From: mary@Cayman.COM (Mary Malmros)
Newsgroups: rec.martial-arts
Subject: Re: berimbaus, Brazilian arts, Capoeira
Date: 23 Nov 92 23:20:18 GMT
Organization: Cayman Systems Inc., Cambridge, MA
In-reply-to: rmr@acsu.buffalo.edu's message of 19 Nov 92 08:19:06 GMT


In article <BxyF3u.3M4@acsu.buffalo.edu> rmr@acsu.buffalo.edu (Richard M. Romanowski) writes:

  >	Hi -- a while back, I read _In_Search_Of_The_Warrior_Spirit_,
  >written by a psychotherapist/aikido master, about teaching aikido to
  >Green berets.
  >
  >	He mentioned Capoeira, a Brazilian method of martial artistry.
  >There is a funky stringed instrument, with one string, called the
  >berimbau, and apparently one strums funky jammin' Brazilian rhythms
  >on this and goes into trance and so forth.  
  >
  >	Any one know about this? And (obsession becomes apparent) how
  >it relates to Kundalini?  If at all?

"Funky jammin' Brazilian rhythms", huh?  Well, I don't know that I'd
call it that, exactly, although I do love Capoeira music.  Capoeira's
sufficiently different from other martial arts that you really have
to see it; otherwise it just sounds weird.  Basically, a bunch of 
people gather in a circle and spar two at a time (I use "spar" for
lack of a better word).  Those who are not sparring play instruments 
and sing.  The type of music that is chosen controls, to a degree,
the way the capoeristas play.  From Bira Almeida's "Capoeira":

	In addition to the instrumental music, the chants are very
	important in Capoeira.  The lyrics of the songs reflect
	many aspects of Brazilian life.  These songs are a rich
	source for linguistic, folkloric, and socio-historic studies.
	Many of the songs are sung with the intent of taunting the
	players and stimulating the jogo [the capoeira match].  For
	example, in one song the chorus sings: Moleque e tu (you are
	a bum) in response to the soloist's having called them a bum
	first.  The following song gives another example:

 	Chorus	Da, da, da no nego
		Go beat that guy
	Soloist	No nego voce nao da
		I bet you can't get him
	Chorus	Da, da, da no nego
		Go beat that guy
	Soloist Esse Nego e danado, esse nego e o cao
		That guy is something else, he is very tough
	Chorus	Da, da, da no nego
		Go beat that guy
	Soloist	Esse nego te agarra te joga no chao
		That guy will grab you and throw you on the ground
	Chorus	Da, da, da no nego
		Go beat that guy


As regards techniques, Capoeira is characterized by acrobatic movements,
including handstands and cartwheels, and extensive use of the legs for
kicking, traps, and sweeps.  Of the little Capoeira I've seen, the 
hands seem to be used more for grappling than for strikes, but this was
all demonstration stuff in which the participants were exercising truly
excellent control.  

According to a number of sources, there is a strong spiritual dimension
to Capoeira when it is practiced properly.  I don't believe it's simply
a matter of "going into a trance"...there's a lot more to it than that.
In brief, it seems that to really play to the ultimate, you must play
on a spiritual as well as physical level.  

For more information, I refer you to Bira Almeida's book "Capoeira: A 
Brazilian Art Form".  Bira Almeida, a.k.a. Mestre Acordeon, is a 
Capoeira mestre of many years' experience.  The book is well-researched
and well-written, and contains an extensive bibliography.  Mestre Acordeon
teaches somewhere in the Bay Area.  I believe his school is called
"Capoeira Bahia".  For people in the Boston area, I refer you to 
Mestre Derraldo Ferreira of Capoeira Camara.  He teaches in Jamaica Plain, 
in Cambridge one night a week, and perhaps other places as well.
--
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 Mary Malmros     | Cayman Systems Inc, 26 Landsdowne St, Cambridge, MA 02139
 mary@cayman.com  | Phone 617-494-1999  Fax 617-494-5167  AppleLink CAYMAN.TECH

Newsgroups: rec.martial-arts