Long ago. Back in the times when men could talk to animals, and plants sang ‘oh sim sim sim’ to the sun, there lived a boy. No. There wasn’t a need for names yet. Nor a need to label things as such. Strong. Handsome. Charming. These words were not yet born of this world for it was a young world.

This boy grew up with his tribe. His family. Everyone older than him was his brother, sister, father and mother. For even though these words have not come into this world yet, love was already walking the earth.

There were many worlds back at the beginning. And more often than not, these worlds merge. Some things never change. The borders of worlds, now called countries and states to you and I were ever shifting. Men knew magic darker than that of gods. They knew that borders redrew themselves with the sacrifice of blood.

Death came to their village one day. They were legion. Each had a mask on them. They were human, but not. Driven by the drum beats, they danced with their knives. And called upon the ritual to redraw the borders of their worlds. To absorb the boy’s world. To make it their own.

They sang. They danced. They shed the blood of the boy’s family. The boy was 20, still a sapling in the age when man lived 2000 seasons. But he was strong and patient. And he watched. And waited. And studied their moves. He painted his face with the blood of his father and mother, he drew symbols of strength on his arms with the blood of his brother, and he painted an armour of blood on his chest with the blessings of his sister.

And so he danced their dance. And sought to redraw the borders and seal his world away from his enemies. It was a beautiful dance. From up above the gods looked down and marveled as a child would the wonderful beauty of fireworks.

And like all fireworks, it always ends all too soon.

The gods hungered for more. They sent their oldest son to seek out the cause of the end of this beautiful crimson firework display. He came in the form of an old witch. And saw that the boy was bathed in blood, both his and of his family.

‘You fought well, my son. The gods delight in your dance. Your blood returns to Mother Earth, yet we yearn to see more. I will seal your wounds, make you live forever, help you banish your enemies, but we want you to continue your Crimson Dance once again, for you are Makulele, the dancer of death.’

With his dying breath, Makulele gurgled a yes. He drank from a vial of the tears of his mother, and he rose and danced the Crimson Dance once more. The drum beats on, even though everyone is dead. There was an empty land. Blood soaked. And empty. Makulele despairs and curses the gods for giving him everything and nothing. And curses them even more now that he is sworn to entertain the gods with his Crimson Dance forever more.

He ate the skull of his father, and heard his ancestors speak to him. ‘Sleep Makulele. Only when you sleep, your dance of death stops. And the world can continue.’

Makulele retired into the Dreaming. He says a silent prayer before he does. He prays for death. Or never to wake. Fearing the dance that he is to play for the gods once again. He sleeps. And he dreams.

In his dream, he sees a man playing the drums of death. He sees that he has a tribe. And he sees Makulele and his enemies doing the Crimson Dance of Death. He sees villagers from different worlds applauding the bloodbath, just as the gods do.

Up above, the gods sit transfixed. For now they are content. For as long as they see the dance in Makulele’s dreams, they need not wake the God of Death.

The official schedule is out!

Start trainin’

Start singin’

And more importantly, start saving and checking out those Air Asia ticks! This year promises to be even more action-packed than the last! And it definitely is the next best thing to being in Brasil.

Oct 13-17 : JAPAN

Oct 20-24 : AUSTRALIA

Oct 27-31 : SINGAPORE

Nov 3-7 : You better not miss this one… MALAYSIA

Nov 10-14 : INDONESIA

Nov 17-21 : THAILAND

For travel details, have a quick chat with Rafael. We’re in the midst of sourcing email contacts of all the persons in charge so that it’ll be easier for you guys to find out more info. Also, ask around. A few of the seniors have been to the above destinations for batizados.

Valeu Na Paz!

6 Years Young

Because this is but one small thread in the huge tapestry (perhaps the better metaphor for us would be a ‘cordao’?) that makes the history, culture and community that is Bantus Capoeira.

Here’s a little photoscrap of this thread.

2003 @ the park - From far left, terry. Doing a role, Andrew. On berimbau, Quek. Pandeiro, coelho. In front of the sorry excuse of a bataria, Riz.

