Capoeira Mandinga Shanghai » Videos

“Beetle” tells the “true story” of Besouro, a Capoeira master living in 1920s Brazil. The film’s title comes from the name Besouro Manganga, which is a large and dark species of maybug.

According to legends surrounding the historical figure, Besouro was known to vanish whenever he was faced with an uneven fight. This grew into the myth that Besouro had supernatural powers and could dodge bullets and even turn himself into a beetle to scare his opponents.

More grounded details on Besouro suggest he was a rebellious migrant worker who frequently used his Capoeira skills to get into physical conflicts with landowners and police. He died in 1924 at the age of 27 after suffering stab wounds from a knife.

Ku Huan-chiu serves as action director. His credits include stunt doubling for Jet Li in “The Tai-Chi Master” and “Once upon a time in China and America”, as well as recent AD work on CJ7 and “THE MUMMY: TOMB OF THE DRAGON EMPEROR”, and also “Kill Bill”.

“Beetle”, a co-production between Buena Vista and Brazil’s Mixer and Globo Filmes is currently shooting.

For more details on Besouro Manganga visit Capoeira Sul Da Bahia San Francisco.

“Besouro” official website (Portuguese)
Official channel on YouTube

via kungfucinema and capoeira.com

Al Jazeera: Brazlian Bahia’s legacy of Capoeira

Chupa Teta — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 03:40:22 +0000

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The Capoeira was created in Bahia by African slaves as a way to defend themselves from abuse, a skill disguised as a pseudo-dance ritual to fool their masters.

Today there are Capoeira schools all over Brazil and the world, but especially in Bahia, where slaves were first brought to America, as a way of expressing black pride and keeping their history and culture alive.

Lucia Newman reports.

Video of the day: Roda/Participacao do Mestre Bimba

Chupa Teta — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 02:22:04 +0000

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1954, Roda of Capoeira, one of the oldest film about Capoeira, with the participation Traíra, Curió, Nagé, Waldemar, Caiçara, Crispim, Bugalho and Mestre Bimba.

Uploader’s comment:

This for me is one of the most emotional feeling I ever felt! Enjoy it, Capoeira Lovers!

Capoeira — Brazilian Dance, Music & Martial Arts

Chupa Teta — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 01:58:14 +0000

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An introduction to the martial art Capoeira, featuring the Capoeira Mandinga Academy in Oakland, CA. An Expression Art College podcast.

About third rule of Bimba

Chupa Teta — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 00:30:30 +0000

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Moral: Remember rules of Mestre Bimba, especially rule no.3:

Quit smoking.
Quit drinking, alcohol is bad for your metabolism.
Do not show off your progresses to your friends outside the roda. Hold them back and surprise people with them in a fight.
Avoid conversation while training. Be quiet while in the academy and, by observing the other fighters, learn more.
Always practice the ginga.
Practice the fundamental exercises daily.
Do not be afraid to get close to your opponent. The closer your keep, the more you will learn.
Keep your body relaxed.
It is better to get beat up in the roda than on the streets.