Sometimes you just gotta get back down

First off, a big thank you to the Comm who did an amazing job handling the logistics and the location for Sunday's roda!

IMHO never had such a big Axe in a while, appreciations to those that came down for the roda/ post-roda, even if it was just a while or just to join up for dinner or just out of curiousity.

Applause to Cantor with his ladainha which would be the root cause for my energia when the angola game kicked in... which brings me to the topic of "What goes up, gets back down. Sometimes its good to get back down to your roots."

Angola - supposedly Capoeira in its raw, unrefined form. Truly a dance masking a fight:



You guys must've seen this hundreds of times and yet again its the one video i'd always 'pause, rewind & play'....'pause, rewind & play'.... A "slow" game of angola ;-)



Can you try to keep 'score' for Mestre Cobra Mensa and Mestre Espirrou marim? :)

And yet, we can see/hear Capoeira ever being evolved to match the times of today. (Check out the sounds of this vid and tell me if you can recognise it.)





Anyway guys, seniors esp....i gotta find time to practise our Maculele :)

Axe!
Morcego

Welcome Tea part Dois

Thank you everyone for making the second welcome tea a great success. I may not have been in the thick of the action led by Morcego but i dare say it looked even more fun (and tiring) for our newcomers than the first. My only regret is that i didn't get to expend all my energy in a roda - which probably explains why i was feeling quite restless today hmm... But thankfully, for those of us who still have pent up axé, there's the monthly roda on Sunday to look forward to ;)

To all the newcomers - welcome to the family :)

Here's to an exciting semester in NUS Capoeira!

ps: join the NUS Capoeira group in FB to see more pictures

Bom Garoto

Just One of Those Random Posts..

Saw a cool video that I thought should be shared here (Yes it's Mestre Youtube again ^^ )
It's a roda feminina, which means a roda with all/mostly female capoeiristas, and the tempo of playing is regional, usually faster with lots of kicks and acrobatics. (And dang those ladies look fierce!) Anyway, hope you like it!

*am still happy from the Welcome Tea energy yesterday haha.. To freshies checking out the blog, just wanna say I'm awed by the participation and enthusiasm last night!

Axe!
Salmao

Open Roda This Sunday @ SMU

Hey Everyone,

We will be having our Open Roda this Sunday at SMU, 5 pm.

We can meet earlier at Bras Basah MRT Station @4.30 pm.

Do come down and experience what a big and open roda is like for the newcomers. Hope to see you
guys there!

~Salve

Here is the map of Bras Basah MRT for people who are not sure.


View Larger Map

Songs - 24.08.2010

Here are the songs we learnt today! Great effort by the new people to sing along! Practice them ya so we can pump more axe for next roda ^^



Zum, zum, zum,
Capoeira mata um!
Zum, zum, zum,
Capoeira mata um!
Onde tem marimbondo
Tem zum, zum, zum
Onde tem marimbondo
Tem zum, zum, zum
O a o a e
Quero vem bater, quero vem cair
O a o a e
Quero vem bater, quero vem cair

Zum, zum, zum,
Capoeira kills one!
Zum, zum, zum,
Capoeira kills one!
Where there is a wasp
There is a zum, zum, zum
Where there is a wasp
There is a zum, zum, zum

Zum, zum, zum, describes both the sound of the berimbau, and the quick movements of the capoeiristas. The chorus responds "where there is a wasp there is a zum, zum, zum." In English we might say "where there is smoke there is fire!" Watch out, if you can hear the sound of the berimbau there is probably a capoeirista nearby.
__



Sai sai Catarina
Saia do mar venha ver Idalina
Sai sai Catarina
Saia do mar venha ver venha ver
Sai sai Catarina
Oh Catarina, meu amor
Sai sai Catarina
Saia do mar, saia do mar
Sai sai Catarina

Go, go, Catarina
Go out of the sea and come to see Idalina
Go, go, Catarina
Go out of the sea and come to see, come to see
Go, go, Catarina
Oh Catarina, my love
Go, go, Catarina
Go out of the sea, go out of the sea
Go, go, Catarina

A welcome tea and a farewell roda

For those who missed it, here are some pics of the axé-pumping roda at the end of Thursday's Welcome Tea.

A big thank you to Alif and Aisha for coming down to help out and share some inspiring words about Capoeira. Thanks also goes out to our very own NUS senior who has just graduated - Bryan - for helping with the groundmoves station. Last but not least, thank you Gabriel for taking the cool shots that are posted above. We're grateful for all of your support :)

Round 2 is gonna be held this coming Thursday 26th Aug, so for those who couldn't make it, you have one more chance to discover Capoeira!