2004 - Tartaruga left a year ago to perth to pursue his studies. He joined Bantus Perth and invited us for their batizado. The rest, as they say, is history.

A very skinny and tattoo-less Rafa at our very first academy.

The first academy and pioneer crew. Try and spot some familiar faces.

2004 - one of the first rodas with mestre

Tartaruga’s wedding. Don’t ask.

Rafa and a bunch of beefcake instrutors at a world meet in singapore. This was one of the first trips that culminated into the founding of… Bantus Singapore

Rafa and Marissa tie the cordao

bantus has always been about giving back to the community. Here’s one of our earliest orphanage visits.

On our very first trip to Jakarta. Subsequent visits would lead to the founding of Bantus Indonesia.

The first roda in the current academy

Mural. Artwork by Terry

2006 - the bantus malaysia contingent visits brasil. Pic with Mestre Joao Pequeno.

Mestre Joao Pequeno deserves a photo of his very own

the crew on the way to our epic performance @ brunei to the prince and people. We were on tv. We were on the front page. We were the next best thing since roti canai!

At our 6th anniversary roda. You know what? After all these years? It’s still there. The smiles. The energy. The communidedade.

And for that very reason, we’re still standing, 6 years young! From the bottom of our hearts, we thank you.

That’s our little journey, from one point-of-view. There are many. Please share with us some of your fondest memories of Bantus! We’d love to hear from all of you!

This month Bantus Capoeira Malaysia turns 6 and to celebrate we’re giving you a gift! Come by to Bantus Capoeira Academy and receive ONE WEEK FREE CLASS and get a good insight to Capoeira.

Capoeira is an Afro-Brazilian martial art. It was brought over by the African slaves over 400 years ago and today is seen all over Brazil, as well as all over the world. Capoeira incorporates martial art moves, acrobatic moves and moves that you wouldn’t think possible. The thing that makes Capoeira so unique is the music. Without music there is no Capoeira.

By training Capoeira, you will gain strength, flexibility, stamina and quicker reflexes. As you progress you will learn acrobatic moves. You will also learn about the culture of Brazil, the language as you learn the songs and how to play instruments.

Offer is only valid between 24 April to 24 May. This is only for those who have never done a class at Bantus Capoeira. Additional terms and conditions apply.

Please call me for more information on 012 2713983 or send me a message.

See you at the academy. FORMADO RAFAEL

The distant thump of the drum quickens my hearbeat, and the pace of my steps.

The soulful singing, beckons me into the thick of the roda. Instantly I am one. Eu sou Bantus capoeira.

The clapping takes me to a trance like state. I scan, and I see the various extensions of myself, in the friends that I now call family. My family. Bantus.

I see a familiar face. Beth from Bantus Australia. I see Soldado from Capoeira Camara. I see the berimbaus, pandeiro, atabuque and the jogo.

I jump in. And I tumble. I move. No. I don’t move. The rhythm moves me. I am but a puppet playing to the tune of the berimbau. And I’ve never been happier letting go of myself.

But not completely. It is now somebody else’s turn to play. And my turn to give back my energy. And I do. I take the berimbau. Almost weightless. A part of me. I play the most important instrument I have, my voice. I sing. And every part of me, every one of you, sing with me.

This is the best description of something that words cannot do justice to.

I see the enthralled crowd. Cameras flashing. I see the smiling faces. Suddenly danger. I see the countless permutations of the language of capoeira. What is said. What isn’t. And what could have been.

Another voice leads the song. And I am once again, an instrument to the roda.

I see moments shared. Lessons learnt. Egos bruised. A couple of skins torn. Blood cements the ties of the roda to the ground we play on. Friends made, lost and at once made again the moment they absorb themselves back into the roda.

This is Bantus Capoeira. This is the roda. This is the jogo. And right now, nothing else in the world matters any more.

The music stops. We break. We hug. We walk away. Knowing we will always take this moment with us, and bring it into our lives and back into the roda the very next time the berimbau calls to us again.

Bantus Capoeira welcomes back all Bantulinos from their long break. It’s gonna be another great capoeira-filled year.

