Archive for the 'Batizado' Category

BATIZADO 2011

Published on 1 month, 3 weeks ago in Batizado and Latest News. 8 Comments Tags: , , .

We apologise for the very late announcement of our 6th Batizado & Troca de Corda. Up to a few days ago, several of us were still scrabbling to find a venue.

The reason being that this time of the year sucks for us because it is the busiest - what with the varsity exams (so our undergrads won’t make it for this year’s troca de corda), our high school grads have flown the coop (so we’ll be missing them as well while they’re overseas enjoying their freshmen year), our Poly grads are either waiting to enter National Service or are already enlisted (so we’ll be missing some fine young men from our troca de corda this year), the Cambridge O and A levels are in full swing, all the polytechnics are gearing up to impress and woo the new batch of O level students fresh out of their paper chase from next week onwards with their various performing showcases. So it’s no wonder that all their available facilities are fully booked.

Still, little miracles DO happen and everyone - yes, I do mean, everyone in the entire cohort - was most relieved when we announced that we finally found a venue for our workshops. Just two days ago! :-D

I need to say this ‘coz I’m so damn proud of our cohort - this is the tightest we have been as a group and we have many (many!) hands who have pulled this year’s festival together. If we were a ship, this is the best crew I’ve ever been part of! So a BIG thank you to everyone who has added your weight to get our festival going. And so let the fun begin…

Now for the details everyone is waiting for:

Batizado workshops: Wed 16 Nov - Fri 18 Nov 2011
Time: 8pm - 10pm
Venue: Multi-Purpose Hall @ Sports Complex (Republic Polytechnic)
Campus landmarks to look out for would be the swimming pool and rockclimbing wall.

Here’s a suggestion for all who are coming by train.
1. Try to arrive at the Woodlands MRT station by 7.15pm so that will give you plenty of time to take a leisurely walk through the park connector (about 10-15 min) and end up at the front of the campus by 7.30pm.

(Just to let you know there’s a POSB ATM to your right - if you need to draw money to buy stuff later during the workshop. Believe me, there will be stuff to buy if they are in your size or match your taste).

Walk ahead along the wide corridor til you see the 7-ELEVEN or Subway. We’ll get a couple of our RP cohort to meet you between 7.30pm - 7.45pm so they can take you to the workshop venue which is another 5-7 mins walk to the back of the campus. You want to have enough time to change (you’ll be quite warmed up if you had walked all the way from the train station) and do the usual meet-and-greet with your fellow cohort mates and our guests before the workshop begins. ;-)

If you have wheels, you might want to check the map below. Maybe Anne can give some directions under comments for this post later.

Please see map for directions. http://www.rp.edu.sg/campus_tour/

6th Batizado & Troca de corda
Sat 19 Nov 2011
Time: 3pm - 5.30pm
Venue: Istana Park (across from the Istana - nearest MRT station is Dhoby Ghaut)

Noite Brasileira
Sat 19 Nov 2011
Time: 9pm til late
Venue: Piedra Negra (Haji Lane @ Arab Street area)
Showcase of Maculele, Capoeira, Samba Batucada, Samba de roda & Forro throughout the evening. More information and a separate poster will be put up later.

Post-Batizado BBQ Sun 20 Nov 2011
Time: 2pm onwards
Venue: East Coast Park
Food will be catered (halal-certified) BYOB and let’s party again! Can our party animal committee post the details under comments here?

So that’s it, folks. Have fun. Enjoy. You’ve trained all year just for this. ;-)

Batizado 2010 workshop rodas

Published on 1 year, 1 month ago in Batizado and Latest News. 1 Comment

I know everyone’s waiting to see the rodas. Here’s the first one that I video-ed on the first night of our workshop. I just wanna thank whoever for keeping the camera rolling when I passed it on to you…

This is the re-edited version (1st nite) because I mixed up the two rodas…my bad.

I’ve checked the vid below and it’s missing just one game which I will post as a separate video on Youtube.

