10 Martial Arts Capoeira Training Tips

Those of us who have taken a liking to emulating the Tekken fighters Christie Monteiro and Eddy Gordo would probably find these 10 martial arts capoeira training tips pretty handy. This is a South American, or more especially a Brazilian, fighting style that mixes martial arts, sports, music and dance. This unique style which was begun in the 16th century by African slaves has become a popular sport for many today. To do well in capoeira, the following tips are suggested.

1. Stretch. Nothing can be as understated or as over-emphasized as the proverbial stretching before workouts. Limber up so as not to pull any muscles that may disenchant you from going any further. A good ten to fifteen minutes of brisk stretching should do.
2. Be imaginative. Do not put a set picture in your mind of what a movement is supposed to look like. Movements in capoeira are mostly freestyle, unless of course demonstrated or enforced by your teacher. Be creative in time with the music.
3. Move to the music. Let the rhythm flow through you and let it move you. Allow the music to control you even as you watch your teacher demonstrate his moves. Allow yourself to be free.
4. Keep it light. Practice not only being light on your feet, but let all your limbs be limber and flexible. Capoeria is not always done in a straight and upright position. Look at Eddy and Christie in Tekken.
5. Ask and ask. Ask all the questions you can think of. Capoeira, like a foreign language, will take time to master and you will need all the help and tips you can get. Since you are a student, it is your job to ask.
6. Practice always. Do not allow yourself to get into the mentality of practicing only in class. Practice when you feel like it, even if it is outside your class schedule. Practice makes perfect so keep doing one technique until you get sick of it, then do it again for good measure.
7. Be creatively chaotic. Do not let your style be predictable. Let it have a sort of precise unpredictability. However, do not let yourself get too out of hand so as to still keep fluidity and organization in your movements.
8. Imbibe the philosophy. Capoeira, like any martial art, has an underlying philosophy. Try to find out and learn what it is before taking it into a combative scenario. Learn all the elements of the martial art so as to truly master it.
9. Integrate it into everyday activities. Sometimes when doing day to day activities, you may feel the urge to move. That is move in the way of capoeira. Do not hold yourself back and give yourself a quick ginga, handstand or foot sweep to allow your creative urge to show. This will do plenty in you realizing your potential.
10. Enjoy! The most important aspect of the martial art is to have fun, not fun in the sense that you make a clown of yourself; fun in that you enjoy it as a sport and as something that you yourself can be proud of.