Someone in advertising, famously said ‘only half of what I spend on advertising works, the thing is, I don’t know which half’.

What he meant to say was, he doesn’t which 50% works, and which doesn’t, so the best way to continue working on it is to continuously give your 100%.

This is something quite apt to bring up as a parable with training capoeira as well. Last night at training, Rafa sat us down for a chat. He was trying to tell us about the methods we train, specially in partner drills. Maybe we should reprofile the way we use that word – drills. Capoeira is anything but fixed and formatted. While Rafa wants us to practice through repetition, this doesn’t mean we play like robots.

“If you don’t practice like you’re in the roda, are you going to wait till the roda to practice?”

A very relevant observation. Most of us have the mindset that the training drill is safe. It’s monotonous. And I’d be the first to admit, this sets us into complacency when training. We need to be serious in the drill. To get it right. Think of it as a Roda, but only with the moves that you were supposed to do.

“I don’t know which 50% works, but I’ll give my 110% to be sure”

This is also important. And ultimately, the main lesson from this post. Most of the moves we learn are new in training. A lot of times, they’re moves we never get a chance to pull off in the roda. We spend too much time thinking, and not enough time moving.

Capoeira is about making your moves as much a part of your bodily functions as breathing or blinking your eye. The only way to do that, is through repetition. Get the basic movements right first. Then articulate how to do it better.

A simple metaphor - If you don’t know how to walk, you won’t know how to dance.

“Everybody wants a piece of Bantus capoeira”

We’re the leading capoeira group in Malaysia. It’s a reputation we should wear with pride and responsibility. We have to represent the Bantus jogo the best way we can. In the music we sing. In the manners we conduct ourselves. More importantly, in the roda with another person. Capoeira’s growing. There will be more groups. There will be more jogo. There will be competition. While we’re not asking you to be competitive, you do have to be conscious when you go into a roda with someone else.

Be prepared. In the academy. During training.

Hey guys, Lee Ann, one of our first regular capoeiristas from when we first started in Celebrity Fitness way back in 2005 or so has just opened her brand spankin new physiotherapy center in Plaza TTDI. Soooo, if you guys have any niggling aches or pains, they are offering a free spinal screening with a 45 minute deep tissue massage, and FREE Physiotherapy treatment.  Go ahead and check it out!

Happy New Year Bantulinos!

What were you up to during the break? I must give a special shout out to Lynn and co for organising secret training sessions during the off-days. Muito Axé!

As for me. Hmm. I think I feel a slight double chin coming up beneath the new year’s festivities and the unkept excuse of stubble. Which brings me to my next point about beginnings and years – resolutions.

(pic – Beth @ Bantus Australia and Mestre pondering over their 2010 resolutions)

I’m in the midst of doing my office year-end appraisals and evaluations. One interesting piece is the ‘resolutions and reflections’ (there’s no official name for it, but I thought it would be apt) section of it. And I’m sorry but I just couldn’t help thinking that it could be applied to our journey as capoeiristas as well.

So here are the questions, paraphrased to help you, Bantulino, reflect on the year that was 09 and how you would like to take your jogo into 2010.

This isn’t just a casual blog posting. I want you all to really ponder over it. Because once you’ve come up with your answers, you should go share them with Quek and Rafa. They’re your teachers and guide, but they are not mind readers. If they know where you want to go on the journey, the easier it is for them to take you, ok?

(pic – Bantulinos sharing their reflections and resolutions to their teachers)

Like seriously. Pull them aside after class and say ‘Listen, I read the Bantus blog, and I did my assessment, please tell me what you think, and this is where I’d like to go with my capoeira’

Easy.

So now, let’s get started with the hard part. Part Uno – Reflections.

1. What are some of the achievements you are proud of? It can be your overall game, one move, a song you’ve learnt. Whatever. List them all down. You’ll feel good, trust me.

2. What are some challenges that you’ve faced?

3. What are the 3 most important lessons you’ve learnt. Or 3 inspirational ideas you’ve absorbed.

Fantastic. Now here comes Part Dos – Resolutions.

