Capoeira Montreal

Mestre Cabeludo’s visit 2013

Cancao — Mon, 06 May 2013 18:54:03 +0000

Contra-Mestre Comprido has been informed that Mestre Cabeludo with be visiting us in Montreal during the first two weeks of October 2013. Our batizado will certainly take place around those dates but more information will follow soon.

-Aluno Avançado Cancão

Happy 13th Anniversary to GRCPB Montreal

Cancao — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 22:53:16 +0000

Salve everyone,

This Thursday we will be having our Official Roda to celebrate the 13th anniversary of the academy here in Montreal which was founded on February 21st, 2000.

Come play and give energy as we celebrate 13 years of Capoeira Regional in Canada. Don’t forget to come in a clean all white uniform. Make sure to get some training in this week, and then come celebrate with the rest of the group.

Salve!

GCRPB at Les Bobards

Cancao — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 17:44:27 +0000

Porto da Barra Montreal will be doing a show at the bar Les Bobards (4328 St-Laurent) on February 9th, 2013. Don’t miss this opportunity to come see us!

Dressing up Properly for Winter

Cancao — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 22:48:04 +0000

Salve Everybody!

With the first weekend of February rapidly approaching, I wanted to share with you some thoughts about keeping warm and healthy in this present climate.

Generally speaking, two layers (one underlayer and one outer layer) are sufficient for the lower body. Generally speaking, three layers are sufficient for the upper body.

It is important to note that COTTON does NOT make a good base layer. Perspiration can make a cotton base layer WET leading to loss of heat as COTTON does not retain heat when WET.

Also note that the trendy synthetic base layers which have become popular must be carefully selected. Thin polypropolene, for example, may help during intense physical activity, but as soon as you stop or cool down you will get cold very quickly. The thin version of these materials were developed for controlled competition situations where warm facilities were available to athletes before and after exertion.

The best inexpensive base layers are, in descending order:
1. Wool
2. Wool blended with nylon and cotton
3. Fleece

The purpose of the outer layer is to cut the wind. In winter conditions this layer should also feature insulation thick enough to both retain heat and aid in wind-breaking via THICKNESS. The outer part of the outer layer is the frontier between you and winter, so it has to be tough! The best outer layer is thick NYLON. Those of you who believe in Gore-Tex take note!

On the upper body the middle layer is for insulation and should feature a hood and be closed high around the neck. Good materials include fleece, wool and thick quilted cotton.

As for the feet, beware of boots rated to minus 40 etc, as these ratings are misleading and often based on the wearer doing intense physical activity. Once these boots become wet through perspiration they can get very cold. Socks should NOT be cotton but rather wool blended with acrylic or nylon.

As for the head, I prefer a double-layerd acrylic long Balaclava which covers the neck (tucked into the middle layer) and most of the face. Much more convenient, efficient and gives more freedom of movement than a scarf. Also does not impede the use of the high neck closure and HOOD of the middle and outer layers.

DRINK MORE WATER. WINTER IS DECEIVING!
Home and car and metro heating systems dry you out, and you may not feel warm, but you need to DRINK MORE WATER.

Please note that lack of light at this time of year may contribute to feelings of fatigue or depression. If you feel down, reach out to friends or family members. Don’t be ashamed, many of us have experienced the same thing. Also AVOID drug use , especially ALCOHOL which is a depressant. I WOULD APPRECIATE IT VERY MUCH IF THE MONEY YOU CONSIDER SPENDING ON ALCOHOL WERE SPENT ON HEALTHY FOOD AND BEVERAGES (especially on the first weekend of February).

Sincerely from off the top of my head,
Contra-Mestre Comprido

Happy Holidays!!

Cancao — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 04:55:34 +0000

Salve Galera!

Well, 2012 is almost done and I wanted to thank you all for your dedication and encourage you to continue in 2013! I will be pushing you hard as usual to improve yourselves and also the group as a whole so that we can continue to enjoy success and REAL capoeira together (the kind that changes lives for the better through self-discovery and learning about others). So I wish you all a safe Holiday Season, stay safe and in shape!

