domingo, 23 de outubro de 2011
segunda-feira, 10 de outubro de 2011
FICA VIVO - Stay Alive
Fica Vivo
The problem
If you want to see the results of the Fica Vivo program, run by the Minas Gerais government, set up for the kids at risk, then you need to wait a while. Wait for the time it takes for a kid to grow up and become an adult in a world which might treat them as expendable, as a tool. Wait for these kids. They are growing up in an environment where instability, domestic violence, and drug use have made the right decisions about who and where to hang out almost impossible.
ミナスジェラス政府による、リスクの中子供を育てる取組みの中からFicaVivoの例をみるのには、少し時間をかけた方がいい。使い捨ての割り箸の様に子供を扱う世界で子供が大人へとなるのにも時間が必要だ。子供たちをまってみよう。彼らはinstability、家庭内暴力という環境の中で育ち、そして薬物の使用が何処で、誰と過ごすかの正しい選択を奪っていく。
The rate of homicides is highest amongst kids from as young as 12, to 24. Death rates go up during teenage years because risk-taking behaviour naturally increases. Think of teenagers experimenting with drugs, driving too fast as soon as they pass their tests, retreating to their rooms because they cant trust themselves around people . The teenage brain undergoes changes during this stage of development that actually make it harder for teenagers to judge whether a particular course of action is risky.
12歳から24歳までの子供から若者の死亡率が最も高い。10代の死亡率が上昇しているのは、危険な行動に走るためだ。そう、１０代は薬物を試してみたり、運転免許を取れば自動車を思い切りのスピードで運転したり、周囲の誰も信じられなくなり部屋に引きこもってみたるするものだ。10代の脳はこの成長段階で変化を経験し、実際にどの行動が危険であるかの判断を狂わせている。
The exposure to drugs, alcoholism, and violence of a favela, plus the natural tendency of kids to make bad choices explains high rate of deaths amongst young Brazilians. This is a gut-wrenching, sickening waste, and the government along with educators and capoeiristas is trying to do something. That something is the Fica Vivo project.
若いブラジル人の間の死亡率の高さは、スラム街の薬物アルコールと暴力の中に身を置き、さらに子供たちの自然な傾向が悪い判断をしてしまうためだ。実に悲しいことだ。そこで、政府は教育者とカポエリスタとともに、何かをしようとしている。それこそが、Fica VIvoプロジェクトだ。
The program
The project involves many different cultural and sporting activities, from graffitti, to crafts, to soccor, and capoeira. While I was in Brazil I got to play capoeira and do workshops with many of the kids from this social project. I spoke with Professor Guinho, from Bantus Capoeira, about the work he does with them. Bolinha was kind enough to translate into Portuguese.
このプロジェクトは様々な文化的で、スポーツ的な活動、クラフト、サッカーそしてカポエイラ。ブラジル滞在中に社会プロジェクトからたくさんの子供たちとカポエイラとそのワークショップを一緒に行った。グループバントスカポエイラのプロジェッサー、ギーニョ氏と彼らが行っている活動について話した。ボリーニャがとても親切にポルトガル語を通訳してくれた。
Personal investment
I started off by asking him about his own experience with capoeira and the Bantus group. He told me that he had been playing capoeira, specifically the Angolan style for six years. He said that he would not join any other group, that he really found the philosophy of the Bantus group very appealing and meaningful to him. This struck me as very important.
When I was at university I was involved in a couple of week-long residential projects for kids at risk who had been referred from social services. Together with university students and adults who had physical or learning disabilities, we formed teams and did various activities such as put on a play or build a Chinese dragon. The experience was very powerful and worked well. However, I sometimes thought it would be more effective if the activity involved something that the volunteers were more personally invested in. Not just to ‘do something good for others’, valuable as this is, but to share an activity, a pursuit that is already very meaningful. It turns out that this investment makes all the difference.
sábado, 20 de agosto de 2011
First thoughts on the trip to Brasil
I got back from Brasil last night, feeling both tired and energized. It has been a while since I felt so excited about a place, but Brasil did get to me.
