- Why a research on Capeira and social inclusion did not received any attention from those ‘socially engaged’ Mestres?

–Males. If they have people paying attention to them, then they’re being social enough to fulfill their goals. The people learning will talk about everything to their friends and peers, thus bringing about the social aspect. If any one thing can threaten to draw attention away from them, then their egos will being to shrink.

- Would all their students agree with their attitude or there would be at least a few people interested in an (inter-style) exchanging of ideas towards social inclusion?

–I chiefly train in a MMA school. The school specializes in Muay Thai and Ju-Jitsu. I took to the Muay Thai very well, but needed to learn how to move my body better. I decided to test out Capoeira as it’s much more “active” than, say, a run-of-the-mill martial arts school found in any small town. While I am not very good (or flexible), I FULLY ENJOY attending what classes that I can and from time to time I actually step away from a class having learned how to move my legs or feet just a little better. You want an exchanging of ideas? Try training under Muay Thai and Capoeira and try to merge those two radically different styles. If I want to and can do it, any other student of any other style can. (Of course, I’m training to fight and that gives me reason to learn as much as possible, but my point still stands.)

- Why it is so difficult to develop inter-style and inter-group cooperation in Capoeira?

–Males. Men are hard-headed when it comes to cohesion between what they view as opposition to their goals and the goals of others. Others would call it being on a power trip.

Let me state again: I train in two martial arts. Muay Thai and Capoeira. I am a perfect (not really, I’m only human. I’m just saying that for effect) example of how two styles can work together. If I can take two different things and want to make them work together, then two or more different Capoeira groups can definitely merge together under the Capoeira flag and work as a unit. This is why I will succeed in my goal, because I’m willing to learn, change, adapt and merge things into an all-powerful force. If a white guy with almost no sense of rhythm can actually learn like I have, then people sticking to a more traditional form of doing things can learn how to do different things as well. Or are they just scared of change?

I’m probably not going to revisit this comment, I just wanted to drop a line. If I’m totally off the mark with my comments, then forgive me. I just did and said what I felt was right. I’m quite passionate about what I do.

I got your point, and I agree with it. It shouldn’t but it does. I don’t believe in this dichotomy, though. Not even in regards to academic knowledge and empirical experience in Capoeira; these fields are certainly different, but can be complementary.

I’ll send you Dr Decânios books in pdf format; they’re available to download so I think it’s not a problem. Mestre Acordeon’s book is really good and you might find something on the historical part, but the following parts of the book composes a novel. Ring of Liberation was written using semiotics, so it could be spot on depending on what you want. Nestor uses a lot of metaphors as well in an attempt to explain what you called ‘streetsmart’.

Axé! And thank you!
Eurico

I’ve been trying to get my hands on Decanio’s book for years! I haven’t read Little Capoeira Book or Ring of Liberation, but have Roots of the Dance-Fight-Game. What do you think of Mestre Acordeon / Bira Almeida’s book?

Thanks!
Joaninha