Comments on: 6 Keys to Building Upper-Body Strength http://thecapoeirablog.wordpress.com/2008/01/15/6-keys-to-building-upper-body-strength/ A blog about the art, culture, history, philosophy, community, and practice of capoeira. Fri, 09 Oct 2009 13:26:29 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: leandro http://thecapoeirablog.wordpress.com/2008/01/15/6-keys-to-building-upper-body-strength/#comment-1641 leandro Thu, 21 May 2009 08:26:38 +0000 http://thecapoeirablog.wordpress.com/2008/01/15/6-keys-to-building-upper-body-strength/#comment-1641 wow thanks! that really helps wow thanks!
that really helps

]]> By: Joaninha http://thecapoeirablog.wordpress.com/2008/01/15/6-keys-to-building-upper-body-strength/#comment-1290 Joaninha Thu, 04 Dec 2008 01:53:48 +0000 http://thecapoeirablog.wordpress.com/2008/01/15/6-keys-to-building-upper-body-strength/#comment-1290 Thanks, Fouda! (Sorry for the delay in response; I just saw your comment. =\) Thanks, Fouda! (Sorry for the delay in response; I just saw your comment. =\)

]]> By: Mandingueira’s 1-YEAR ANNIVERSARY « Mandingueira http://thecapoeirablog.wordpress.com/2008/01/15/6-keys-to-building-upper-body-strength/#comment-1289 Mandingueira’s 1-YEAR ANNIVERSARY « Mandingueira Mon, 01 Dec 2008 06:05:43 +0000 http://thecapoeirablog.wordpress.com/2008/01/15/6-keys-to-building-upper-body-strength/#comment-1289 [...] 1 guest post on The Capoeira Blog [...] [...] 1 guest post on The Capoeira Blog [...]

]]> By: Fouda http://thecapoeirablog.wordpress.com/2008/01/15/6-keys-to-building-upper-body-strength/#comment-1283 Fouda Sat, 22 Nov 2008 03:16:35 +0000 http://thecapoeirablog.wordpress.com/2008/01/15/6-keys-to-building-upper-body-strength/#comment-1283 AWESOME !!! thanks a gazillion, now i have something to do in those days where i can't come to my Capo. classes 8-) AWESOME !!!

thanks a gazillion, now i have something to do in those days where i can’t come to my Capo. classes 8-)

]]> By: Joaninha http://thecapoeirablog.wordpress.com/2008/01/15/6-keys-to-building-upper-body-strength/#comment-1240 Joaninha Tue, 09 Sep 2008 06:51:33 +0000 http://thecapoeirablog.wordpress.com/2008/01/15/6-keys-to-building-upper-body-strength/#comment-1240 Hey Theresa! Absolutely. I don't know if you've read a lot about capoeira, but a very recurring comment is that capoeira is not about the flashy acrobatics! It's about the game, and the interaction between you and the other player, how you react to what they do and how you can make them react to what you do. As my teacher said recently, and I've read or heard several others say before that, acrobatics are a solitary activity---they require more space to do in general, so whoever does one in the roda will be far away from their opponent. Where is the interaction? To react and interact, you have to be close enough to force reactions and make each response actually have an effect and matter. So with that view, that capoeira is a two-person game (not a one-person project), and a dialogue (not a monologue), in my teacher's and lots of others' words: acrobatics are "filler"! The only thing I would suggest is researching well the capoeira group you are thinking of joining, as some groups do emphasize the acrobatic aspect a lot more than others, even while recognizing acrobatics aren't everything. But otherwise, you should definitely go for it! Hey Theresa!

Absolutely. I don’t know if you’ve read a lot about capoeira, but a very recurring comment is that capoeira is not about the flashy acrobatics! It’s about the game, and the interaction between you and the other player, how you react to what they do and how you can make them react to what you do. As my teacher said recently, and I’ve read or heard several others say before that, acrobatics are a solitary activity—they require more space to do in general, so whoever does one in the roda will be far away from their opponent. Where is the interaction? To react and interact, you have to be close enough to force reactions and make each response actually have an effect and matter. So with that view, that capoeira is a two-person game (not a one-person project), and a dialogue (not a monologue), in my teacher’s and lots of others’ words: acrobatics are “filler”!

The only thing I would suggest is researching well the capoeira group you are thinking of joining, as some groups do emphasize the acrobatic aspect a lot more than others, even while recognizing acrobatics aren’t everything. But otherwise, you should definitely go for it!

]]> By: theresa http://thecapoeirablog.wordpress.com/2008/01/15/6-keys-to-building-upper-body-strength/#comment-1234 theresa Fri, 08 Aug 2008 04:57:11 +0000 http://thecapoeirablog.wordpress.com/2008/01/15/6-keys-to-building-upper-body-strength/#comment-1234 i'm a woman...over 40....not much upper body strength-have never "worked out" or anything like that. embarrassed to say i have tried for years, but have never been able to do even a cartwheel. what i do know and love, is music. i love music! and when i hear the capoeira music, i cannot sit still. despite my lack of physical conditioning and acrobatic ability, i want to learn capoeira; i want to play this beautiful game. i know you say anyone who wants to learn, can. can you play capoeira without being able to do the cartwheels and flips? can one still play capoeira and move to the beautiful rhythms and songs even if one is older and hasn't the upper/lower body conditioning and strength? i’m a woman…over 40….not much upper body strength-have never “worked out” or anything like that. embarrassed to say i have tried for years, but have never been able to do even a cartwheel. what i do know and love, is music. i love music! and when i hear the capoeira music, i cannot sit still. despite my lack of physical conditioning and acrobatic ability, i want to learn capoeira; i want to play this beautiful game. i know you say anyone who wants to learn, can. can you play capoeira without being able to do the cartwheels and flips? can one still play capoeira and move to the beautiful rhythms and songs even if one is older and hasn’t the upper/lower body conditioning and strength?