1. What are the 3 things you want to achieve for your Capoeira in 2010?

2. What are the 3 things you want to do more effectively as a Capoeirista?

3. What are the 3 things that you should stop doing? This one’s a tough one. Your teachers/guides/mentors/heros Quek and Rafa should be able to help you with it. But only if you’ve answered all of the above.

(pic – Rafa pondering about his 2010 resolution on how to help Bantus Malaysia improve and if he’ll ever try to eat seafood)

Happy Reflecting, Resolutionising, and Capoeiraing my fellow Bantulinos.

Here’s to 2010. Feliz Ano Nuevo!

PS. Photos courtesy of Jabudecaba aka Stan Lee @ facebook.

WARNING: Spoiler alerts. If you haven’t watched Avatar, don’t blame me. But regardless it’s still worth catching.

Got a chance to watch Avatar. Again. This time in 3D. And as I was thinking of the article for this week for Bantus, it dawned upon me the parables between the tale of an American GI trying to learn his ways, and a capoeirista learning the ways of Bantus.

What are the similarities?

Well, it’s a stranger jumping straight into the skin – literally – of an alient culture, totally dumbstruck and clueless, yet still determined to learn their ways. Doesn’t that sound like a Malaysian walking into the academy for the first time learning to do the ginga?

For easy distillation, I shall put down my lessons and random observations in point form.

1. “You are not in Kansas anymore. You are on Pandora, ladies and gentleman.” – This is the ultimate introduction to the whole new world that is Pandora. Which brings me back to the first time I touched down in Belo Horizonte for the Bantus World Meet. Yes. You’re not in Kuala Lumpur any more people. Learn. Adapt. Smile. But carry a big dose of Maladragem with you.
2. “She says that all energy is only borrowed; at some point you have to return it.” – It’s the same in the Roda. When you are playing, you are a force on the move. You are the Jogo. The Jogo is you. The Roda, the bataria, the people clapping give you the energy. Use it, harness it, enjoy it. And when it’s your turn, give the same Axé back.
3. “You are like a baby! Clumsy! Loud!” Neytiri “Then teach me!” Jake Scully. – That’s the right attitude to have when you first start capoeira. Nobody expects to be kick-ass overnight. God knows most of us are still expecting and learning to be. The more important aspect is that you are willing to learn, and make mistakes.
4. “Do as we do, and learn it well. Then we will see if your insanity can be cured” – Sometimes the best way to figure out why we do what we do in capoeira, is just to learn it. To understand it. And with time, you let the movements, music, culture seep into your being, and you can truly understand why Capoeira has always been an outlet and statement of personal expression and freedom.
5. “Colonel, there’s a native doing the funky chicken” – You will always get non-capoeirista friends calling capoeira some other funny term or another. A dance. A weird breakdance thingy. A waste of time cause you’ll never be as good as a Brazilian. Well don’t listen to them. They don’t know. They just don’t know!
6. “You have a strong heart; no fear. But stupid, like a child.” – This is an important lesson to learn. No fear. Is important. No fear of your physical limitations. No fear of falling down. No fear of making a fool of yourself. And yes. You’ll look stupid doing the ginga for the first time. Don’t worry, we all have to learn to walk.

Any more lessons to learn from Avatar? I’m sure there are plenty. And that is a lesson in itself. Just because you’re not in class learning capoeira, doesn’t mean the world doesn’t offer you a chance to be a better capoeirista.

‘Eu Sou Bantus Capoeira’

‘I am Bantus Capoeira’

If you are. Then look through the eyes of a capoeirista. A Bantus Capooerisa. Learn from your everyday experiences on how to be a better person. Apply the lessons you learn from Bantus in your everyday life.

Here’s wishing you guys another long non-capoeira holiday week. Or is it? It is up to you, to decide if you are the Avatar of Bantus Capoeira.

The academy will be closed from 23rd Dec 2009 till 3rd Jan 2010 for Christmas and New Years. If you do want to train, give any one of the seniors a ring and they will arrange for it to be opened up. Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and see everyone back again on the 4th of January 2010!  Axe!