Filhos De Bimba - School of Capoeira - Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.

 

Bimba strongly believed Capoeira had an extraordinary value as a self-defence martial art, hence his efforts to develop its learning in a structured and methodical way.

Bimba developed a Capoeira teaching method with commandments, principles and traditions , which are still part of the Capoeira Regional up to this day. Some of his commandments are:

• To stop smoking and drinking since it interferes with the players' performance;
• To avoid demonstrating one's progression as a Capoeira player outside the academy (the “surprise” factor is crucial);
• To practice the basic movements every day;
• Not to be afraid to approach one's opponent (the closer the better, to develop defense and attack movements) and to keep one's body relaxed;

Bimba also established his own Capoeira principles to fundament his Capoeira teaching method:

• “ Gingar sempre ” (to keep oneself in constant movement when fighting); “Ginga” is the Capoeira basic movement;
• “ Esquivar sempre ” (to dodge away from the opponent's attacks);
• All movements must have a purpose (attack and correspondent defense movement);
• To preserve a constant fixed position on the ground (acrobatic jumps makes one vulnerable);
• To play according to the rhythm determined by the berimbau (Capoeira musical instrument):
• To respect a player when he/she can no longer defend an attack movement;
• To protect the opponent's physical and moral integrity (during the practice, the stronger will protect the weaker player).

Consequently, Bimba created several traditions and rituals to support his methodology:

• A chair was used in order to train beginner students/players;
• The “ charanga ” is the Capoeira orchestra, composed by a berimbau and two pandeiros;
• The singing ( quadras e corridos ), songs composed by Bimba to accompany the game;
• The “ batizado ” (baptism) (first time the student plays Capoeira at the sound of berimbau).

The aspects that still makes Capoeira Regional so peculiar and outstanding is its method:

• Admission exam (physical test made with Capoeira movements to identify students' abilities);
• The “ sequência ” (sequence) of the basic 17 Capoeira attack and defence movements;
• Practice of the different rhythms of the game;
• Specific movements: traumatizing, projection, connected and unbalancing;
• Practice of “ cintura desprezada ” (second sequence practice by advanced students);
• “ Formatura ” (Capoeira teacher graduation);
• “ Especializacdo ” and “ emboscada ” (specific advanced exams).

After the creation and establishment of this new Capoeira teaching methodology, the impact it had in the Brazilian society was remarkable. In 1953, the President of Brazil Getülio Vargas went to Salvador da Bahia to publicly and nationally pay homage to Mestre Bimba, recognizing that Capoeira was the only authentic Brazilian national sport, thanks to all that Mestre Bimba had done, taking it out of the streets and proving it was beneficial to anyone. Capoeira was then able to seduce people from all social and economic backgrounds; it was no longer seen as a marginal activity and was regarded as a genuine martial art, with its own merit and place in society.

Mestre Bimba fought all his life for what he strongly believed was best for Capoeira and succeeded. He died in 1974 and one of his sons, Mestre Nenel (Manoel Nascimento Machado), at 14, took over his father's Capoeira academy. Mestre Nenel is still responsible for the remarkable cultural and historical legacy his father left him and he is the President of Filhos de Bimba School of Capoeira .

Next - Mestres and Professors