I think that people tend to percieve their group as ‘better’ than other groups.Unfortunately this is something that happens anywhere where there are groups, not only in Capoeira. However for someone that knows a bit about social identity it is easy to explain. In the end it is all about having a better self perception.

However here in Europe something very interesting is occuring as we speak. The level of group perception seems to shift a bit to ‘capoeira style’ or capoeira in general. A good example is that nowadays my teacher invites mestres/mestrandos contra mestres and professores from groups he used to fight with in street rodas in Brasil. This way we get something that students in Brasil don’t get, because we always get the best possible teachers eventhough they are or used to be of a rival group. This contributes greatly to the quality and knowledge of the European capoeiristas.

So to answer your question to Pintada. Yes it is possible to have a group strong enough to have their own identity but also open to other ‘rival’ groups. Based on the similarity that we all are capoeiristas. Above that, in the beginning there were no groups, there only was capoeira. A famous master once told me that this is what European capoeira gave back to Brasilian capoeira.

If you like to know more about this, search for the pascoa event in Amsterdam. This is an event where there are many people from all over europe and from many different groups and styles, getting along great within a great atmosphere! This event is not of my group, but it is worth saying, since it is a great example.

Axé

Tttva

Thank you for passing by, and sharing your experience with us. Sounds like you’re having a great time!

I’ll post the Unicef article soon, it has interesting statements about the potentials of Capoeira as a social tool. Thanks for that.

Now, there are a few things we could do to further promote this action.
1. An interview with the project coordinators and Capoeira teachers;
2. You could share your experience on ‘Capoeira Narratives’;
3. And the blog could post a guest author on another article about this project (written by you or someone else involved with the project)

I would be happy to promote this project, as well as learning more about your experience as Capoeira traveller.

Axé!
Eurico

I’m currently cycling from London to Cape Town and recently joined a Capoeira group in Damascus, Syria – http://www.CapoeirArab.com – their warmth and welcoming has been made this foreign land feel like home; a fine complement to the wonderful introduction to Capoeira I received from Mestre Ponciano of CDO in London – http://www.cdol.co.uk.

The CapoeriArab group have made some remarkable contributions to local society here with a Free for Kids program, lessons at a local juvenile institution for girls, and at the Al-Tanf refugee camp. Too much to go into detail here; nor am I the person to do so. Nevertheless I wanted to share this with you.

The work at the refugee camp in particular has been transformational – there is an article about it here on the UNICEF site:
http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/syria_51283.html

Work is under way to bring the benefits of this project to more displaced peoples – work I hope to be able to share with you very soon.

With love in great appreciation of you all,

Dan (Vagabundo)
:)