Before I left, Abelinha told me to "enjoy every minute" and that Brasil was a "magical place". She was right, there was always something that was slightly in-your-face about this country. Streets are colourful, people are noisy, demonstrative, the food was decadent and filling, and the capeoristas of all levels were stunning and inspiring. I also got into the sultry forro nightclubs and the samba after the roda.
On the people...
The thing that really made this trip special was the energy and vitality of the people in Bantus Capoeira. Playing capoeira with kids and mestres in the favela made me realise that capoeira is something universal and without boundaries. The kids helped me to sing in Portuguese and workshops taught me more moves for Angola, expression, and sets of moves. But more than that, they welcomed us to the group, tried hard to communicate in a mixture of Portuguese, English, translations through Bolinha, and of course, our bodies in the roda. Special memories are of kids called Coelho (The Rabbit), Lobelinha (female wolf), Nike Costello and Julia (two very cool teenagers who looked after me) and a kid called Porky. I even took an apelido, which was not something I expected to do at my batizado last year. I am now Pimenta or Pimentinha (little Pimenta) on account of my red cheeks, and as Cacapa said, what comes out of my mouth...
On the capoeira....
I felt that I was doing my best to keep up with people who were all much better than me, even the kids. Going into the roda was harder than I thought but I did get in and do my best. I learnt that I need to keep my eye on the other person, keep my guard up, and keep my legs straight for kicks. Some practice sessions in the Sourisso do Legarto hostel with Bolinha and Cacapa were really good for helping me understand about how to balance and shift my weight. I got better at singing - the rhythms are easy, the words are hard. I still feel more at home with movement than instruments. But getting more comfortable with singing is a good first step.
On Fica Vivo...
Bantus Capoeira works with an organization called Fica Vivo, "Stay Alive", that enables young kids in the favelas to grow up safely and to learn skills for adult life through capoeira. I interviewed one of the teachers, Guinho, and was very moved by his account of the work with young people. More on this later!
On Bantus Capoeira Japan
We have our batizado in November and I will meet Mestre Pintor again, and hopefully get my next cord. Last year I didn't play that big a role in the run up to the batizado because I was in the UK, but this year I want to contribute more axe. I am looking forward to my first class on Wednesday!
Before I left, Abelinha told me to "enjoy every minute" and that Brasil was a "magical place". She was right, there was always something that was slightly in-your-face about this country. Streets are colourful, people are noisy, demonstrative, the food was decadent and filling, and the capeoristas of all levels were stunning and inspiring. I also got into the sultry forro nightclubs and the samba after the roda.
On the people...
The thing that really made this trip special was the energy and vitality of the people in Bantus Capoeira. Playing capoeira with kids and mestres in the favela made me realise that capoeira is something universal and without boundaries. The kids helped me to sing in Portuguese and workshops taught me more moves for Angola, expression, and sets of moves. But more than that, they welcomed us to the group, tried hard to communicate in a mixture of Portuguese, English, translations through Bolinha, and of course, our bodies in the roda. Special memories are of kids called Coelho (The Rabbit), Lobelinha (female wolf), Nike Costello and Julia (two very cool teenagers who looked after me) and a kid called Porky. I even took an apelido, which was not something I expected to do at my batizado last year. I am now Pimenta or Pimentinha (little Pimenta) on account of my red cheeks, and as Cacapa said, what comes out of my mouth...
On the capoeira....
I felt that I was doing my best to keep up with people who were all much better than me, even the kids. Going into the roda was harder than I thought but I did get in and do my best. I learnt that I need to keep my eye on the other person, keep my guard up, and keep my legs straight for kicks. Some practice sessions in the Sourisso do Legarto hostel with Bolinha and Cacapa were really good for helping me understand about how to balance and shift my weight. I got better at singing - the rhythms are easy, the words are hard. I still feel more at home with movement than instruments. But getting more comfortable with singing is a good first step.