Here’s the missing bit…

It’s Instructor Tempeiro!

Published on 1 year, 1 month ago in Batizado and Latest News. 7 Comments

This is probably going to be the trickiest post to write. How can I even be objective when I’ve been married to this person for a decade?

So…(big pause) I told Tempeiro that he’s definitely going to graduate to the next level. Call it a gut feel. Whatever.

Well, for starters, he works hard at his craft (during the early years of our marriage, he was practising his berimbau more than his electric guitar, learning all the capoeira songs and ironically, he sounds better singing in Portuguese than in English).

Nowadays, while waiting for his wife to get ready, he practises the samba rhythms on the pandeiro (although I personally think it’s an unconscious ploy on his part to get me to hurry up! ;-) ).

When he is asked to take over the classes in Claudinho’s absence, he ponders over how to articulate his clues to help his classmates to work out the movements that seem most challenging to them. And he isn’t the most gifted when it comes to moves so he keeps working on them while encouraging others earnestly to not give up.

But this is strictly me speaking as a fellow capoeirista.

So…(big pause) did Tempeiro listen to his wife? Nah. Typical male. So I gleefully watch him get into the roda to play with several instructors. And I hold my breath and hope he paces himself.

So congrats, darling. You do deserve it (even when you thought otherwise). No apologies to anyone who thinks I am biased! ;-)

And this year’s batizado cum troca de corda was…

Published on 1 year, 1 month ago in Batizado and Latest News. 7 Comments

AWESOME! AWESOME! AWESOME!

43 newbies got batizado-ed into the fellowship of the roda this year and showed us some great form during the roda. If you all keep training the way you do, we can’t wait to see you guys at the next batizado! ;-)

Personally, I’m proudest of my homies who got their corda verde and verde-amarelo. I mean, seriously, they’ve been around since (to quote Kerosene) Graduado Claudinho and they very much form the heartbeat of our grupo - they add great axé to the group, their playful enthusiasm is infectious and their sense of comic timing is uncanny. Honestly, I love them to bits. :-)

And then there are those who have outdone themselves (without realising it):

Golias, who (to quote Claudinho) transforms a roda into a GREAT roda by his presence with his clapping, singing and just being himself, showing up at the batizado to support all of us even when he couldn’t participate due to a longstanding injury.

Ila, who has been recovering from her knee surgery. Despite that, she has been turning up to observe nearly every training session since the beginning and had learnt to play the pandeiro in the meantime. Not to mention that she is also a great addition to our samba batucada band. She’s missed the batizado twice since she’s been with us and we hope she’ll be in form for our next batizado. :-)

Guru, who is serving his National Service, came down for the batizado with his axé but had to opt out of his abada at the last minute so that Linda could borrow his (which meant he couldn’t play in the roda). And Linda had taken her abadas off to lend it to someone else who couldn’t find hers at home.

Da Lua, who has been MIA for a while due to his IB exams, showed up just to support everyone else. And Andorinha (Jo) and Loic (who has just joined us barely a week ago) offered to accommodate our overseas batizado guests. THANK Q.

And it was so good to see Mestre again and to have Rafael and Grao with us, David (his 1st Batizado in Singapore), Perereca (in great form and looking more buff), Margo who is the unofficial fun-meister at every event we invite him to and Zangada for adding female capoeirista power. For me, this year’s Batizado was AWESOME because I am with the people I love and these people whom I love are part of my capoeira family. EU SOU BANTUS!

“It reminds us all that regardless of where we are, who we are, we are not just a bunch of people, we are a family.” Mutante (on what he liked most about the batizado)

OMG! It’s Contra-Mestre Claudinho!

Published on 1 year, 1 month ago in Batizado and Latest News. 3 Comments

And Mestre sprang a huge surprise on us. What an honor! What a gift! Prof Claudinho is now Contra-Mestre Claudinho! PARABENS!!!!