]]> By: Joaninha http://thecapoeirablog.wordpress.com/2008/01/15/6-keys-to-building-upper-body-strength/#comment-1229 Joaninha Sat, 26 Jul 2008 08:35:57 +0000 http://thecapoeirablog.wordpress.com/2008/01/15/6-keys-to-building-upper-body-strength/#comment-1229 Thank you, lmk! (*considers whether or not to resort to line involving slowness, steadiness, and a race... :P) --- Hey Aris, Upper body strength will definitely help you to do handstands, since you are supporting all your weight on your arms, after all! However, I've also been told by teachers that a lot of movements are more about getting the balance right or not being afraid psychologically, rather than dependent on pure strength. However, there's no doubt that once you do get it, it will help you to stay up longer, start walking on your hands, etc.! As for push-ups, yup...as both Faisca and I mentioned, it's because push-ups work nearly every part of your upper body. Just try them until you can't do anymore, and see where you feel it! If you click on the various links in my post, they all lead to sites that give more detailed advice on how to actually do upper-body exercises. If you're interested in capoeira (which is great!), just taking the classes alone and nothing else will increase your strength and flexibility (in my experience). :D Thank you, lmk! (*considers whether or not to resort to line involving slowness, steadiness, and a race… :P )

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Hey Aris,

Upper body strength will definitely help you to do handstands, since you are supporting all your weight on your arms, after all! However, I’ve also been told by teachers that a lot of movements are more about getting the balance right or not being afraid psychologically, rather than dependent on pure strength. However, there’s no doubt that once you do get it, it will help you to stay up longer, start walking on your hands, etc.!

As for push-ups, yup…as both Faisca and I mentioned, it’s because push-ups work nearly every part of your upper body. Just try them until you can’t do anymore, and see where you feel it!
If you click on the various links in my post, they all lead to sites that give more detailed advice on how to actually do upper-body exercises. If you’re interested in capoeira (which is great!), just taking the classes alone and nothing else will increase your strength and flexibility (in my experience). :D

]]> By: Aris http://thecapoeirablog.wordpress.com/2008/01/15/6-keys-to-building-upper-body-strength/#comment-1195 Aris Sun, 06 Jul 2008 07:21:14 +0000 http://thecapoeirablog.wordpress.com/2008/01/15/6-keys-to-building-upper-body-strength/#comment-1195 So upper body strength is the key to do proper,steadier and straighter handstands..? I didn't really know that..and doing push ups really help with the upper body strength too..? I really Want to do capoeira..and become more stronger and flexible too..i'm just a kid..and is there any helpful advice with the upper body strength exercises..? ~Aris~ So upper body strength is the key to do proper,steadier and straighter handstands..?
I didn’t really know that..and doing push ups really help with the upper body strength too..?
I really Want to do capoeira..and become more stronger and flexible too..i’m just a kid..and is there any helpful advice with the upper body strength exercises..?
~Aris~

]]> By: lmk http://thecapoeirablog.wordpress.com/2008/01/15/6-keys-to-building-upper-body-strength/#comment-1192 lmk Thu, 03 Jul 2008 14:04:57 +0000 http://thecapoeirablog.wordpress.com/2008/01/15/6-keys-to-building-upper-body-strength/#comment-1192 This post is really inspiring. I've been meaning to increase upper-body strength but doing push-ups everyday allows only slow improvements for me (worth it though). I've also noticed I'm not doing the proper way (arms at 90-degrees). Great stuff! This post is really inspiring. I’ve been meaning to increase upper-body strength but doing push-ups everyday allows only slow improvements for me (worth it though). I’ve also noticed I’m not doing the proper way (arms at 90-degrees). Great stuff!

]]> By: Myth Busters: Women and Upper-Body Strength « Mandingueira http://thecapoeirablog.wordpress.com/2008/01/15/6-keys-to-building-upper-body-strength/#comment-735 Myth Busters: Women and Upper-Body Strength « Mandingueira Mon, 28 Jan 2008 18:18:20 +0000 http://thecapoeirablog.wordpress.com/2008/01/15/6-keys-to-building-upper-body-strength/#comment-735 [...] Myth Busters: Women and Upper-Body Strength 28 01 2008 This entry is a follow-up/sister post to the one I guest-wrote on The Capoeira Blog, “6 Keys to Building Upper-Body Strength“. [...] [...] Myth Busters: Women and Upper-Body Strength 28 01 2008 This entry is a follow-up/sister post to the one I guest-wrote on The Capoeira Blog, “6 Keys to Building Upper-Body Strength“. [...]

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