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The Spirit of Capoeira
"I credit capoeira – and the people in my group – with helping me transition out of a rough time in my life when I was in Hawaii."
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By Emily Schmookler
Capoeira was developed by African slaves who were forced to work in the sugar cane plantations of Brazil. It’s a kind of self-defense, and usually practiced to rhythmic music and songs. As far as what it looks like, my instructor, Aniefre Essien, says radio doesn’t do it justice – you just have to see it.
ANIEFRE (on tape)
As far as martial arts is concerned, it may have the grace and fluidity of the kicks of Tai Kwon Doe, but then it has the explosion of gymnastics and the rhythm of West African dance. But its like none of those things either.
EMILY
Two people playing capoeira is a whirlwind of creative movement – cartwheels, graceful kicks, hand-stands and more. It’s also a strategic mental game – you learn to be aware of how the other person moves in relationship to you.
I started studying capoeira a year and a half ago at the BAKA Cultural Arts Center in East Oakland with the group Raizes do Brasil- that means Roots of Brazil.
I credit capoeira – and the people in my group – with helping me transition out of a rough time in my life when I was in Hawaii. It sounds strange, but paradise was hard on me. In Honolulu, I was going to college full-time, working full-time, and partying full-time. My vision blurred from too many Mai Tai’s. When things fell apart, I had no one to turn to. I needed to get out, return home and get back into the rhythm of life.
Soon after I got back home, a friend of mine invited me to a capoeira class. As soon as I walked in the door of BAKA Cultural Arts center, I felt a grace and a familiar, comfortable presence.
After the first class, my body was so sore, but inside I felt rejuvenated. I had just entered a new phase of growth in my life. With each class, capoeira taught me how to transform my negative experiences into valuable lessons. My instructor, Aniefre Essien, yells and pushes us in class, but he doesn’t just teach movement and music. He wants us to incorporate the concepts of capoeira into our daily lives.
ANIEFRE (on tape)
Capoeira is an expression of life and a struggle for freedom and that struggle can take place in many forms, it can be physical, mental, or spiritual.
EMILY
Aniefre is like an older brother to me. When I listen to him, I can work through my frustrations, or whatever bump I went through earlier that day. Months passed and I started to feel like Raizes Do Brazil was accepting me into their family. As my attendance increase, so did my strength and discipline, and my life started to make more sense. Dance and martial arts have always been a part of my life, and I had always wanted to take capoeira. But the classes were always too pricey. At BAKA, Aneifre wants the classes to be accessible to everyone. He says that’s one of the reasons he teaches in East Oakland.
ANIEFRE (on tape)
I find it ironic that an art that comes from the oppressed and from the impoverished and the have-nots has become this country club thing here, not just in the United States, but also in Brazil.
EMILY
Capoeira was actually illegal in Brazil until 1937. Because it was developed by African slaves and their descendents, Brazilians themselves failed to recognize capoeira as a valid expression of Afro-Brazilian culture. Today, it’s not only recognized, but thriving in Brazil.
My instructor told me that a great capoeira mestre once said – capoeira is like the sun it belongs to whoever sees its rays. I saw this saying come to life when I went to Brazil last year.
I think one of the most memorable moments of my trip was talking with Mestre Ralil – the top dog, the guy who started Raizes Do Brazil. He was both inspirational and humble. He told me that even though I was a beginner, I was still a good capoeirista, and if I keep training, in a year I would be a great capoeirista. That’s when I realized that this was not going to be the last time that I traveled to Brazil.
ANIEFRE (on tape)
But you don’t have to leave the Bay Area to train with some of the best mestres in capoeira. Now you have one of the highest concentrations of capoeira masters outside of Brazil here in the Bay Area. It’s created this opportunity for there to be a cultural exchange.
EMILY
Aniefre says we wear the Raizes do Brazil logo on our T-shirts for a reason because our group is a family of capoeiristas that spans the nation and the world. And he says, now that I’m a part of that family, it’s changed me.
ANIEFRE (on tape)
You came in some what unsure of yourself, somewhat unsure of where you fit within this community, somewhat unaware of your body and now to watch you now within the group there’s an actualization of talents you have, and I won’t talk about it fully in front of you because I don’t want you to get a big head.
EMILY
He doesn’t need to worry about that – for me, capoeria isn’t about showing off, it’s about balance.
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