Olympics and Capoeira

[Sean -Sapo-]

I know this subject has been brought up in other forums and such, but i want to bring it up here.

What do you guys think of trying to get capoeira into the Olympics? Its certainly a sport and competitive, but the rules are a lot less defined in capoeira.

Making it an Olympic sport would require judges and standards and such things. This would certainly change the game. But there are already existing capoeira competitions with such things.

So ya,what do you think?

[Preguiça]

I definitely agree Pavio, Capoeira should not be put in the Olympics. Capoeira is a cultural art form, not a sport, with multiple levels to it. There is the physical, mental, and spiritual happening all at one time. And Capoeira's objective is not necessarily to go against or beat up the other player. One of the main objectives is to be able to play WITH the other person.

Points never were a part of Capoeira. And there is no way to judge someone's personality, ability to play with the other player, ability to pay attention to and follow the corridos being sung to them, how well they've developed their malicia and mandginga, etc.

And furthermore this would distort the already distorted view that even some practitioners have of Capoeira. Some already see it and practice it as a competitive sport like wrestling or MMA. The Mestres in Brazil fought against having the Capoeira competitions in Brazil when that first came about years ago, because of how it would dilute the culture and I would do the same today. So I would say to Sean [Sapo], read Nestor Capoeira's books on Capoeira, especially "The History of the Dance-Fight-Game" and hear it from Mestre who truly understands.

P.S. They also want to do the same thing with Bboying/Bgirling/Break dance. It is a Black dance form that is part of a larger culture called Hip Hop. The same distortion would occur as with Capoeira.
Axe!

[Ansley Joye Jones]

You are taking the essence and remembrance of the history out of the culture if you do this. I am so tired of trying to tell people that cultural arts are not sports for others to enjoy.Hell, most people that need Capoeira in their lives the most don't get access to Capoeira!!!!!

[Sean -Sapo-]

Well we must always remember that what you just posted was said about Capoeira Regional. Mestre Bimba changed the rules, created a formal system, etc. His style and philosophy was significantly different than the Angola mestres.

Under that mindset, one could argue that Regional is not capoeira, and only "capoeira-like" while the real capoeira is Angola.

An olympic style of capoeira would be no different than regional branching off from angola, in my opinion. It would be a style of play, but different.

Im not really arguing yay or nay mind you. I just find the topic interesting and am playing devil's advocate. ;)

axe
~Sean

[Chaleira]

I agree with you! I mean, there are already many various ways of playing capoeira already. Angola (and keep in mind, that the Angola played today is completely different than the Angola played back then) Regional (and keep in mind that what we call Regional today is completly different from the Regional Mestre Bimba taught) Contemporary, Miudinho, and other inbetween games like Benguela and Idalina. These are all different ways to play what is capoeira...and then you would have the olympic way. It doesn't change that it's capoeira just as Angola, Regional, etc...are all a different way of play.

Don't get me wrong, I don't want anyone to tear what we know as Capoeira apart either. I love capoeira just as it is, along with is various styles of play. They don't have to change a thing.

Now the day that a law comes down and say...okay, we only play capoeira this way from now on, and no other styles of play is authorized is they day that I would start to worry. Because then you take away a big part of what capoeira really is. Freedom of spirit, creativity of mind and movment, variety, freedom of expression, and all of these things.

I believe that capoeira is a living art form that can take on many faces. The day that we put a limit on it's Freedom of expressoin is the day it dies. This is what I hope an olympic stlye of play would not do to the art, and I don't think that it will.....still not saying that I'm for or against it. Just giving my opinion while sitting on the fence :-)

[Pipoca]

Olympics would definitely be a bad step forward. It would be great recognition but it would destroy the malandragem of the art by giving set goals and a points system. I believe in keeping with tradition so far as the spirit of Capo is concerned. Innovation in movements and technique are good, however moving the art away from the simple guidelines set forth by Patstina and Bimba are another thing all together. I think capoeira competitions within the community of capoeira are just fine! I think opening Capoeira up to people is also good. I don't like, however, the thought of people joining the art like so many that join TKD schools do. This form is so much more than fighting (we all know that) but the general public will have a hard time learning that if we dilute the basics so that it is view merely as such. IMHO, of course.

[Profesor Dentista]

There is a Capoeira organization that is in league with the International Olympic Committee. The web site is www.capoeira-fica.org.. They also have a U.S. branch too but i dont know the website.

[Onca]

i personally think this is a terrible idea. capoeira cannot be placed under such restrictions that doesn't go well with it's nature. we don't wear pads because they would only hinder our movements, we should no introduce a point system because that would add the stuttering go, stop, go, stop mentality to our game outside the olympics. i could go in depth with what else i believe would happen but ultimatlely we would lose our identity as capoeiristas and would degenerate to karateka.

[cipó grupo liberdade de capoeira nj]

There is an Olympic capoeira committe in brasil and capoeira is part of the Olympic sport in brasil.