jogo log

I am currently in Austin, TX. My girlfriend lives here, and I’ve been staying at her place for the past month. There’s a nice capoeira angola group here, headed by a teacher called John, whose teacher was Mestre Jurandir.

I’ve been told for years by teachers to be careful when in other people’s rodas. They say not to reveal all of what you can do, to play defensively, until you have a good idea of what they’re about. I have found this advice to be largely helpful, despite going against it a few times.

One of the reasons for this is that capoeira players really believe that the method their teacher plays is the ‘correct way’ - something I believed when I started playing Regional three years ago and still somewhat believe now, under Mestre Jogo de Dentro. There is no true way of playing capoeira, however. You find this out as you play with a variety of important mestres, seeing them play, and coming to realize that their styles are just one facet of capoeira.

This, I believe, makes the game all the more fascinating.

That said, one of the best ways to absorb some of the ways different capoeira mestres play is through YouTube. I’ve had amazing results just looking around, watching mestres such as Moraes, Cobra Mansa, and Joao Grande on the site. Do some searches, you’ll see.

See you guys soon– I’ll try updating more often.