8/14/2019 LIME - Issue 1 - Capoeira Fever

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Entertainment Cultural Close-up

Capoeira

feverJust or kicks, this blend odance movements and seldeence is sweeping the islands.

Where did Dennis Eckart get those abs of steel? Perhaps nineyears of practicing the sweeping kicks, spontaneous jumps and agilecartwheels of capoeira has something to do with it.

The unique martial art marrying fluid dance movements withcunning self-defence techniques is a fast-growing sport the26-year-old alpha athlete has mastered through intense training inBrazil (where it was first developed in the 16th century by enslavedAfricans), Germany (where he was born), Poland and Austria.

Now, he brings his capoeira know-how to the Caribbean.

Picture this: A pair of capoeiristas face off inside a roda, or circle,made up of musicians and curious onlookers. Each player sways tothe music dodging the opponent with high-flying flips, handstandsand headspins break-dance style. The aim is simple: Trick youropponent into taking an off-guard position without any directblows or blocks.

As the beat quickens, the faux-fight intensifies.

The exotic music in the form of the atabaque (drum),berimbaus (a gourd with a string attached to a stick) and pandeiro(tambourine) sets it apart from other martial arts and establishesthe rhythm of the game.

Capoeira is life, says Eckart, who leads Jamaican-based GrupoCativeiro Capoeira, a martial arts/dance troupe. It has thepotential to unite persons regardless of their skin colour, socialstatus or gender.

The adrenaline-pumping sport is so welcoming, in fact, it hostsmore than 10,000 followers worldwide and groups are popping

up from the Cayman Islands to Barbados. Caribbean people arebecoming more aware and proud of their African heritage andrealize that capoeira is a way of expressing that, he explains.

Pop culture is embracing it, too. If youve seen any Wyclef Jeanand the Black Eyed Peas videos lately likeHips Dont Lie orMasque nada youll notice the background dancers are striking a fewcapoeira moves.

Its everywhere. And Eckart says the best part is that the art canbe learned and practiced by almost everyone.

PHOTOS:GRUPO

CATIVEIRO

CAPOEIRA

Dennis Eckart trains students of all ages

in capoeira, a Brazilian martial arts form

promoting peace and non-violence.

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