Saturday, December 13, 2008
Friday, December 5, 2008
capoeira berimbau workshop
yesterday 12/4, we had a basic berimbau lesson. we learned sao bento de grande, sao bento pequeno, and angola mainly.
sao bento grande is the most basic one you learn. i love it:
chi chinc chinc duung duung
sao bento grande is the most basic one you learn. i love it:
chi chinc chinc duung duung
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
painting 6
In class, we continued the landscape depth work. I finished up on my old piece and started something new. The new one took less planning, and I was able to whip it into something in only a few minutes. A classmate says it looks impressionistic. which is cool... My teacher really likes my work. He sees potential in me. He says I have good sense of color, and that he hopes to see me in a museum someday. All flattery, but encouraging nonetheless. I am definately inspired by his work & class. He lent me a book, "The Art Book", to return next week. Also, I am excited about some of the classes for next semester (even though I may not be around... we'll see)
Sunday, November 23, 2008
capoeira vid inspiration
i've been losing a little capoeira inspiration. so i decided i should look at some vids. normally, not interested in mma. but this video has some good capo at the end. very bad southern rap music though:
also, this is good simple inspirational capoeira in this wannabe commercial:
also, this is good simple inspirational capoeira in this wannabe commercial:
Saturday, November 22, 2008
yah!!
Status: Delivered
Your item was delivered at 10:51 AM on November 22, 2008 in WASHINGTON, DC 20008 to JET PROGRAM . The item was signed for by T TBET.
Your item was delivered at 10:51 AM on November 22, 2008 in WASHINGTON, DC 20008 to JET PROGRAM . The item was signed for by T TBET.
painting 5
the girl from painting class isn't a girl. she's married and is a lawyer. she took off recently to travel around the world, and is now pregnant with a baby. i couldn't tell. she lives on the same block of the school. haha, how she told me was "i live on this street", but what i heard was "i live on the street". i said "really". she said "yeah, i really do. i live on the street". well thas how i heard it. i didn't know what to say in that moment. haha, but then i figured it out later when i said bye. i like making cool new acquaintances.... in class, we tried to finish our paintings. i missed last class, so it was virtually impossible for me. the class I went to - what we were doing was the underdrawing. the class i missed was with color, not monochrome anymore. and this class, we were to work on glazing. which is slightly modifying the color by adding color and medium over it. i was rushing too much, so i didnt get to try glazing. my picture came out like crap needless to say. but my teacher/professor still likes my style : throwing globs of paint on the canvas. hehe. by the way, his show started today. keep in mind this guy is an amazing photorealist landscape artist : http://jamesvanpatten.com/
highlights of Hakim Archuletta
"to go to a different place you have to go to a place that's different" ...
he talked about the importance of counsel, when you want to change. combined with effort: guiding your actions by being aware of them. "we cannot talk if we are not able to hear ourselves talk". he demonstrated how our eyes are important in honing in on where our hand is reaching. he said pleasure is necessary for our bodies to function. "the baseline of the body is not the lack of pain ... the baseline of the body is ecstatic pleasure". enthusiasm - from the root theos, which means God. so enthusiasm is the feeling of God. breathing and feeling : the more we breath, the more we feel. the more we breath, the more sentient we become. he mentioned depression is caused from a lack of feeling. he said we breath with our whole body, not just our lungs. practice breathing up from your toes all the way up to your head. that's inspiration. then release : sigh of relief... we must be aware of our senses. he talked about how beneficial it is to sleep an hour before midnight. & participate in yoga and study in the morning. he mentioned we should eat what we need and nothing more. the body knows what it needs and we need to learn to listen. we participated in standing exercises: bending our knees is the natural way to stand. locking your knees takes away the feeling of your legs. it is important to feel your body he kept stressing. your body is more able to take care of itself if it feels itself. a simple exercise is to rock forward onto your toes, still with your knees bent. that he called an active position. and then rocking backward unto our heels he called passive. the center standing position of it all he called balance. we need to balance between our active and passive stance in life he said. we also with feet 6" apart would bend them low. this caused pain to the group after only a few seconds. he said holding it for a minute or two would be good. he mentioned that if we are not motivated to do what we need to. we need to go out and seek assistance. pick up a martial art! about food he mentioned the "imponderables". "it's not what you eat, but who you eat with". food from your mom is good because she made it for you with care. food from McDonalds is bad because it is made fast by a big corporation and stangers. it isn't about the food pyramid, basically. it is a lot to do with the factors that surround the food. "store-bought teeth comes from store-bought food" - Westin Price. your body knows what it likes to eat. food must look and taste good he says. "poisons are things that we cannot assimilate or eliminate from our being". He advocates the book, "Nourishing Traditions" by Fallie Fallon (sp?). overall good stuff.