LOVE,
Contra-Mestre Comprido

Dende do Recife 2012 Pictures

Cancao — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 03:19:34 +0000

Here are few pictures taken in Ottawa when Porto da Barra Montreal when to visit our friends from Dende do Recife for their Batizado. Contra-Mestre Comprido & his students were honored to be present when Contra-Mestre Fabinho received his Mestre cord from Mestre Chocolate.

For more pictures please visit our Fabebook Page

Workshop with Mestre Chocolate

Cancao — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 17:24:05 +0000

Workshop with Mestre Chocolate from Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil

Time: Thursday, December 6th 2011 from 6:00pm – 8:00pm, Roda from 8pm to 9pm
Location: Our Academy, 372 Sainte-Catherine West, Studio #306
Price: $30 (only $15 for the students who went to Ottawa)

Few words from CM Comprido on Dende do Recife’s Batizado

Cancao — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 17:13:01 +0000

Thank you to all the students that made the trip to Ottawa on Sunday for Dende do Recife’s Batizado. They brought great energy to the roda, and helped the school in maintaining a healthy and thriving relationship with our friends in Dende do Recife, Ottawa.

Here are few words our Contra Mestre would like to share with you guys:

Today was truly one of the best days of my Capoeira career and so I would like to share SOME of my thoughts with you, my beloved students and friends.

I first met Mestre Fabio when I was a student about 14 years ago and he came to visit Montreal. My teacher at that time had told his class that if anyone came to visit they would play with_____first , then with me and if they survived he would grab a broom handle to help get rid of them. And so arrived Mestre Fabio who was Professor Fabio at the time with a BLACK berimbau (which he still has). I remember very clearly the game I played with him…..
And so it was a great honour and privilege to be present today in Ottawa when he was recognized as a Mestre of Capoeira. I guess you all noticed that Porto da Barra was the only group invited to this occasion….

The way in which Mestre Fabio was graduated holds many lessons for the rest of us non-Mestres. Firstly, he was graduated purely because of merit and not for financial gain. Secondly he was graduated by a true Mestre. Thirdly he will have to prove himself to all the Mestres of the city of Recife next time he goes to Brazil. This is what is traditional capoeira is about. And the proof of the merit was there today for all to see: His students. Fabio is now a Mestre, but he is a new one, so he must obey Mestre Chocolate and not touch his cord until he arrives in Recife…

For Porto da Barra the event actually began on Friday night. During the Roda a Student of Mestre Fabio suggested to me that I should buy the game to play with Mestre Chocolate (it would have been my first game of the night). This is wrong-headed for several reasons:
1. If the Mestre wants to play with me, he will decide when. Remember I am FAR from being a Mestre, and am a brand-new Contra-Mestre.
2. Generally speaking, it is better to play with a beginner, child or intermediate player first. This demonstrates humility. I could certainly get away with it but it would not show understanding of what is going on.
3. It is unwise for any student to suggest that a visitor buy the game with a particular person because students do not understrand what is going on in Rodas.

On Saturday I participated in the Children’s Batizado in a beautiful Theatre inside Canada’s Aviation Museum (lots of tax dollars on display!).
I was very honored to have the opportunity to teach the kids a couple of songs with the Brazilian Ambassador to Canada in the audience. Instrutora Iansan and Aprentice Professora Sereia organized EVERYTHING for the Kid’s Batizado (workshop, healthy lunch and more) by themselves and did an excellent job. Mestre Chocolate, Mestre Fabio and I then baptized the kids. Baptizing children is an art and so those who missed this event did not get a chance to see Mestre Chocolate in action. Of course the kids were happy with their new belts, their parents were very proud and and all present learned a lot. At the end of the event Sereia and Iansan were honored to play a game together. Mestre Fabinho then played with Sereia and then I played with Iansan. It is an art to play Capoeira with an event organizer, and especially one who is much less graduated. it is also an art to play with a guest in your own event, especially one who is much more graduated. Needless to say the game was clean technical and fast…

