with an actual Master in Capoeira.

[00:10:30] – CM Bambu: For Capoeira I felt that kind of passion, I feel that I feet with the right group, with the right Mestre, that push mu forward. this day I feel in debt it to him because he believe in me and he out his seal on me, without know anything about me, in the time when people outside of Brazil, where not necessarily seen good for capoeira, I even on of this events when I was in Chicago  with one respected Mestre that I would look up too a lot, and we had on of this Q&A session, where we seat down and talk with them, and one of the other Mestre told me that I gotta be careful because everybody was looking at me like with jealousy, when you play capoeira you have to be careful, they always say be careful because people are looking at you, and I felt a little bit like “why are they looking at me” and he said well maybe because you are no Brazilian.

[00:22:12] – CM Bambu: My master, he is a friend, he is a father, he is a teacher, he is to me, I don’t know what it would be without him, and when I see people that sometimes they leave the group to go somewhere else to have another Master, I don’t know how I can ever consider myself or someone else my Master, because the bond that I have with this person, he is the one that thought me how to the culture, about the dances, about capoeira, how to play, how to fight, how to ginga, how to do this, how to do that, and he is the one still guiding my way of life.

[00:38:14] – Caxixi: when you have to be at the school you gotta take care of financials part too, for example you still gotta pay rent for studio and all that stuff, what do you think about the part of the business of capoeira, what do you think about that?

CM Bambu: I was discussing with my wife recently because we were talking about samba schools  and I think it a difference in between building a business around spreading Brazilian Culture and using a Brazilian Culture to create a business, I think it is a difference in that kind of wording so I think if you are try basically take advantage of a nitch like everybody wants to do capoeira now, oh in the movies so we are gonna do a  capoeira stunts class or these kind of stuff is kind of  that’s  using capoeira and taking part just to use for something else that stuff is what I don’t agree with, but if the goal is to spread capoeira, to make sure capoeira has a future and make sure the history and the culture does die with the times then of course I can feel like, why not? I consider myself a professional, I’m a professional athlete in capoeira, I spent 20 years training, I training every day, I work out I do all this thing, why is it different, why should I not be paid for my services, for my work? I feel like I have a lot to offer, and I feel like any one who is dedicated that life and that time to capoeira and putting and giving back to the culture not just I’m doing this for myself, I do this, and I give back to the culture.

Social Media:

Website: http://www.axechicago.com/

Instagram: @axecapoeirachicago @Professor_Bambu

Facebook: Axe Capoeira Chicago https://www.facebook.com/axecapoeirachicago/

Contra Mestre Bambu https://www.facebook.com/axebambu/

info@axechicago.com

03 Into the world of Mestre Xuxo

I’m your host Inst. Caxixi and today I am very excited because I have the pleasure to have an amazing capoeirista!! I am sure he is a big motivation for you as well because he loves moving, you can tell his love for capoeira just the way he pushes himself, teaching us even through his videos how we can enjoy ourselves with body movement!!…

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 [00:02:44] I know that you are in Brazil Right now, are you teaching?

Yeah I am in Brazil right now, and normally when I come to Brazil is more for the holidays, and this time I decided to stay a little be longer, I will be here for 2 and a half months, and now I am teaching a lot yeah!… I’m hosting an event this time as well, for my own school, international people come from around the world, maybe 10 countries are coming here is gonna be a nice event as well

[00:03:20] I’m sure there is a lot of people that already follow you, and I’m sure you are a big example for people that are starting in Capoeira and people that already have been doing capoeira for long time, so how people can find you on social media or any way to contact you?

In social Media is Enjoy Yourself Movement, just on google Mestre Xuxo, or on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube you are gonna find me there. X-U-X-O

Instagram here

Facebook here

YouTube here

[00:03:47] Were where you first steps and I would love to know, how you started in Capoeira, how were you first steps into capoeira, what was the beginning of your journey?

Oh that’s a question really heavy for my parents right now for my parents, that’s why I’m in Brazil because I’m writing my first book, for the documentary and I have no memories how was my first capoeira steps, I have no memories. But that’s why I’m here in Brazil to interview my mom today they were telling me that my father was trying to have me on ginga position, and to do ginga you know since I was a baby! But it worked.

I started Capoeira since I was 3 years old, I really don’t remember like everything that have been happen in my career as a capoeirista back then, is difficult because I’m from Brazil, you wanna have fun, you wanna play, you wanna be on the streets playing. Playing soccer, but of course if your father is your master, you got no chance.

[00:06:13] Do you have any memories of how you got the Xuxo nickname?

Yes, Xuxo means nice, that name is very ironic, because I was the one that use to call people Xuxo, because I always forgot the name of the people.

Everybody even my students I used to call them Xuxo “hey Xuxo” then with time they started calling me Xuxo. Then with time on one of my events they called me Professor Xuxo or Instructor Xuxo, something like this, long time ago.

[00:08:03] Which group did you start?

The group is called “my father’s home” haha there was no group, nobody was there, my father was part of “Cordao de Ouro” and then “bocao negro” because before in Corado de Ouro when you became like a teacher you have the right to open your own group, so my father had a group called “bocao negro”. So Yes if I have to say a name COrdao de Ouro definitely I started in corado de ouro, even though for me the name was no important and I didn’t know about the name.

[00:09:20]  What keeps the motivation? of course the love for Capoeira, but how do you keep the motivation to keep pushing yourself every day? because I see yourself on social media every day, and I am a big follower of yours and I see that you are always training, you never stop training which is amazing and how do you keep that fire going?

I think that somehow, I try to become my own motivation, I always say you can have a 1000 of inspiration, but motivation is you! If you don’t have the motivation, if you don’t create that motivation, you cannot move forward, and for me what motivates me a lot is that somehow my mission as a human being to the world is no longer about me is about others

[00:17:31] All that comes with training, all the abilities that you have right now comes with training, is it there any specific way that you train or any specific exercises you do, or how many time per week do you train even your flexibility, to be flexible with your back because you are pretty flexible.

Ok I try to see what I need to live every single day, I need to eat, I need to drink, and I need to sleep, they are very fundamental for me to live. That’s the question what I need to keep and become great capoeirista, a great mover, we need to trading.