The truth is, when Mestre was speaking, I wasn’t sure (and I bet the rest of us as well) what was going on because I didn’t understand what he was trying (his best) to say in English. So due to the linguistic difficulties, we all managed to figure out something IMPORTANT was happening before our very eyes when Mestre finally mentioned the word contra-mestre. Then it hit me and I couldn’t contain myself. I ran out and hugged my new Contra-Mestre.

Nicholas, when asked what he liked about the batizado, said, “Our faces and reactions when we heard the word contra-mestre addressed to Claudinho. It was like “ooooh awe”, then “WOO HIGH, CLAP and SCREAMS” all in a few seconds.”

OBRIGADA Mestre! Contra-mestre Claudinho, parabens de novo from all of us, your students. We are sooooo happy for you and very proud to be your students! :-)

pix from Aisha

HOW TO USE JUMPSTART?

Published on 1 year, 2 months ago in Batizado and Latest News. 3 Comments

We’re distributing the product samples at the end of our first workshop tonight. So that you can try it out during the next two workshops and at the batizado. We would encourage you to use the product ‘coz we’re giving them to Mestre and all our guest instructors…and I’m quite sure they’ll be curious or eager enough to test the efficacy of JUMPSTART.

Directions for application:
Use JUMPSTART before an activity for an immediate and sustained energy boost.

* Apply JUMPSTART liberally onto main muscles used for the activity e.g. For jumps & aerials, apply onto quadriceps, calves and hamstrings; For moves involving the upper body, apply onto biceps, triceps, shoulders and upper back.
* Spread evenly over the skin.
* Preferably, apply 1-2 hours before the activity.

You may feel a hot sensation on your skin upon application of JUMPSTART or when you perspire. This is because of Capsaicin, an ingredient we’ve added into JUMPSTART to help warm up muscles and increase blood circulation.

To accelerate muscle recovery after an activity, apply JUMPSTART liberally onto muscles immediately after the activity.

Store below 30oC but do not store in the fridge. Protect from light. JUMPSTART is for external use only. Avoid contact with eyes, sensitive areas or broken skin. Keep out of reach of children.

JUMPSTART is a safe product and has no known side effect. Do not use JUMPSTART if you are allergic to Ribose, Creatine, Carnitine, Caffeine or Capsaicin.

If you experience any adverse reaction (e.g. feeling of discomfort; skin allergy), immediately wash the areas that you have applied the cream to with soap and water, and notify us at +65 6745-1550 or [email protected]

And now for the scientific bits:

How does JUMPSTART work?
JUMPSTART is a cream that uses Transdermal Delivery Technology to deliver Ribose, Creatine, Carnitine and Caffeine through the skin directly into muscles to power them for intense physical activities, thereby enhancing physical performance.

The active ingredients are a powerful source of instant energy that multiplies the ability of the muscles to work harder and longer, giving an immediate and sustained boost to the user’s speed, strength and endurance during intense physical activities. JUMPSTART also helps to dramatically enhance muscle recovery after the activity.

Who should use JUMPSTART?
JUMPSTART has been specially formulated for sportsmen, athletes and anyone who wants to maximise performance during demanding physical activities, such as marathons, competitions and IPPT.

JUMPSTART can also be used as a training companion to enhance muscle recovery throughout the training regime.

(IPPT stands for Individual Physical Proficiency Test, a test used by the Singapore Armed Forces, the Singapore Police Force and the Singapore Civil Defense Force in assessing the physical fitness of their personnel.)

How is JUMPSTART different from other energy products?
JUMPSTART is the one and only product that has a unique combination of Ribose, Creatine, Carnitine and Caffeine to give a powerful, instant and sustained energy boost to fatigued muscles. These active ingredients are clinically proven to be effective, and are even more efficacious because they are delivered directly into fatigued muscles via Lynk Biotech’s Transdemal Delivery Technology. This means that the ingredients are not broken down in the gastrointestinal tract and the user would also not experience any side effects which may come with oral intake (e.g. stomach discomfort and insulin effect).

