Martial artists are typically known for their aggressive, choppy moves and rough behavior. Don’t stereotype too fast though, because the fighters of Capoeira take defense to a whole new level.
Capoeira Mandinga is a combat dance style created in the 1600s and brought to Eastern Michigan University’s campus in 2001.
Though the club keeps the same styles and techniques used in the 1600s, it practices them for different reasons. When Capoeira was created, it was a way for African slaves to escape kidnapping and their enemies.
Instead of using easily distinguished moves, the slaves made a more fluid counterpart to disguise their fighting style. The slaves realized they were being watched and needed to be less conspicuous and not let their masters know what they were planning. Thus, Capoeira was born.
Eastern’s club, with 20 to 30 members, has practice matches like those of the slaves. In the matches, however, the art form is the main focus as opposed to winners and losers.
Fighters get in a circle, singing African songs or playing drums and stringed instruments before two people step into the center of the circle for their match.
Because the players aren’t really fighting each other, they are forced to stay fluid and in sync with each other to keep the dance moving along.
The style of dance seems to be very focused on flow. Not only do the members need to demonstrate their skill to the competitor, but also keep constant rhythm with the music around them.
After two dancers have had their turn, they will step out, the music will continue and two more will start their match. This allows each member to have their time in a match and participate in the circle around them.
The club members seem very close for a reason: It is crucial in the sport to be trusting and connected with the other people around you. The chemistry flowing between two dancers is what drives the match.
Patrick Carroll, a Capoeira member who has been training for almost three years, demonstrates this when stating, “…the thing I like best about our Capoeira group is the friendships that I’ve formed with every member. We are all at different places in our training and in our lives, and we all have differing interests (outside of Capoeira), but when we’re all together it’s simple to overlook all of that. Capoeira is self-expression, so seeing people express themselves in a new way is always amazing and inspiring.”
“To me, Capoeira is family; the people in our group at EMU and the people I’ve met from other groups have an extraordinary friendship,” he adds.
Allan Edwards started the Eastern group in 2001 after training in Capoeira for more than 10 years.
Two students decided to stand outside one of the club meetings to get a better idea of what Capoeira meant.
Sean Curran, a sophomore at EMU, explained it was unlike anything he’d ever seen before.
“I was in Judo for awhile and really got used to that method. At first when I saw what they were doing I was confused, but it looked cool! It’s almost like the dance is completely choreographed, but the impressive part is that it’s not.”
Carroll, who trains with the EMU club, had a similar attraction to the club because of its difference from other martial artists.
“I got started in this group when I was looking for a martial art to train,” Carroll said. “I didn’t want the ‘normal’ martial arts like Tae Kwon Do or Karate. I saw a flier for Capoeira Mandinga, did some research and decided to give it a shot. I’ve never looked back.”
A junior, Kailey Schneemann, was just as taken back by the unconventional nature of Capoeira.
“When you think of dance you think of fluid and pretty. When you think of martial arts you think intense and really rough. It was so odd to see that fusion, but really amazing at the same time.”
Modern forms of dance like break-dancing are said to have originated from Capoeira. Though the sport can be very advanced, with fighters flipping and holding themselves in difficult positions, the club welcomes anyone to come check it out.
Schneemann thought of just that after witnessing the match from a hallway in Warner.
“I was really impressed. It sort of draws you in, the rhythm and motion of it all is really easy to get lost in. I was just standing there trying to take it in thinking, ‘Wow, I wonder if I could do that.’ Trying to make combat pretty cannot be an easy thing to do.”
The club has performed demos in venues such as the Ypsilanti Heritage Festival. Having performances like these help them to get the word out about Capoeira as well as showing off the skills they have gained in matches. In demonstrations like the Ypsi Heritage Festival, the fighters perform in the street, the group around them opening the circle slightly to let the audience view the match.
“If I was walking in the street and I heard that music, I’d definitely turn to look,” Curran said. “When you turn your head and see one guy in a hand-stand doing kicks and another one doing cartwheel-like motions, it’s going to draw people in, just imagine it.”
Videos from performances are available on YouTube, after searching Capoeira Eastern Michigan.
Though the EMU Capoeira club has carried on a long tradition in making fighting seem beautiful, it’s not all easy. Your body develops in strength and flexibility while practicing, and some say it helps people to stay in tune with themselves.
Capoeira club at EMU welcomes anyone interested in learning more. It meets at 8:30-10:00 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday in Warner gym B.