Capoeira Workshop in Asheville, NC
Professor Girino Video (.avi format / appx. 3mb)
Jogo de dentro! I mean, Whoa! Professor Girino? applies a cabeça (headbutt) at precisely the right moment.
I attended a Capoeira workshop in Asheville yesterday, hosted by Angel and Gustavo of Grupo Volta ao Mundo. It was an amazing event. But, my day started with the drive up from Chapel Hill. It was a clear day and pleasant drive.
Here I am at the Eastern Continental Divide (3,000 ft). I know, I'm a tool for taking this picture of myself. The trip up was really a lot of fun. I enjoy road trippin by myself. It gives me a chance to think.
I finally pulled into Asheville after only 3 hrs. Thats fast!
The workshop started almost on time. Thats strange for a Capoeira workshop. I must say, I really enjoyed Mestre Rony. What a nice guy, with a genuinely nice attitude. His teachings were so clear and concise. And his English was impeccable. He gave a 2 - 3 hr workshop, where he split the class up according to experience. This was a nice touch, not commonly found in a workshop. Between him and Professor Girino (sp?), both groups were guided and the couple hours went by very smoothly. I however, did not make it through the entire workshop. About 2/3 of the way through, I developed blood blisters on my feet. These were caused by a lack of practice (Oh how I want to practice SOO bad). They didn't stop me however. But, when one of them broke and I bled on the floor (yuk!), I was forced to treat them. This made me miss out on the rest of the workshop. That sucked!!!
Here is Mestre Rony explaining to the group the importance of training regularly (An issue I have been having for quite sometime). Mestre Rony addressed many topics of Capoeira that I have been struggling with, for example; group crossover (I made that term up). Is it ok to train with another group? No, but if its the only training you got, then yes. I was just coming to this realization when he affirmed it for me. Muito obrigado mestre.
This was a great game. Megan is a sweet girl, and a good angoleira. Here she is deflecting a chapa de ch㯮 Oi!!!
I didn't get to play much in the roda. My two attempts failed miserably, due to my feet bleeding profusely all over the floor. At one point, the roda actually stopped so someone could clean it up. How embarrasing!
I'm a bleeder. Apparently, bleeding on the floor is my defense mechanism. When I become frightened, blood actually pours out of my feet. Then, if my opponent pursues me, he will slip on my blood and fall. Now I'm no Peter Parker and I don't spin web out of my wrist, but doesn't that qualify me as a super hero? Or maybe just a sidekick?...
Note to self: Buy some shoes.
The best place to be in the whole world, O pe do berimbau (The foot of the roda). On berimbaus: Professor Girino, Mestre Rony and Mestre Fran of Grupo Maculele.
I am so blessed to have these guys as my friends and family. Ax頭eu camaras!
"The warden threw a party in the county jail..."
This photo doesn't show it much, but by this time, the snow flurries had become more consistent.
After the workshop and roda, we were all pretty hungry. We decided we should eat together. But my friends had to get back to Boone, and soon. It was dumping snow up there like it was nobody's business and the longer they waited, the worse it got. Somehow, we decided that we could eat together, but it had to be on the way back. We came to this quaint pizza place outside of Asheville. The food was bella! After we ate, conversed, ate some more and then conversed a little bit longer, it was time to go. We said our goodbyes, and they headed North into the storm and I headed East towards the rising full moon. It was an easy drive and I made it back in 2 hrs 45 mns. Yay for downhill momentum!