he talked about the importance of counsel, when you want to change. combined with effort: guiding your actions by being aware of them. "we cannot talk if we are not able to hear ourselves talk". he demonstrated how our eyes are important in honing in on where our hand is reaching. he said pleasure is necessary for our bodies to function. "the baseline of the body is not the lack of pain ... the baseline of the body is ecstatic pleasure". enthusiasm - from the root theos, which means God. so enthusiasm is the feeling of God. breathing and feeling : the more we breath, the more we feel. the more we breath, the more sentient we become. he mentioned depression is caused from a lack of feeling. he said we breath with our whole body, not just our lungs. practice breathing up from your toes all the way up to your head. that's inspiration. then release : sigh of relief... we must be aware of our senses. he talked about how beneficial it is to sleep an hour before midnight. & participate in yoga and study in the morning. he mentioned we should eat what we need and nothing more. the body knows what it needs and we need to learn to listen. we participated in standing exercises: bending our knees is the natural way to stand. locking your knees takes away the feeling of your legs. it is important to feel your body he kept stressing. your body is more able to take care of itself if it feels itself. a simple exercise is to rock forward onto your toes, still with your knees bent. that he called an active position. and then rocking backward unto our heels he called passive. the center standing position of it all he called balance. we need to balance between our active and passive stance in life he said. we also with feet 6" apart would bend them low. this caused pain to the group after only a few seconds. he said holding it for a minute or two would be good. he mentioned that if we are not motivated to do what we need to. we need to go out and seek assistance. pick up a martial art! about food he mentioned the "imponderables". "it's not what you eat, but who you eat with". food from your mom is good because she made it for you with care. food from McDonalds is bad because it is made fast by a big corporation and stangers. it isn't about the food pyramid, basically. it is a lot to do with the factors that surround the food. "store-bought teeth comes from store-bought food" - Westin Price. your body knows what it likes to eat. food must look and taste good he says. "poisons are things that we cannot assimilate or eliminate from our being". He advocates the book, "Nourishing Traditions" by Fallie Fallon (sp?). overall good stuff.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
painting 4
that girl from class, her name is Shoshana (sp?). she asked me if i am a professional painter, basically. oh i *blushed*. oh how i want to be.
so in this class, we were working on a figure drawing. but here's the catch, we could only use burnt umber, black, and white. this is a good exercise in tonality. the theory - when we go back to using multiple colors again, we will have acquired so much new insight and technique in shading, that our work will be awesome. we basically got the underpaintings down this class, and we'll be working some more on the painting in the next class.... this is also the night obama has been elected. i voted for him this morning like a good citizen.
so in this class, we were working on a figure drawing. but here's the catch, we could only use burnt umber, black, and white. this is a good exercise in tonality. the theory - when we go back to using multiple colors again, we will have acquired so much new insight and technique in shading, that our work will be awesome. we basically got the underpaintings down this class, and we'll be working some more on the painting in the next class.... this is also the night obama has been elected. i voted for him this morning like a good citizen.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
capoeira log 11
Wed Oct 22:
beginner 1 -
warmup:
handstands and handstand walking.
need to practice looking forward on the wall + with shoulder (lizard) movement to simulate walking on the hands.
practice:
1. au to negativa - rolle
2. au to negativa - macaco
sequencia:
jinga - armada - esquiva parallel - twist into negativa - rolle
beginner 2 -
sequencia:
mea lua de frente (to parallel) - esquiva parallel - armada (to parallel) - cocorinha hop (sp) - quexada fake step to the other side - descida - negativa - rolle - au subida (sp? aka the short au) to negativa - rolle - descida - negativa - roquo
Friday Oct 24:
Beginner 2 -
practice:
1. negativa - rolle into negativa
2. negativa - queda de rins on straight leg side into negativa
3. alternating 1 & 2
4. different kinds of aus: the normal one , the short one, the one into a handstand, then au sem mao.
