Bantus Capoeira Singapore

Scene 1: At our last workshop.

The workshops were well-attended as Mestre, Gringo and Rafael showed us the finer points of moving more eloquently around in a roda using their sequences. It was fun because we got to learn more and had our moves tweaked. Of course, the best part was having a roda and trying to apply what we had just learnt and playing with the instructors. But the icing on top of the cake was watching the instructors play and learning from them!

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Scene 2: At the batizado

When playing with the instructors or Mestre during the batizado, we try very hard to impress them ‘coz there are too many cameras clicking away…

  

you could grin away like Jan as you get squashed…

grimace like Curinga as you approach your downfall…

or try to look like Rambo…

Then again, you could collapse into the arms of your instructor or Mestre (a la Austin Powers “Oops I fell over…”)

or hard ground…

You could go…

Oopsy-daisy…

or

SPLAT.

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Scene 3: Fishing 101

Watching a batizado is like watching fishermen at work. There’s more than one way to catch a fish - You could follow Mestre’s example below…

while Peixe is alive and still kicking…or

by surprise as demonstrated by Rafael below.

Either way, try not to let your fish escape!

 Even when it’s struggling like a waterhose out of control!

 Wow! That’s a huge whopper you got there!

Watch out, too, for predatory birds going for your catch (as well as harmless ones…)

 Mestre catching Coruja  Rafael going for Galo

 Pinguim ducking Gringo  Pomba ducking at last!

And other forms of wildlife to contend with…

 Fuinha the opportunist  And the mother of all  battles: Gorilla Bantus vs King Kong!

Thirty-nine of us - adults, teenagers and kids - got “baptized” with our first ranked cordaos this afternoon. 

Congratulations to everyone! Yeah! We are officially capoeiristas!

Of course the big surprise was when three students “trocar de cordao” after getting their first cordaos - Tempeiro, Risadinha and Tocastor. Thank you! Mestre and Claudinho!

 

 

It was the best batizado because it’s our first BANTUS Batizado!

Thank yous also go to Gringo, Shireen, Rafael, Cueca, Coelho, Ligeiro and Perereca for adding your axé to make our big day memorable!