On Fica Vivo...
Bantus Capoeira works with an organization called Fica Vivo, "Stay Alive", that enables young kids in the favelas to grow up safely and to learn skills for adult life through capoeira. I interviewed one of the teachers, Guinho, and was very moved by his account of the work with young people. More on this later!
On Bantus Capoeira Japan
We have our batizado in November and I will meet Mestre Pintor again, and hopefully get my next cord. Last year I didn't play that big a role in the run up to the batizado because I was in the UK, but this year I want to contribute more axe. I am looking forward to my first class on Wednesday!
domingo, 17 de julho de 2011
最初日本語で、ポースト
これは、初めて日本語で、ブログをします。
今日は、本当に楽しかった日帰りょうこをしました。バンツカポエイラの仲間とめんばのともだちあわせて、おもしろいビーチローダをしました。
時に、アクロの先立ちとか、そくてんとか。さっかがあて、砂もやわらかった、やりむずかしかた！
でも、転ぶときは、いたくなかった！
料理もおいしかった！敦さん、とカフネさん、のをかげで、チキン、チース、ヤキバナナ、の食事をしました。
改善点は歌う！まだ、勉強不足て、私はまだ、へたくそです。メロヂは大丈夫、でも、言葉を勉強にならなきや！
最近、毎週、北海道にいたりきたり、出張で。すごく、疲れをとって、今日は、バランスをもどりました。体を動貸して、気持ちいい！
みんなさん、お疲れ！！
Today, a group of Bantus and their friends went to Misakiguchi. It was a lot of fun and I especially enjoyed the beach roda.
The food was awesome, thanks to Atsushi and Cafune. Great chicken, cheese, and squidgy banana!
Doing a roda on the beach was so much fun! The slope did make doing acrobatics even more interesting. At least it didn't hurt when we fell...
One thing that stood out to me is that I still am struggling with the songs. I'm comfortable with the melody, but need to work on words.
Thank you to everyone for a great day. I've been extremely tired with weekend trips to Hokkaido and really needed a break!
今日は、本当に楽しかった日帰りょうこをしました。バンツカポエイラの仲間とめんばのともだちあわせて、おもしろいビーチローダをしました。
時に、アクロの先立ちとか、そくてんとか。さっかがあて、砂もやわらかった、やりむずかしかた！
でも、転ぶときは、いたくなかった！
料理もおいしかった！敦さん、とカフネさん、のをかげで、チキン、チース、ヤキバナナ、の食事をしました。
改善点は歌う！まだ、勉強不足て、私はまだ、へたくそです。メロヂは大丈夫、でも、言葉を勉強にならなきや！
最近、毎週、北海道にいたりきたり、出張で。すごく、疲れをとって、今日は、バランスをもどりました。体を動貸して、気持ちいい！
みんなさん、お疲れ！！
Today, a group of Bantus and their friends went to Misakiguchi. It was a lot of fun and I especially enjoyed the beach roda.
The food was awesome, thanks to Atsushi and Cafune. Great chicken, cheese, and squidgy banana!
Doing a roda on the beach was so much fun! The slope did make doing acrobatics even more interesting. At least it didn't hurt when we fell...
One thing that stood out to me is that I still am struggling with the songs. I'm comfortable with the melody, but need to work on words.
Thank you to everyone for a great day. I've been extremely tired with weekend trips to Hokkaido and really needed a break!
quarta-feira, 22 de junho de 2011
Can PCPing be continued for capoeira?
During the peak condition project diet was by far the easiest part. Sure, weighing and storing and washing up did get to me, but the benefits were that I had a sense of freedom. I didn't worry about how much I was or should be eating. Getting targets for how much veg/carbs/protein for every meal, plus some restrictions like no alcohol, added salt, added sugar - sounds like hell on paper! It was actually kind of liberating. Guess you had to be there to know!