5. kicks: 5 to each side of each: armada, quexada, mea lua de compasso, mea lua de frente, martelo
sequencia:
1. jinga - cocorinha hop (sp?) - quexada fake into jinga (other direction)
2. quexada - esquiva lateral lean back unto back leg into negativa - roquo - short au
- descida - step up into negativa - rolle
all levels -
practice:
1. wall stand - to headstand (knees to your chest) - negativa
2. half mea lua de compasso - headstand (knees to your chest) - negativa
sequencia:
1. descida - switch jinga - esquiva lateral back to jinga (pendulum) - [gancho from the back leg] - esquiva parallel - step forward
partner:
A: half mea lua de compasso - headstand (knees to your chest) - negativa - rolle
B: esquiva lateral (low) - negativa - roquo - switch jinga
Wed Nov 5:
Beginner 2 -
practice:
1. armada - quexada - martelo (from front leg)
2. mea lua de frente to armada - mea lua de compasso (from jinga pose)
3. with partner, while jingaing: one person does mea lua de frente to armada, the other esquivas and then does floating martelo on the armada step and spins back into jinga.
3. we practiced queda de rins moves:
* negativa - queda de rins - negativa
* negativa - backwards queda de rins (sort of like macaco) - negativa
beginner 1 -
warmup:
handstands and handstand walking.
need to practice looking forward on the wall + with shoulder (lizard) movement to simulate walking on the hands.
practice:
1. au to negativa - rolle
2. au to negativa - macaco
sequencia:
jinga - armada - esquiva parallel - twist into negativa - rolle
beginner 2 -
sequencia:
mea lua de frente (to parallel) - esquiva parallel - armada (to parallel) - cocorinha hop (sp) - quexada fake step to the other side - descida - negativa - rolle - au subida (sp? aka the short au) to negativa - rolle - descida - negativa - roquo
Friday Oct 24:
Beginner 2 -
practice:
1. negativa - rolle into negativa
2. negativa - queda de rins on straight leg side into negativa
3. alternating 1 & 2
4. different kinds of aus: the normal one , the short one, the one into a handstand, then au sem mao.
5. kicks: 5 to each side of each: armada, quexada, mea lua de compasso, mea lua de frente, martelo
sequencia:
1. jinga - cocorinha hop (sp?) - quexada fake into jinga (other direction)
2. quexada - esquiva lateral lean back unto back leg into negativa - roquo - short au
- descida - step up into negativa - rolle
all levels -
practice:
1. wall stand - to headstand (knees to your chest) - negativa
2. half mea lua de compasso - headstand (knees to your chest) - negativa
sequencia:
1. descida - switch jinga - esquiva lateral back to jinga (pendulum) - [gancho from the back leg] - esquiva parallel - step forward
partner:
A: half mea lua de compasso - headstand (knees to your chest) - negativa - rolle
B: esquiva lateral (low) - negativa - roquo - switch jinga
Wed Nov 5:
Beginner 2 -
practice:
1. armada - quexada - martelo (from front leg)
2. mea lua de frente to armada - mea lua de compasso (from jinga pose)
3. with partner, while jingaing: one person does mea lua de frente to armada, the other esquivas and then does floating martelo on the armada step and spins back into jinga.
3. we practiced queda de rins moves:
* negativa - queda de rins - negativa
* negativa - backwards queda de rins (sort of like macaco) - negativa
Thursday, October 16, 2008
capoeira log 10
W Oct 15:
practice:
we did a number of drills each for about 30 seconds to a minute.
1. 2x squat position - martelo (left) - martelo (right)
2. 2x hopping over sticks (left and right)
3. about 3-4 armadas (left and right)
4. descida - esquiva parallel - esquiva lateral - descida (repeat)
5. jump rope (alternating between feet together and skipping)
6. bar bell curls about 10 - 15 lbs
7. jingaing with weights on her hands
(it was hardcore, i was sweating a lot).
sequencia:
1. armada - descida - esquiva parallel - martelo from the esquiva - leg goes back to jinga
2. armada - descida - negativa - rolle / negativa - queda de rins negativa - rolle - switch jinga
roda:
i faked a mea lua de compasso. and then did a real one, but actually hit my partner. i felt so sorry. this is the importance of looking in capoeira, especially dangerous moves like mea lua de compasso. we volta mundaed and everything was ok. but i will practice looking!
practice:
we did a number of drills each for about 30 seconds to a minute.