Many sportsmen use energy products containing glucose before intense activities. However, when their bodies are unable to absorb sufficient oxygen, the process of glycolysis of glucose in their bodies to form ATP (the universal energy currency in our bodies) causes the by-product lactic acid to accumulate in their muscles. This results in muscle fatigue. In contrast, ATP produced from ribose does not release lactic acid.
What are the active ingredients in JUMPSTART and what function do they have?
The active ingredients in JUMPSTART are Ribose, Creatine, Carnitine and Caffeine.

Ribose is the key active ingredient of JUMPSTART. As ribose is a building block of ATP (the universal energy currency in our bodies), ATP production can be increased significantly if ribose is continuously supplied to the body in high concentration. Unfortunately, ribose synthesis in our bodies (through oxidative carboxylation of glucose) is very slow. Moreover, ribose exists as riboflavin (vitamin B2) in our food, which is not easily available and likely to be destroyed when food is cooked. Hence, supplementation is essential if a large amount of ribose is needed.

Another major benefit of ribose is its amazing ability to enhance muscle recovery by 3-4 folds. Research has shown that ribose helps to restore ATP to pre-activity levels in only about 12 hours as compared to about 36 hours without ribose supplementation.

Creatine is present in JUMPSTART to act as a carrier of phosphate ions. The latter are building blocks of ATP.

Carnitine, another important ingredient of JUMPSTART, is required for the transport of fatty acids into mitochondria, the “powerhouse” structures within cells, for the generation of energy.

Caffeine is a naturally occurring stimulant found in tea, coffee, cocoa and some other plant-based foods. It is also commonly used as an additive in food, beverages and supplements. Caffeine can improve an athlete’s endurance in sports by decreasing muscle fatigue and increasing mental alertness.

Has a trial been conducted on JUMPSTART?
A trial carried out with committed long-distance runners showed 0.8 - 24.8% improvement in their average best timing when they used JUMPSTART before their runs.

Another trial conducted on inclined pull-ups showed 9.4 - 61.1% improvement in the number of pull-ups achieved with use of JUMPSTART.

A resounding 80% of all trial participants conveyed that they observed faster muscle recovery with JUMPSTART.

Is it legal to use JUMPSTART for competitions ?
JUMPSTART does not contain any banned substance. You may refer to WADA, the World Anti-Doping Agency, for a list of substances prohibited for sports (www.wada-ama.org).

Batizado 2010 party

Published on 1 year, 2 months ago in Batizado and Latest News. 1 Comment

Muito obrigada to Sonia (Monika’s mom) for letting us use your poolside for our batizado fiesta!

So let’s head on down en masse after the Batizado is over and while everyone is still on an adrenaline high to celebrate with food, drink and more poolside antics (don’t forget your swim stuff). Big Obrigadas to Barracuda, Zangada, Careca and Lampiao for volunteering to take care of the grub, charcoal, ice and everything else to keep everyone happy at a party. :-)

Parents, do come and chill out with us! There’s a kids’ park there with fun things for the children to climb and swing around so you can leave them to their merry ways.

Venue: City Square Residences (poolside)
Time: 6pm-10pm (only the BBQ fire gets doused at 10pm but everyone is welcomed to stay) BYOB (bring your own beer, wine, soft drinks, etc)

Here’s the location map. City Square residences is just next to City Mall. And a short walk from Farrer Park MRT station. There’s a FREE shuttle bus service from Novena Square to City Mall. The shuttle bus leaves at 6.15pm, 6.45pm and 7.15pm. Click here for the shuttle bus schedule.