The exercise on the other hand was a moving target. Every week the reps got higher, the exercises meaner, and the final week involved 'supersets' when we did a batch of reps on opposing muscle groups back to back. Throw in some 8-minute abs for those who felt up to it, plus a load of mandatory jump ropes, and you get a few very nice lines on your body. Your muscles that just sit well on your frame. Natural exercises mean integrated sleek muscles. This is what I want to build on and put to good use in capoeira, a natural exercise if ever there was one.
Now the exercise part is up to me and its become easier. If I want to slack off totally within the failure sets of the maintenance progams I can do. I'm not slacking, but failure is coming faster - a sign of a stronger body and better form (I am told). Feel more and more 'on top' of the exercises. Example: I hit my first 1000 jumps in a row, the night I came back from an 8-hour teaching day and a five-hour journey. And it felt relaxing! My skipping has reached the form I was trying for all PCP - like a piston, smooth, steady. There are still breaks but these largely come from a lack of mental focus rather than my lungs being week.
The areas of my body that I will probably always be working on are
1. Back flexibility and strength
2. Flexibility around hips and groin. I can't do a lot of exercises and stretches other people can. I need to do more of the simple stretches at home. I guess I think 'sitting down with your legs like this is too simple to be worth practising' - but I need it.
3. My brain! My mind rushes through moves when there should be quiet focus and a pause. And if I 'try to relax' it never works. I think just practice of the moves is enough. And start meditating more. Again, you'd think that just sitting still and doing nothing for five minutes would be easy, eh!
Looking forward to class tomorrow.
The exercise on the other hand was a moving target. Every week the reps got higher, the exercises meaner, and the final week involved 'supersets' when we did a batch of reps on opposing muscle groups back to back. Throw in some 8-minute abs for those who felt up to it, plus a load of mandatory jump ropes, and you get a few very nice lines on your body. Your muscles that just sit well on your frame. Natural exercises mean integrated sleek muscles. This is what I want to build on and put to good use in capoeira, a natural exercise if ever there was one.
Now the exercise part is up to me and its become easier. If I want to slack off totally within the failure sets of the maintenance progams I can do. I'm not slacking, but failure is coming faster - a sign of a stronger body and better form (I am told). Feel more and more 'on top' of the exercises. Example: I hit my first 1000 jumps in a row, the night I came back from an 8-hour teaching day and a five-hour journey. And it felt relaxing! My skipping has reached the form I was trying for all PCP - like a piston, smooth, steady. There are still breaks but these largely come from a lack of mental focus rather than my lungs being week.
The areas of my body that I will probably always be working on are
1. Back flexibility and strength
2. Flexibility around hips and groin. I can't do a lot of exercises and stretches other people can. I need to do more of the simple stretches at home. I guess I think 'sitting down with your legs like this is too simple to be worth practising' - but I need it.
3. My brain! My mind rushes through moves when there should be quiet focus and a pause. And if I 'try to relax' it never works. I think just practice of the moves is enough. And start meditating more. Again, you'd think that just sitting still and doing nothing for five minutes would be easy, eh!
Looking forward to class tomorrow.
segunda-feira, 20 de junho de 2011
PCP II - Skipping turns Brazilian in the park
So this evening I was verrrry tired from a business trip to Hokkaido at the weekend, then a late class. I thought I would just do some jumps and maybe 8-minute abs, a strangely addictive workout program. Instead, I decided to do the 'short maintenance workout' that I received on completion of the PCP program. Only with the addition of a bit of jinga, amarda, and martelo kicks.
One of issues I faced in the early days of PCPing was feeling self conscious about exercising, specifically jump roping or as my friend Hayden insists, 'skipping'. You can't avoid doing it in front of someone as you have to go outside. I got to skip early in the morning and strike up conversations with dog walkers, people sweeping the park, my neighbours, and it was lovely. I kept skipping outside, including one memorable morning on the platform at Kozu station. But I am still a bit self conscious as it just isn't something anyone does! Odd that if you go to a gym then you do exercise in front of everyone and you do see people checking each other out....Oh, to be a gay man!
