CAPOEIRA IN THE WINTERTIME!!!

What's up Family!

The picture above was taken in Giffith Park on January 3rd of this year. I realize the picture is not of some snowy paradise, but hey, I live in Southern Cali, and this is about as cold as it usually gets.

And you're probably wondering why I'm posting this now, since winter isn't over yet. Well, so much has happened on my capoeira journey these last couple of months and I wanted to share them with you.



And this is me, looking all dignified...

But anyway, before I tell you guys what happened this winter on my path as a capoeirista, I thought I'd take this time to show you guys what a typical weekend Class at Agape and at Griffith Park is like for me. so, here's some pictures of all the bus stops, train stops, etc. I take to go from the city of Carson, to both places:

On Saturdays, I take class at agape...





...And on Sundays, we are here at Griffith Park. I like to get there an hour early or so, and talk to people, exercise a little bit, or just sit & chill. This is a very beautiful park, a small slice of nature in the middle of a huge urban landscape...

And what happens when class gets started? Well first, let's show the montage:

And in case you guys don't like pictures, here's a short video of the sunday class...



The class lasts 3 hours. For the 1st hour, there's a music class where we learn to play the berimbau, the pandeiro, and the other instruments, and we learn new songs.

Then for the other 2 hours, we have movement training, where we warmup with yoga exercises, and learn ginga, negativa, kicks, and other movements, and then we have a small Roda at the end of class, where we put it all together.

I love this class. We're there outside, Hot or cold, rain or shine, etc.

I beleive capoeira belongs outside, with different people, and animals, feeding you energy. It makes me so happy when I see families, couples children, etc. watching us, and when people come up to talk to us about what we're doing...

Sometimes my knee, hip, or one of my ankles sometimes hurts like hell, or my left pinkie from holding the berimbau. But that's O.K., because none of those are injuries, that's just my weakness leaving my body. Even when it takes 3 or days to do so...

Now, in the month of December, just a couple of weeks before Christmas, we had a special class. on this class, charles took me and another classmate up to his personal training area, where he trains by himself. I'm not gonna tell you where it is, because this area is sacred to him.

And here is the other man who was there with us. His name is ASHANTI SELASSIE.

He's an awesome reggae singer, and Capoeira Angola instructor who was here in L.A. to do some recording, and visit his friend AMINA MBANDE, who came out to the park for the class.

Here's a short video of their first class at the park. It was actually Amina's first class ever in Capoeira Angola.

I posted it from her facebook page, I hope she doesn't mind...

Mi first classHe's so patient with meAshanti Selassie

Posted by Amina Mbande on Monday, December 14, 2015

And here's some of Ashanti's teaching skills, and musical talents...







And this is a video of Ashanti teaching Capoeira Angola in an Afrikan Martial Arts workshop with a man I've been wanting to meet and learn from, BALOGUN OJETADE

The Combat Capoeira Workshop!

#CapoeiraAngola#EgbeOgun#EONope, there is no new art called "Combat Capoeira." The workshop was an examination of Capoeira Angola and an affirmation of its effectiveness and the fact that it is, indeed, an AFRIKAN martial art! Ase O

Posted by Balogun Ojetade on Wednesday, July 22, 2015

I'll let this video tell you who he is.



If you want to know more about him, then click HERE to go to his website, and click HERE to go to his facebook page.
He also has a blog called THE CHRONICLES OF HARRIET.

Ashanti and Amina, it was a pleasure meeting and training with you, and I'm sure I speak for Charles and Tope as well when I say, if you two are in town again, come on down to the park!

Now this happened a couple of weeks before winter, I admit, but Ashanti and Amina are great people, and I wanted to tell you about them.







Now, Christmas came and went, and the day after christmas, CAPOEIRA BRASIL DTLA Had a monthly Roda at their school in DTLA, and I went there.

Here are some pictures I took at the Roda:

I like Capoeira Brasil. Everyone I meet from that group always have a great vibe about them. The instructor from the DTLA branch is SARACURU, and every so often he holds a Open Roda at the DTLA Artwalk, usually around April or May.



He, along with another capoeirista named Muito Tempo, also helps to organize an awesome event called THE CAPOEIRA EXCHANGE. More about that later...

Anyway, the Roda was AWESOME. It was great seeing familiar faces, like my friends BAMBOO and MIMI, the first two people I met from Capoeira Brasil, and meeting new people like Barbara "Tataruga" Ritchie. Now as you know, I'm an Angoleiro, and this was a Capoeira Contemporanea Roda, so there were things I was a little nervous about, like the custom of "buying the game", that they do. But whenever I got a little nervous, there was always somebody to reassure me, help me out with some of the songs, and play with me.

One guy in particular, I don't know his name, but he's the one who made this short video about a batizado they had in 2014...




And here's some of us monkeying around after the roda...

Anyway, it was a great afternoon, and I would LOVE to go to one of their Rodas again.







Now the day after that Roda, and after another grueling class at the park, we (Charles & I) went to CAPOEIRA BATUQUE'S end of the year Roda:

As you might remember, Capoeira Batuque is the group that Charles did that play "ZUMBI: BATTLE OF PALMARES" with:

Below, you'll find a video of the Kickstarter Campaign to help make this a larger production:



Oh, and check out this amazing video Jelani made with Contramestre Muito Tempo, both of whom were also in the play...