On another note, on behalf of NUS Capoeira I'd like to wish Angeline all the best for her exchange in S.Korea. Who knows, maybe you'll come back with your kicks leveled up after spending 4 months in Taekwondo land :P

Hope you enjoyed your farewell roda. To bring back the (good) memories, we dedicate this song for you:

Adeus, and boa viagem Rosa!

-Bom Garoto

Let's learn a new song!

It's a pretty cool song I came across when browsing around, and I think it's gonna pump up some axe into the NUS roda =D You MUST listen to it. Yeap, you must. Go on, I know you want to ;p

The chorus just goes 'Nego nego nego nego!' which means, 'Give it give it give it give it (to him)!'



You can see the lyrics on the youtube video (karaokeira, anyone? ). Thing is I'm still looking for the full meaning. Meanwhile, enjoy!

Salmao

Songs - 20.08.2010

Heya everyone! Thanks a lot for being such a good sport during the song session just now =D

Right, here are the lyrics to the songs we learnt today, specially for those who requested (Love your enthusiasm!! ;p ) and I put the youtube videos below. For those who want the mp3.. I see some of your email addresses from the capoeira gmail so I'll take the liberty to send the songs. Drop us an email requesting the songs if you did not send us an email previously =)

Enjoy!

Oi sim sim sim, Oi não não não
Oi sim sim sim, Oi não não não
Oi não não não, Oi sim sim sim
Oi sim sim sim, Oi não não não
Mas hoje tem, amanha não
Mas hoje tem, amanha não
Oi sim sim sim, Oi não não não
Mas hoje tem, amanha não
Olha a pisada de Lampião
Oi sim sim sim, Oi não não não

Oh yes yes yes, oh no no no
Oh yes yes yes, oh no no no
Oh yes yes yes, oh no no no
Oh yes yes yes, oh no no no
Today you have it, tomorrow you don't
Today you have it, tomorrow you don't
Oh yes yes yes, oh no no no
Today you have it, tomorrow you don't
Look at the footprints of Lampião
Oh yes yes yes, oh no no no
___

A hora é essa, a hora é essa
A hora é essa, a hora é essa
Berimbau tocou
na capoeira
Berimbau tocou
eu vou Jogar
Berimbau tocou
na capoeira
Berimbau tocou
eu vou Jogar
__
Bem-te-vi vôou, vôou
Bem-te-vi vôou, vôou
Deixa voar
Lá lauê lauê lauê lauê
Lá lauê lauê lauê lauê
Que som o que arte é essa
de luta e brincadeira
Que roda maravilhosa é essa
é o Zambiacongo
Em cada som, em cada toque
em cada ginga, tem um estilo de jogo
Em cada som, em cada toque
em cada ginga, tem um estilo de jogo
Lauê lauê lá...
Lá lauê lauê lauê lauê

Bem-te-vi flew, flew
Bem-te-vi flew, flew
Let it fly
Lá lauê lauê lauê lauê
Lá lauê lauê lauê lauê
What a sound, what art is this
of fighting and playing
What a beautiful roda is this
it's Zambiacongo
In every sound, in every beat
in every ginga, it has a style of playing
In every sound, in every beat
in every ginga, it has a style of playing
Lauê lauê lá...
Lá lauê lauê lauê lauê
__







Axe!
Salmao

19/10/2010, Thursday Training and Welcome Tea

Dear Capoeiristas, seniors and Freshman,

We will be having our Official Capoeira Welcome Tea this Thursday 7pm, @ Yusof Ishak House Amphitheatre so do come down and join us.

Bring your friends and yourself down, wear something comfortable which you can move around in. Don't forget to bring your water bottles to keep hydrated cause we are going to sweat it all out.

Last but not least prepare to have fun and experience a unique martial art that is Capoeira, have an open mind and you will enjoy yourself.

See you guys this THURSDAY!

~Salve
Kelvin

T-shirts

Ok I think some of you must have heard by now that I'll be bringing down the t-shirts for sale tomorrow. Basically if you want the t-shirt just give me your size via SMS 94310313 and pass Ken the moolah,$16 tomorrow. I should be at NUS High early. So let me know if you want them.

Brian

Tuesday 10 August 2010 Training

Hi Capoeiristas & Freshmen,

Do take note that training this Tuesday, 10/8/2010 will be held at SMU, at their CCA ROOM at 7.30pm.

If you are travelling by MRT can drop at Bras Basah MRT Circle Line, walk into SMU the CCA room is near the ATMs and Settlers Cafe@ SMU.

It will be a workshop conducted by James and his brother.

This will be a good chance for us all to mix with the ZC family, soak in the Axe, and get charged for the new semester in NUS right before our Welcome Tea on Thursday.
It's also a chance for us to grab more people to come down for our Welcome Tea on Thursday.