By Car: Go by Petain Road (less traffic)

By Train: Farrer Park MRT Station Exit I (North-East MRT line) (and only 3 stops away from the party zone of Clarke Quay, if you wanna go clubbing later)

By Public Bus:
Kitchener Road (Before Tai Hoe Hotel) Bus No.21, 125, 130
Serangoon Road (Outside Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple) Bus No. 21, 23, 64, 65, 66, 125, 130, 139, 147

Directions to TRCC Studio 1 (workshop venue)

Published on 1 year, 2 months ago in Batizado and Latest News. 2 Comments

Sorry, we were just told there’s a change in venue for the workshops. It’s now at Studio 1 which is at The Republic Polytechnic Cultural Centre (TRCC). It’s the same venue where we held our workshops last year (so it’s even easier to locate since most of us were there. ;-) )

For the newbies, if you have no clue where Republic Polytechnic is, please click here to look at directions by car, bus, train or cab (it is just across from the taxi drop-off point). See pix on the left. Walk across the driveway (see big yellow arrow). TRCC is the building across from it. (see pix on the right).

As you enter the glass doors, the cafe is on your left. Follow the path along the wall of posters on your right. There’s a white door ahead to your left. That’s Studio 1.

If you are driving, park at the open carpark at the back of TRCC (parking is very reasonable!) and just go around the building (either from the inside through one of the glass door entrances or follow the perimeter of the building on the outside) till you get to Studio 1. (see yellow arrow in the pix below)

BATIZADO 2010 HERE WE COME!

Published on 1 year, 2 months ago in Batizado and Latest News. 1 Comment

Workshops: (only open to participants who have paid their fees)
Dates: Wed 27 Oct - Fri 29 Oct 2010
Time: 8 - 10 pm
Venue: Studio 1 @ The Republic Polytechnic Cultural Centre (TRCC) (9 Woodlands Ave 9)

Batizado & Troca de Corda:
Date: Sat 30 Oct 2010
Time: 2 - 5pm (please be there by 2pm)
Venue: Bosque @ Republic Polytechnic (where the ATM is situated, same location as last year)

Judging from the success of last year’s batizado held at Republic Polytechnic, we are very happy to partner Republic Polytechnic again this year for our 5th Batizado.

First and foremost, we want to thank the inimitable and zesty Zaini Tahir and his dynamic team at TRCC for their continual support of Capoeira as a developing art form among the youth in Singapore. And for making it possible for us to have our workshops and batizado at the Republic Polytechnic once again. :-)

We have a tremendous response this year in terms of participants (from our newcomers as well as our existing cohort). Based on the enthusiasm level that was so evident in last year’s workshops and the batizado event itself, we are definitely looking forward to matching that or exceeding the fun level with all the guest instructors and Mestre during this annual event that we all have been gearing ourselves for. To quote Golias, one of our capoeiristas at RP, “BATIZADO IS THE BOMB!!!!! an experience that you will remember!!!”

This year, we are also pleased to announce that Bantus Singapore will be helping to launch a NEW energy cream called JUMPSTART by Lynk Biotech (the same good people who brought athletes relief with products like T-Max and TGC). JUMPSTART uses a revolutionary Transdermal Technology to deliver active ingredients directly to the targeted muscles which you have applied the cream on to boost your speed, strength, endurance and muscle recovery.

And we are eager to be the first capoeiristas to test out the effectiveness of this product! So for this year’s batizado, all our participants will receive a goodie bag with some samples from our product sponsor so they can try out JUMPSTART during the workshops and batizado. In return, Lynk Biotech is very interested to get individual feedback and your testimonials. You can do that at [email protected]

For more information on JUMPSTART, click here

To read testimonials on JUMPSTART, click here

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New Promotions at Bantus!

Published on 1 year, 3 months ago in Batizado and Latest News. 2 Comments

Here is the latest update so far from Brasil.

CONGRATULATIONS/PARABENS to Contra-Mestre Tyson (Bantus Capoeira’s 1st!), Professor Rafael, Professor Leandro/Titio on their promotions to their new ranks! We’re still checking on the status of the others as our information is not complete. So expect an update soon! :0)

Latest in: Congratulations to Formado Grao!

Finally, (thanks, Lynn for the updates): Our first female Contra-Mestra Marmota (Maira) - PARABENS! Congratulations to Professor Guinho, Formado Lobao, Instructors (Yellow-Blue cord) Lula and Chapoca.

Pix: Nicked from Leandro’s album