This evening I did my jumps and then played around with some capoeira moves. The gravel in the park makes it unsuitable for any acro or 'upside-down' time, but the few moves were enough to break the ice. I need to be doing this much more if I'm going to get higher kicks and more control. Looking forward to the next class on Thursday and seeing what Cacapa has for us!
One of issues I faced in the early days of PCPing was feeling self conscious about exercising, specifically jump roping or as my friend Hayden insists, 'skipping'. You can't avoid doing it in front of someone as you have to go outside. I got to skip early in the morning and strike up conversations with dog walkers, people sweeping the park, my neighbours, and it was lovely. I kept skipping outside, including one memorable morning on the platform at Kozu station. But I am still a bit self conscious as it just isn't something anyone does! Odd that if you go to a gym then you do exercise in front of everyone and you do see people checking each other out....Oh, to be a gay man!
This evening I did my jumps and then played around with some capoeira moves. The gravel in the park makes it unsuitable for any acro or 'upside-down' time, but the few moves were enough to break the ice. I need to be doing this much more if I'm going to get higher kicks and more control. Looking forward to the next class on Thursday and seeing what Cacapa has for us!
quarta-feira, 15 de junho de 2011
Eu Sou Bantus Capoeira - Bantus anthem
Cacapa pointed me to this song first of all. It's the anthem of Bantus Capoeira.
I've heard it plenty of times and joined in with chorus. Now, I know the meaning of the words, I really want to sing it ALL.
Querido mestre sua licença me dá
Pra poder falar do grupo
Pra poder me expressar
It’s here inside, that I like to train
I have good friends here, energy to play
Eu sou Bantus Capoeira
Subindo o morro descendo a ladeira
Eu sou Bantus Capoeira
I am Bantus Capoeira
Going up the mountains, descending the hills
E Bantus Capoeira Bantus Capoeira
Eu sou Bantus Capoeira
Subindo o morro descendo a ladeira
Its an easy tune, but I can't work out how to sing some of the words... I'll have to just listen and sing along a few times. Portuguese feels easier to copy than to read as the pronunciation is pretty way out.
I really like the opening:
Querido mestre sua licença me dá
Pra poder falar do grupo
Pra poder me expressar
There's respect for the mestre, as well as a celebration of friendship and individuality in just three lines.
I didn't know 'falar' meant 'speak', and it seems odd as there isn't any 'talking' in capoeira in the literal sense, but a roda is one giant conversation; the individuals playing, the mestre, the music, and the clapping and singing capoeiristas forming the roda.
Here it is again!
Eu Sou Bantus Capoeira
I've heard it plenty of times and joined in with chorus. Now, I know the meaning of the words, I really want to sing it ALL.
Querido mestre sua licença me dá
Pra poder falar do grupo
Pra poder me expressar
Dear master, give me permission
To speak in front of the group
To express myself
E aqui dentro que eu gosto de treina
Tenho aqui bons companheiros energia pra jogar
Tenho aqui bons companheiros energia pra jogar
It’s here inside, that I like to train
I have good friends here, energy to play
Eu sou Bantus Capoeira
Subindo o morro descendo a ladeira
Eu sou Bantus Capoeira
I am Bantus Capoeira
Going up the mountains, descending the hills
E Bantus Capoeira Bantus Capoeira
Eu sou Bantus Capoeira
Subindo o morro descendo a ladeira
Its an easy tune, but I can't work out how to sing some of the words... I'll have to just listen and sing along a few times. Portuguese feels easier to copy than to read as the pronunciation is pretty way out.
I really like the opening:
Querido mestre sua licença me dá
Pra poder falar do grupo
Pra poder me expressar
There's respect for the mestre, as well as a celebration of friendship and individuality in just three lines.
I didn't know 'falar' meant 'speak', and it seems odd as there isn't any 'talking' in capoeira in the literal sense, but a roda is one giant conversation; the individuals playing, the mestre, the music, and the clapping and singing capoeiristas forming the roda.
Here it is again!
Eu Sou Bantus Capoeira
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