Unfortunately, the only day that we could both do it I had started to come down with a bit of a cold. Glad that after a pretty easy first item, I could prove that I meant business on this list, I sucked it up and headed down to the class anyway. Little did I know, things were going to get a LOT tougher!
For those that don't know, capoeira is a Brazilian martial arts dance style. Two people sort of dance together; doing spins, kicks, blocks and handstands; but not really making contact with each other.
Luckily, and very interestingly, the class started off with a jam of capoeira music using traditional instruments - nice touch!
We swapped instruments too, in this next photo I'm pretty sure I must be out of time - getting too distracted posing for a photo!
Next, we did a lot of warming up....
... Then got into some exercises. Here, fellow student Erin demonstrates one particular move/exercise:
Then I gave it a go... I actually look a lot better in this photo than I thought I would!
After that: The basic steps of capoeira: The "ginga". Note how quickly I picked it up - my hands are *cough* perfectly in line with everyone else's!
Finally, we spent a large portion of the class practising our kicks. Everybody split into groups of more or less equal skill level and got a little practise pole each. Naturally, I had a pole to myself seeing as I was way far below everyone else!
You would have thought having a pole to yourself would be a great thing, but it meant that I felt obligated to use it as much as possible - if I was just sitting there recovering, it wouldn't be fair on the others who had to wait to kick over their pole. I was already exhausted - exercising in a very new way and being quite sick and out of breath. I tried my best though, and Jodhi was kind enough to take me aside to teach me a few other moves. I think by the end of the class I was even starting to get a couple down!
At the very end of the class Erin and Jodhi gave a little demonstration. They assured me they were really tired after the class and therefore not doing very well, but I was impressed, as I'm sure you probably are looking at this photo and video!
The class poses for the mandatory "bucket" photo
Jodhi and I do a brief "play" to show what I'd learned. From the looks of this photo, it seems all I'd picked up was how to smile at a camera...
There was only one thing left to do... Capoeira planking!
At the end of the class, Jodhi told me the capoeira pants he'd given me for the class were mine to keep. Thank you Jodhi, it was a nice gesture, and I realised that I didn't mention in the previous post that Greg gave me a cover for my iPad. Not that giving me something should be a part of the list, but I thought it was a cool symmetry that both items I've done so far ended with the person giving me a related gift.
He also gave me something else: The news that the class I'd just done was the advanced class! Monday nights were the beginner classes! Made me feel a bit better for being so far behind everyone else, but that didn't make my body feel any better...
The next day, I woke up quite sick and with all my limbs aching. It was a weird pain too - not the normal muscles that hurt after an intense workout... These were muscles I didn't know existed! Took me ages to recover from the double whammy of sickness and exhaustion, but it was worth it - Thanks again Jodhi!
... I'm even considering going regularly. It was a good workout and a lot of fun and an interesting and different skill to have. I just have to wait until I have the time to do it.
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