Capoeira: Never Old, Always Young

When you enter a new roda (circle), you get butterflies in your stomach. This is natural. You are going up against people you don't really know. It kicks clocking at an average 50 mph, anything goes. When the game gets faster and the energy is intoxicating, it's easy to get carried away. It's easy to see an opening, take it, and put someone on their back.

The scary part is when you get a handful of young hotshots enter the roda. You know the type. It's like if they came out of their mother's womb with a six pack. They literally eat, sleep, and breath Capoeira and always get down topless no matter the weather. They usually bring the level of energy up several skyscrapers.

I am 38 and I don't rock like I used to. So going into these kinds of rodas is daunting. While I don't hesitate I do take stock. I watch intently before going in. The kid in me takes risks but not as much as I usually do. I enjoy these encounters since it forces me to go back to the lab and train some more. It gives me an opportunity to prove myself. I take pride in the fact that I can go into a roda over and over again like the energizer buddy. Of course, it takes a large amount of work to be able to maintain that level of energy for a long period of time. I would also be a liar if I didn't admit that when I am done, I crash hard.

There is a thing to be said about aging. Many of us go kicking and screaming in our later years. I am by no means "old," but it feels that way sometimes. I never hear anyone call anyone else washed up when it comes to Capoeira. There is a high attrition rate when it comes to Capoeira. I have seen folks come and go. So for someone to say they have been training for 5 years is a feat in of itself. It's not just the level of training that has to be maintained. Capoeira or any martial art for that matter can get expensive. Sometimes life catches up and time is not as generous as it once was. Folks have to make sacrifices. So staying in Capoeira for over 3 years is not just a physical feat. So most folks in Capoeira show a large amount of respect to those who stick with it.

Now Capoeira is not the fountain of youth. The years will not peel off if you train 3 days a week. I will admit that in the roda, I do feel like I am 17 years old. It explains why capoeiristas of old claimed that they were possessed by long dead warriors and the orishas when they entered the roda. You literally feel like you can fly and have bullets bounce off your chest. This is due to the adrenaline pumping, the music, and the rising of the testosterone levels in the room.

I am surrounded by young people in Capoeira. Usually folks my age are mestres. The energy is great though and they keep me young by making sure I stay on top of my training. Like any martial art, you are giving respect by your peers by the time you put in. Even if they can drag me through the floor, they still can't party as hard as I can.