1. 2x squat position - martelo (left) - martelo (right)
2. 2x hopping over sticks (left and right)
3. about 3-4 armadas (left and right)
4. descida - esquiva parallel - esquiva lateral - descida (repeat)
5. jump rope (alternating between feet together and skipping)
6. bar bell curls about 10 - 15 lbs
7. jingaing with weights on her hands
(it was hardcore, i was sweating a lot).
sequencia:
1. armada - descida - esquiva parallel - martelo from the esquiva - leg goes back to jinga
2. armada - descida - negativa - rolle / negativa - queda de rins negativa - rolle - switch jinga
roda:
i faked a mea lua de compasso. and then did a real one, but actually hit my partner. i felt so sorry. this is the importance of looking in capoeira, especially dangerous moves like mea lua de compasso. we volta mundaed and everything was ok. but i will practice looking!
Thursday, October 9, 2008
nice day
today was just a nice day hanging out with N before heading to lakewood. i felt almost no stress which was a good feeling. so i could be calm and just enjoy the day. the weather was nice which was a good thing. i told her that i think i thrive best w. movement, even though sometimes i can fall into the trap of staying too still. she said stop all this deep talk, more adventures. heh.
later on, i sang bob marley to my mom. "woke up this morning, smiled with the rising sun. three little birds perched on my doo..." she laughed at me.
later on, i sang bob marley to my mom. "woke up this morning, smiled with the rising sun. three little birds perched on my doo..." she laughed at me.
painting 3
it's a new semester and i'm painting again. this time it is a bit more specific. i'm learning the Acrylic Painting Techniques. My new instructor has a very realistic style, as opposed to my old instructor who has a kind of painterly style. I am very enthused to learn from him, and gain some new insight into this painting thing.
he let me borrow materials the first class, but I will have to get my own for next. he had acrylics that stayed-wet, which is awesome. the acrylics i used in my last painting class dried way too easily. but yeah, the material list is so long! probably worth it though...
i had a shaky start. but when he saw my finished work, he said "boy, you really hit the ground running". i said "thank you". he asked if I had taken any painting classes before. I said "yeah, another one". He said, "it shows". It felt good to hear, given I didn't think it was so great. I felt he was humoring, but a number of people in the class complemented the work as well. so i guess what i learned in last class did pay off. a couple of techniques that were useful from last class: thinking about composition, the preliminary sketches (the teacher had to remind me to do it at first), how to see (i had to take a deep breath and really stare before I started), the underdrawing, the color wheel and complementary colors, overpainting, and scumbling techniques. ok, the last two i stole from the book I bought ages ago on acrylic painting techniques.
the class was intimidating at first (and I guess I would still be intimidated, if they weren't acceptant of my picture), since everyone seems like professional hardcore artists. each of their works were done skillfully and with care. mine wasn't a realistic depiction, but interesting I guess because of choice of composition and my loose simplistic style. i hope i will be able to do realistic pictures though by the end of class. ..
anyway, yeah, the theme of class was to take an orange and make an interesting composition out of it. we could do anything. so i ripped mine open and peeled off the skin in an irregular way so it resembled an onion and put a pallete knife right through the center. I set the orange facing me so that I was staring at the tip of the pallete knife. oh by the way, the canvas size he is making us use initially is the smallest possible (8 by 10). this contrasts heavily with the large canvii I'm used to from the other class, but change is good. the idea was to make the orange larger than life. I developed the orange in stages to give it texture: lots of lots of overpainting. and I used colors freely. in painting it really doesn't matter as long as you convey the lighting patterns with enough contrast in your color scheme. and a lot of times when adding new colors, I would leave a little bit of the original color in the brush. this had a nice blending effect. a trick i learned in last class. also, i learned to smooth out my edges and not leave any tiny white spaces on the paper. my other teacher had taught me to let the contrast in color make natural edges as opposed to drawing them directly.
the teacher didn't really tell us any new techniques. just observed a lot, made nice comments, treating us all like masters in our own rite. i'm kind of hoping he does get into the techniques though. the class is still good without i guess: lots of encouragement, lots of time, no stress and inspiring people. but i really want to master acrylic painting. that's what i'm there for. i wanna be at the level of my instructor. hope he passes the knowledge on.
he let me borrow materials the first class, but I will have to get my own for next. he had acrylics that stayed-wet, which is awesome. the acrylics i used in my last painting class dried way too easily. but yeah, the material list is so long! probably worth it though...