Click HERE to check out some other videos on Muito Tempo's You Tube Channel.

Anyway, the roda was great, it with a lot of high positive energy, with wonderful people. I didn't play that day because I was EXHAUSTED, but it was fun nontheless.







5 days after that roda, on New Year's day, Came another Roda in Pomona, Hosted by Grupo Jogo de Cintura, headed by Jelani Ticum Lateef.

I admit I did get lost on the way there, but once I got there, the good times started rolling!

Here are a few pictures from the roda:

And of course, for those of you who don't like photos...

Instrutor Arrepiado e Lateef e Chuck

Capoeira Angola Jogo De Cintura New Years Roda, Jan.1, 2016, Pomona, CAInstrutor Arrepiado da Capoeira Batuque Pasadena e Lateef (CAJDC) e Chuck da CapoLock24

Posted by Capoeira Angola Jogo De Cintura on Thursday, January 7, 2016

And Now, I want to introduce you guys to a beautiful soul that I met at this roda.

Guys, this is Aja.

She is an amazing masseuse. You see, I have really bad knees. And throughout my training in Capoeira Angola, this has been a real issue. But now because of her, I see a roadway out of my knee pain. I have had 2 sessions with her so far, and this WONT be the last. Oh, and she's a pretty good Capoeirista as well...

Posted by Jelani Ticum Lateef on Thursday, February 11, 2016

I any of you out there want to know the healing power of massage, I urge you to look her up.

Click HERE to go to her Facebook page, and click HERE to go to her Go fund me campaign



Anyway, it was a beautiful Roda. I wish I could have stayed longer, but it's around 50 miles from Pomona to Carson, and at leats 2 and a half hours on the bus, So I got Charles to take me to L.A. Union Station, which cut my travel time by an hour.

But I hear that Jelani is gonna organize some rodas in the Claremont/Upland area in the near future, and you know I'm gonna be there.

I want to give a big shout out to Jelani, Charles, Contramestre Muito Tempo, Joseph, Issac, Aja, Minyan, and everybody else for sharing your energy, your hospitality, and your love.

Now the day after Jelani's Roda, there was the Roda hosted by the L.A. Branch of CECA at Chuco's Justice Center.
I didn't take any pictures of this particular roda, because I was more interested in actually playing than taking pictures... even though I only got to play once.

Now as I said, this is the L.A. branch of mestre Joao Grande's school. Here's a video of him at his main school in New York:



Mestre João Grande has taught thousands of students at his academy and has staged innumerable Capoeira Angola performances. He has travelled Europe, Brazil, Japan and many parts of the US to teach and perform. In 1995 he received a Doctorate of Humane Letters from Upsala College, East Orange, NJ. In 2001 he was awarded the National Heritage Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts, which is one of the most prestigious awards given to practitioners of traditional arts in the US. Mestre João Grande has also recorded an audio CD and several DVDs featuring himself and his students, as well as other illustrious figures of Capoeira Angola.

Here's a video of him being honored for his 50 years of learning, practicing, teaching, and preserving Capoeira Angola.



Anyway, It was great seeing Uncle James and Nana Gyamfi (I think I just spelled her last name wrong), Jason Byrd, Contramestre Versatil, Issac, and of course, brother Jelani. By the way, Thank you Issac for giving me a ride downtown after the roda.

And also, a big THANK YOU to Uncle James and Nana for the Roda and potluck! I hope I see you guys again soon.





The next day, was what is probably the largest Capoeira event in L.A. so far: The Capoeira exchange!!!



As I was going to this great event, when I was about halfway there... I changed my mind and went to Griffith Park.

You see, It's just not a good Sunday for me anymore unless I go to the park and at least get some training in. It's like going to church for me.

And Charles feels the same way. He came also, and we had a little music lesson, and THEN we went to the exchange.

Here's some pictures I took while I was there:

And once again, for those of you who don't like pictureshere's some Roda Action. Thanks to Mimi Schirm for the videos. She has a You Tube Channel... Click HERE to check it out.





Yes, we saw and played some great games at the exchange, and I hope to go to many more in the future!

Now, fast forward a couple of weeks...

Jan.24th was Charles's birthday, and he, along with my friend and fellow capoeira student Ian Trujillo, decided to celebrate by having a...


Solsinmotion Capoeira Collective Birthday Roda!!!


But the night before, they had a birthday party in downtown L.A.

And yes, even though we had a Roda the next day, we just couldn't wait...

And the next day, there was the roda. It was a small but grand roda. It was nice to see old friends, and meet new ones, like a lady named Selena who learns capoeira at CAPOEIRA BRASIL, and who also has a wonderful blog at SELENAMADDEN.COM.

The pictures below were taken after the roda, because once again, I was more interested in playing than taking pictures...

Anyway, I want to thank Jason Byrd, Roger, Selena, and everybody else who came out to the park and rocked out with us!







And this..., is a roda I missed.

The last Sautrday in January, I heard of a roda that was going on in Downtown L.A., called RODA DE PAZ.

But due to a number of factors, I just missed the roda, but here's some pictures I took after the event:

One of the reasons I missed the roda was because there was a small carnival and concert going on. I didn't stay for the whole thing, but I did take a few pictures...

Well, that's the end of my blog, but it's not the end of winter. I'm sure there are some more places Capoeira will take me...