Capoeira kicks off in the capital

Singing, dancing, playing instruments, performing acrobatics and clapping are not the first things to come to mind when someone mentions marital arts, but that hans't stopped an increasing number of Abu Dhabi residents from trying out this Brazilian martial art.

Members of Capoeira Abu Dhabi hold a batizado, a graduation ceremony, during May’s first biannual Capoiera Brazil festival at New York University in Abu Dhabi. Christopher Pike / The National

ABU DHABI // Singing, dancing, playing instruments, performing acrobatics and clapping are not the first things to come to mind when marital arts are mentioned.

But all of these are part and parcel of Capoeira, a Brazilian martial art that an increasing number of Abu Dhabi residents are trying.

Whether it takes a place in a studio, gym, school hall, residential compound, or in a squash court, Capoeira is offering people a fun and alternative way to stay fit during summer.

“Capoeira is a one-stop shop. It’s an art that teaches you self-defence, history and Portuguese and gives you flexibility, stamina and strength,” said Mubarak Al Muhairi, 18, who stumbled onto the practice on the Corniche more than two-and-a-half years ago.

The only knowledge he had of the sport was from a character from the fighting game, Tekken.

Having tried martial arts such as jiujitsu, kickboxing and karate, Mr Al Muhairi used to go home with bruises.

With Capoeira, “I started to wake up without back pains, I was less stressed, and wasn’t going home black and blue,” said the Emirati.

Rambo, Mr Al Muhairi’s capoeira name on account of his Sylvester Stallone looks, said he feels like part of a global Capoeira family.

“Even when I’m on vacation I can go online, find a Capoiera group and start practising with them wherever I go,” he said.

It is the idea of community and family which is essential to Capoeira, said Alex Caxias Filadelfo, who started the first Abu Dhabi Capoeira community. “Capoeira is not something only you and I can do. When you have singing, playing instruments and need the energy of people you need a close group to create that atmosphere,” said the Brazilian Mestre (Master) who has practised the martial art for 30 years in Brazil, Puerto Rico, and the US.

Mr Filadelfo said he saw potential for growth in the capital from the first time he visited in 2011. There were two schools in Dubai.

“Its a multi-functional activity that gives people an opportunity to stay healthy and happy throughout the year,” he said.

The challenge was to spread awareness of the sport.

“People know about jiujitsu, judo and other martial arts but Capoeira is relatively new. What people don’t know is some of the jiujitsu champions here benefit greatly from practising Capoeira as it gives them an edge in their sport,” said the Rio De Janeiro native.

Lan Duong, 22, said Mestre Caxias’s energy was what first inspired her to take up Capoeira when she attended a class at her first semester in New York University Abu Dhabi.

Ms Duong had been involved in many Japanese martial arts at a national and international level in the US since she was four years of age.

Having four black belts from other disciplines, she says Capoeira is perfect for her now as it combines two of her favourite things, music and martial arts.

“Capoeira is the polar opposite of my previous martial art disciplines,” said Ms Duong.

Whereas her other practices espoused discipline, rigidity and compliance, Capoiera gave her room for self expression.

“I was very restrained and obeyed authority. I was good at what I did but I didn’t act like a child in the good ways. Capoeira gave me a second chance at a childhood,” she said.