i had a shaky start. but when he saw my finished work, he said "boy, you really hit the ground running". i said "thank you". he asked if I had taken any painting classes before. I said "yeah, another one". He said, "it shows". It felt good to hear, given I didn't think it was so great. I felt he was humoring, but a number of people in the class complemented the work as well. so i guess what i learned in last class did pay off. a couple of techniques that were useful from last class: thinking about composition, the preliminary sketches (the teacher had to remind me to do it at first), how to see (i had to take a deep breath and really stare before I started), the underdrawing, the color wheel and complementary colors, overpainting, and scumbling techniques. ok, the last two i stole from the book I bought ages ago on acrylic painting techniques.
the class was intimidating at first (and I guess I would still be intimidated, if they weren't acceptant of my picture), since everyone seems like professional hardcore artists. each of their works were done skillfully and with care. mine wasn't a realistic depiction, but interesting I guess because of choice of composition and my loose simplistic style. i hope i will be able to do realistic pictures though by the end of class. ..
anyway, yeah, the theme of class was to take an orange and make an interesting composition out of it. we could do anything. so i ripped mine open and peeled off the skin in an irregular way so it resembled an onion and put a pallete knife right through the center. I set the orange facing me so that I was staring at the tip of the pallete knife. oh by the way, the canvas size he is making us use initially is the smallest possible (8 by 10). this contrasts heavily with the large canvii I'm used to from the other class, but change is good. the idea was to make the orange larger than life. I developed the orange in stages to give it texture: lots of lots of overpainting. and I used colors freely. in painting it really doesn't matter as long as you convey the lighting patterns with enough contrast in your color scheme. and a lot of times when adding new colors, I would leave a little bit of the original color in the brush. this had a nice blending effect. a trick i learned in last class. also, i learned to smooth out my edges and not leave any tiny white spaces on the paper. my other teacher had taught me to let the contrast in color make natural edges as opposed to drawing them directly.
the teacher didn't really tell us any new techniques. just observed a lot, made nice comments, treating us all like masters in our own rite. i'm kind of hoping he does get into the techniques though. the class is still good without i guess: lots of encouragement, lots of time, no stress and inspiring people. but i really want to master acrylic painting. that's what i'm there for. i wanna be at the level of my instructor. hope he passes the knowledge on.
capoeira log 9
thursday oct 9, 2008
1. we mainly practiced the jinga fake to cutting off some one doing negativa-role (find out what this is called) to the raiz.
2. also, we practiced mea lua de compasso - step back - mea lua de compasso etc.
3. we also held handstands with a partner and slowly came down on our heads toward the end. when we do handstands we need to look straight ahead.
( i know i know, i have a lot of missing updates. i will try to catch up sometime.)
1. we mainly practiced the jinga fake to cutting off some one doing negativa-role (find out what this is called) to the raiz.
2. also, we practiced mea lua de compasso - step back - mea lua de compasso etc.
3. we also held handstands with a partner and slowly came down on our heads toward the end. when we do handstands we need to look straight ahead.
( i know i know, i have a lot of missing updates. i will try to catch up sometime.)
Monday, September 29, 2008
Sunday, September 28, 2008
japan
mid august i went to japan, and came back to the united states a little before the dawn of september. japan was the most anticipated trip of my life... i cannot tell you exactly why. i mean there is content there that i identify with, but more so it has been as an undefinable love. something drawing me there always. there has been no place in the world that has consumed as much of my mind! not my birthplace, not here, nowhere else! it's insane!
in my early days, i confused japan as being the birthplace of martial arts haha. it's not, it's india. but i loved the idea of samurais, and that's a japan original. even though what i believed about them was wrong. they were disciplined and honorable, but their function was no different from military men. and the military i do not identify with... being attracted to anime died down in college, though i still appreciate it as an art form. i also liked the originality and beauty of the japanese writing system, but i also learned later that the most beautiful parts were borrowed from China. i've also heard peers come to associate japan with negativity, like their crazy game shows and weird behaviors. however, no matter what, japan stuck with me.
