#com expressao

[comexpressao]

We are starting a foundation course at the academy. There will be 12 classes over 6 weeks where you can learn all the fundamentals of Capoeira!

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Eat Sleep Capoeira 9 - Caiman e Pirata

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Com Expressao Batizado

Went to Com Expressao's, Contra Mestre Cacara's newly formed school, first Batizado earlier this year. Had a fun time there though others that had been a part of the school while it was still Capoeira Mandiga felt that the batizado was different than they were used to in the past. 

I only ended up going on the last day and came late to the first workshop they had. From what I gathered, the focus of the that particular workshop was to work on movement; something I had and still do need to improve on. Sadly I forget the name of the capoeirista who taught the workshop.

The second one was taught by a member of FICA, and was a workshop that I was able to take a lot from. The workshop focused on some basic concepts like relaxing you body while you ginga, different expressive movements within ginga, and a few sequences. While I'm still working on relaxing my body while I play and in ginga, this workshop was a big help in learning how. 

The third and last workshop of the day that I went to was the one taught by Mestre Ombrinho of Capoeira Angola Quintal. At this point they had tried to separate those that were more advanced and had someone else direct that workshop, while Mestre Ombrinho directed the more basic one. We worked in meia lua de frente, esquiva, au, armada, queixada, and negaca. This workshop stressed the basics and really enforced that not only having them is essential, but that you must also never forget the detail of the fundamentals as well. The workshop was one of the reasons why I'm currently leaning more towards joining CAQ in my current search for a Capoeira school to join. 

What followed after a meal with friends at Chipotle were several rodas before the Batizado started. I REALLY wish I'd taken more time to let the food digest, because when I felt it during my first games. I would have thought the only good thing about those with cords buying in in front of me would be that I would be able to have more time digest my food, (more people with cords than I would have liked bought in front of me in the rodas that I was in, which was frustrating beyond belief since I didn't get a chance to play some of the more experienced guests) but I digress.

I was able to play Professor Graveto, someone who I had played once before at a roda we had at the RIT club fair to recruit the incoming freshmen to our club, and who had kicked my ass for a lack of a better term. The game was fun for me as someone who is still a beginner since I was being pushed all throughout the game. It's for this reason that I like playing Capoeristas that are more experienced than I am since they give me a challenge and always have me on my guard. This game was no different, as I was kicked, taken down, and cabecada'd multiple times. Looking back, I can definitely see why my teach Espiao, who studies under Graveto, tells us to always stay protected and to never leave our safety in the hands of others. Through the beating I received, I remember him purposely leaving himself open to give me a free shot, which he made sure to dramatically fall into negativa role after I hit him with a bencao. 

After these rodas went on for sometime, everyone one was called together in order  to start the Batizado after Cacara played a great game with Mestre Ombrinho.  They started of course with the new students receiving their first cords and moved to the graduation of the more experienced students. (Within Com Expressao, the first cord is dark green, as opposed to the light green and then dark green cords within Mandinga) It was interesting to watch as the newer students played for their first cord from the perspective of someone who has never participated in a batizado.

Watching the newer students becoming a part of a school as well as the more experienced students graduating made me hopeful for when I too become a part of a school or group. Since then I've only gotten the change to take one formal class at CAQ, but am looking to take more there on my time off.