Capoeira

I've been involved in martial arts for as long as I can remember.

I've studied different styles from different parts of the world, from Capoeira to Eastern arts to boxing to kickboxing.

But the time and the system that I've spent the most time in is Chian Ryu.

More specifically, there was a group in Central Florida that left a lasting impression on me.

A half-eaten salami sandwich was the key to catching the thieves of a diamond heist in 2003, located in which Belgian city? A half-eaten salami sandwich was the key to catching the thieves of a diamond heist in 2003, located in which Belgian city? [upbeat music] Question two, dance styles.

Capoeira was a martial arts training practice disguised as dance, and originated in what country? Capoeira was a martial arts training practice disguised as dance, and originated in what country? And if you're not sure about my pronunciation, it might help for you to look at the show notes where I have copied this question.

[upbeat music] Question three, Tony winners.

Which actress who has appeared in Carousel and Ragtime holds the record for the most acting wins at the Tonys? Which actress who has appeared in Carousel and Ragtime holds the record for the most acting wins at the Tonys? [upbeat music] Question four, news networks.

Most of the stolen diamonds were never recovered.

Answer two.

Capoeira is the martial art that combines fighting techniques with dance, acrobats, and music, and it originated in [bell dinging] Brazil.

It developed among enslaved Africans and became an important symbol of resistance in Afro-Brazilian culture.

So you got Brazil versus Detroit.

Yeah, Capoeira.

Tadarius.

He does pro wrestling now.

African drumming traditions all together, along with different dancing traditions.

So like, um, there was, there was, uh, uh, um, indigenous dancing traditions, black dancing traditions, some stuff that kind of looked like Capoeira, which I was really excited about, like, and all of that coming together as a statement of like what it means to be black in Canada.

Like, wow, wow, wow.

Like so, so incredible.

I know a little bit who you are and we have some connections.

And I was like, let's ask him just for a chat and how he's been in Capoeira.

So here we are.

Yeah, thank you for the opportunity to talk a bit of my capoeira journey, my point of view about this art, about what we do.

And my best friend, he was doing capoeira in my school.

Okay.

I said, let's do Capoeira.

It was free.

Like, it's all pretty similar, but...

While breaking had this pretty definitive start in the Bronx during the late 70s, Capoeira's history is a little hazier.

So what we do know for sure is that Capoeira was developed in Brazil by enslaved Africans sometime between the 1500s and the 1800s.

And as you might remember, Brazil was a colony of Portugal for that 300-year span.

And during that time, an estimated 4 million enslaved people were brought across the Atlantic to Brazil.

The majority were forced to work in gold and diamond mines or in the country's vast sugarcane fields.

But some managed to escape inland and hide out in the rainforests.

And some historians think that that's where Capoeira got its start.