“Capoeira is about commitment,” says Kandice Ting, who is into advertising, in an earlier Enterprise Magazine (of Media G8way Corp.) interview.  “(A kind of commitment, of dedication) that is not to be taken lightly (as) they are a product of long, hard work.”

TAKE THE ACTION OUT OF THE GYM. Emerging as a favorite of many is this sexy dance cum martial arts from Brazil.

Ting is, of course, talking about the Brazilian martial art believed to have been initially developed by African slaves in Brazil starting in the colonial period (1494) – it is largely known for its fluid acrobatic play whose techniques and strategies seemingly blend dancing.  Even though it was already “formalized” by Brazilian Mestre Bimba (born Manuel dos Reis Machado, 1900-1974; mestre is a master practitioner), to beginners in particular, Capoeira may be a little perplexing as it is a “martial art that is unlike any other, made more unique with its infusion of music and dance” – e.g. the ginga, the basic Capoeira movement that all other steps are based on, which requires shifting of the feet in a triangular motion while the arms follow to protect the face.

“Iba talaga siya, eh (It’s really different); it’s nothing like I’ve tried before,” Ting says, adding that while it was “really intimidating at first,” maybe because it is fun, it gets easier with time.  This is helped by the fact that one need not have knowledge in both dance and martial arts to go into Capoeira.

But why Capoeira? 

Beyond the uniqueness of the sport, the benefits include the increased need to live “clean,” since smoking and drinking interfere with a player’s performance; and, hey, it’s sexy!  This is not to mention the axé (kind of energy that moves everything in the universe, according to some African beliefs) that capoeristas bring with them wherever they may be, so that everything is “seen with fresh eyes, brought about by the exhilaration from Capoeira,” Ting says.

So find a mat, and start learning Capoeira.