(If there's anyone who wants to travel down together from NUS, do contact me as I have a class that ends at 6) <- Arnold Leong

~Salve!
Kelvin

Every Song Has An Agenda (part 2)

*read the part 1 written by a senior here*

Well, I'm thinking that our interest in capoeira songs is kinda high now thanks to ZC camp, and the excitement of new semester and new members, so what better time to learn a bit more about songs! We talked a bit about music last training, and I agree that singing and leading in the roda can't be a 'forced' thing..

But! This post is not written to persuade people to sing, but more to understand what some common songs are all about. Thing is, songs are very much part of capoeira.. They are used to comment on the players' actions in the roda (though, confession, at this stage I don't even take note what song is being sung when I'm busy evading kicks huhu..) , tease, encourage, praise, even teach moral values. Yeah, we won't be able to really delve much into their subtleties and wittiness like a Brazilian can, but still I'm convinced that knowledge about songs and their context will only make our capoeira journey richer!

Ieeeeeeeeeeeee.......
Well, not a song.. but this 'cry' before the ladainha (solo littany) is sung calls the people to attention and signals that the roda is starting. At the very end of the roda, "Ieeeee.." is again sung to close it.

Eu ja vivo enjuado
I think the most popular version amongst NUS people is the Carolina Soares one.. The whole song itself tells of a rather funny story of a guy who is tired of living on earth and wants to move to the moon.. An interpretation of this song could be that nothing comes easy without hard work (including handstand.. shucks..) A bit of its lyrics:
Quem e dono nao ciuma, e quem nao e vai ciuma (haha!)
(He who is the master of his land doesn't envy, and he who is not envies)
What is the 'haha!' doing there, I'm not sure, but it could be some sort of mocking to the guy who is feeling envious, perhaps because he does not work as hard and is not as skillled (my 2 cents worth..)

Oi sim sim sim, oi nao nao nao
(Oi yes yes yes, oi no no no)
There's one explanation in the 'Every Song Has An Agenda' part 1 (go check it out!), but another interpretation I found: "yes can mean no, and no can mean yes. A simple play of words that describe the unpredictable nature of capoeira." Now that's pretty cool for such a simple song =)

Zum, zum, zum, capoeira mata um
(Zum, zum, zum capoeira killed one)
'Zum zum' refers to the sound of the berimbau, and the 'killing' part.. an interpretation is that the song reminds capoeiristas they should be aware of the potential power of attacks and take them seriously. Usually, the song is used when the roda is too 'tame' (for lack of a better word..) and the mestre would like to see some action. The chorus goes: 'Onde tem marimbondo,tem zum zum zum' - when there is a wasp there is zum, zum, zum.. Apparently this means something like 'when there's smoke there's fire', which can be extrapolated to mean 'When there's the zum zum zum of the berimbau, you know there's a capoeirista nearby.'

Dona Maria Como Vai Voce
'Dona Maria' could refer to Saint Mary, but apparently it can also refer to 'Yamanya' - a female spirit of the ocean, rivers and moon. Part of the lyrics "Joga bonito que eu quero ver" - play beautifully because I want to watch.. Is this used to remind capoeiristas to play clean and beautiful? One thing about this song.. found out from a non-ZC capoeirista that it should be sung when there's a woman playing in the roda.. Well, we don't abide by that in NUS capoeira, but since then till now I can't help smiling if this song is sung when some buff-looking guys are playing! ;p

Menino Chorou (Nyeh nyeh nyeh!)
Cry little boy! Nyeh nyeh nyeh! Kinda obvious that the song is used to make fun of one of the players.. especially when he looks frustrated and is losing his calm..

Parana e
A lot is written about this song.. The lyric goes: 'Vous dizer a minha mulher, parana.. Capoeira que venceu, parana...' - I will tell my wife, parana, that capoeira won, parana.. Apparently, in the 1864 war between Brazil and Paraguay, a lot of capoeiristas took part.. Thing is, since the 'whites' did not want to be in the front line of war, they promised that slaves who fight and returned would be given their liberty.. and they fought and survived because capoeira gave them an advantage (at that time war did not depend so much on guns as hand-to-hand combat..) Read the whole article here
__
Well that's it for now.. there's still a wealth of funny and meaningful songs I've came across in my browsing around to dig these stuff up. (one song tells of a man who kills a woman.. because the woman wants to go home and the man wants to continue playing capoeira.. wth??!!) Guess I'll compile the URLs for the resources and put it up here.

Para ser bom capoeira
Nao basta ter aptidao
Tem se jogar com a alma
E cantar com o coraçao

(To be a good capoeirista
Aptitude is not enough
One has to play with the soul
And sing with the heart)
- lyrics from capoeira e beleza

Salmao

Sale of T-shirts

Date: 030810
Time: 1900
Location: The Cupboard
Primary Objective: Exchange $15 for 1 x t-shirt