As for the Adult Batizado on Sunday, which 18 of you attended, the first thing I would like to say is HOW PROUD I AM of ALL of YOU from Ameixa and Aluminio up to and including Monitors Rai, Garrincha, Carangeijo and Kanguru. Everyone who went played more than once and everyone was respectful (and very good-looking). Your uniforms were also all very clean, you arrived on time and you contributed positive energy. Your presence really is what made the event special. Mestre Chocolate told me more than once that you were all playing very well, and I could tell through eye contact and his expressions that he was very happy with the way your visit was conducted. When Contra-Mestre Comprido is at an event (or a Porto da Barra roda in Brazil), I am at the service of my host. I make regular eye contact with the mestre commanding the roda for different reasons such as he may want me to do something. I am not there for myself but rather to perform a function for the WHOLE event to be real, true and BETTER. Many of you have not learned to do this. Sometimes, you are also out of position to buy the game at the right moment (such as a game that has someone from your group miss-matched against someone else). You got away with that yesterday because there were few mismatches and when there were, the consequences were not serious, BUT THIS CAN AND WILL OCCUR.
However, I must say that you girls and guys made me really proud! I hope you will never forget the day our friend Mestre Fabio was formed and a traditional visit to a traditional roda occurred! Let’s make this happen at least TWICE a year in OTTAWA.

SALVE!

Contra-Mestre Comprido

Batizado 2012 Pictures!!

Cancao — Sun, 25 Nov 2012 19:40:28 +0000

Here are some pictures of our latest Batizado. Congratulations to all the new students who have received their first cord as well as the older students who changed cords. For more pictures, please go to our Facebook Page

Batizado e Troca de Corda 2012

Cancao — Tue, 23 Oct 2012 01:32:26 +0000

The Batizado and Troca de Corda will be held at the Academy on Saturday November 10th from 10:00am until 1:00pm. Admission for spectators is $8, everyone should invite friends and family. Everyone is expected to show up regardless of whether you are changing your cord.

Workshops with Mestre Cabeludo will be held on the following dates. Please note that regular classes continue AS USUAL (except where noted).

1. Friday October 26th. Workshop will be held at Tristar (5275 Rue Ferrier) Metro Namur from 7:30pm to 9:30pm. Class at the Academy is cancelled on this date.

2. Saturday October 27th. Workshop will be held at the Academy from 11:00am to 1:00pm. The Introduction to Capoeira (12:15pm to 1:00pm) class is cancelled on that Saturday. We will be going out to Foonzo for lunch & drinks afterwards.

3. Tuesday October 30th. Workshop will be held at the Academy from 7:00pm to 9:00pm. Class as usual from 6:00pm to 7:00pm & will be led by Chimpanze for those who are not doing the workshop.

4. Thursday November 1st. Workshop will be held at the Academy from 7:00pm to 9:00pm. Class as usual from 6:00pm to 7:00pm & will be led by Contra-Mestre Comprido.

5. Friday November 2nd. Workshop will be held at Tristar (5275 Rue Ferrier) Metro Namur from 7:30pm to 9:30pm. Class at the Academy is cancelled on this date.

6. Tuesday November 6th. Workshop will be held at the Academy from 7:00pm to 9:00pm. Class as usual from 6:00pm to 7:00pm & will be led by Aluno Avançado Cancão for those who are not doing the workshop.

7. Thurday November 8th. Workshop will be held at the Academy from 7:00pm to 9:00pm. Class as usual from 6:00pm to 7:00pm & will be led by Monitor Garrincha.

8. Monday November 12th. Workshop will be held at Tristar (5275 Rue Ferrier) Metro Namur from 7:30pm to 9:30pm. Class at the Academy is cancelled on this date.

**Information about the pricing for the batizado and the workshops will be posted at the academy**

OTHER IMPORTANT DATES

Championship of Capoeira Regional to be held on Saturday November 3rd from 11:00am to 12:30pm at the Academy. Admission is $8 for spectators and $15 for participants. A separate information sheet with rules & regulations will be distributed shortly. Everyone is encouraged to participate for the experience. Lunch & drinks afterwards at Foonzo!

On Tuesday Nov. 6th and Thurday Nov. 8th regular classes will be held, however exams will also be held during the classes. Come prepared with a 500 word text on a subject of your choice, knowledge of moviments, songs, instruments rules and history of Capoeira Regional. All students participating in the Batizado (light green cord) will pass a participatory exam to gain experience.

There will also be a Party and Fundraising Event organized by the Monitors and Advanced Students. Please direct all questions about that to them when you see them in class.

Salve!
Contra-Mestre Comprido