a little after my grandpa's death (and Randy Pausch), i was reminded of my mortality... and was convinced that i had to go NOW rather than later. i wanted something structured, something that ensured that I would be immersed in the culture for some time. but a deep feeling came over me that i couldn't wait another year. i had to GO, if only for just 2 weeks. and so i put all my effort into it for about a month or two before hand. in my thoughts was mostly japan. i put off eating out, hanging with friends, even capoeira to save up. i gave up my apt, which was long overdue, but i was even more driven to do it for that security deposit. that money was necessary for my trip. i kept it mostly a secret. not 'cause i didn't want to tell others. but everything i told others flopped, and i really REALLY wanted this to happen! i guess I doubted myself for some reason. as simple as it all seems now, can you believe that down in my mind, it felt a little like japan is just a figment of my imagination, and that I will never see it in this lifetime. and so everything was shocking! watching myself empty out my account to book that plane ticket: wow! it was amazing. i had materialized this dream somehow. and then anticipating what's next each day was nerve racking. at any moment, I was looking out for obstacles that would impede my plans. {To BE Continued}
in my early days, i confused japan as being the birthplace of martial arts haha. it's not, it's india. but i loved the idea of samurais, and that's a japan original. even though what i believed about them was wrong. they were disciplined and honorable, but their function was no different from military men. and the military i do not identify with... being attracted to anime died down in college, though i still appreciate it as an art form. i also liked the originality and beauty of the japanese writing system, but i also learned later that the most beautiful parts were borrowed from China. i've also heard peers come to associate japan with negativity, like their crazy game shows and weird behaviors. however, no matter what, japan stuck with me.
a little after my grandpa's death (and Randy Pausch), i was reminded of my mortality... and was convinced that i had to go NOW rather than later. i wanted something structured, something that ensured that I would be immersed in the culture for some time. but a deep feeling came over me that i couldn't wait another year. i had to GO, if only for just 2 weeks. and so i put all my effort into it for about a month or two before hand. in my thoughts was mostly japan. i put off eating out, hanging with friends, even capoeira to save up. i gave up my apt, which was long overdue, but i was even more driven to do it for that security deposit. that money was necessary for my trip. i kept it mostly a secret. not 'cause i didn't want to tell others. but everything i told others flopped, and i really REALLY wanted this to happen! i guess I doubted myself for some reason. as simple as it all seems now, can you believe that down in my mind, it felt a little like japan is just a figment of my imagination, and that I will never see it in this lifetime. and so everything was shocking! watching myself empty out my account to book that plane ticket: wow! it was amazing. i had materialized this dream somehow. and then anticipating what's next each day was nerve racking. at any moment, I was looking out for obstacles that would impede my plans. {To BE Continued}
Saturday, July 26, 2008
Friday, July 25, 2008
Friday, July 18, 2008
japan revisited
ok, i am set for mid aug (12-26). now, i have to figure out how to stay accommodated for two weeks (lodging, food, and transportation) with a very tight budget (<= $1000). please help!!
i am gonna land in Tokyo.
The plan is to wing most of the trip, but three destinations I want to hit:
Mount Fuji/ Hakone - I want to hike it as the very first thing I do.
Kyoto/ Nara - Temple magicness.
Shikoku - see the scenery, meet the natives.
With these three places visited, the rest is up in the air. I want to take my time and enjoy my short stay.
i am gonna land in Tokyo.
The plan is to wing most of the trip, but three destinations I want to hit:
Mount Fuji/ Hakone - I want to hike it as the very first thing I do.
Kyoto/ Nara - Temple magicness.
Shikoku - see the scenery, meet the natives.
With these three places visited, the rest is up in the air. I want to take my time and enjoy my short stay.
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
capoeira log 8
sat (7/12/08):
in the park, we practiced floreiros again, by the nethermeads. the most memorable sequence:
au de caluna (sp?) - slight spin over into negativa - queda de rins into negativa - role
tues (7/15/08):
conditioning:
au stretches + au stretch pushups, negativa pushups
sequencia:
switch jinga - mea lua de frente (leg goes back) - esquiva parallel - negativa - quick slidy get up thingy - martelo - that standing rasteira variation - esquiva left and right
practice:
queda de rins esquiva - head au or head spin
: to do head au, you lower yourself on one hand from the negativa, let your head touch the floor now, then slide your legs over while your other hand catches the floor, and then your legs fall back into negativa.
: to do head spin, it is kind of the same thing, only you throw yourself inwards. we'll see.
in the park, we practiced floreiros again, by the nethermeads. the most memorable sequence:
au de caluna (sp?) - slight spin over into negativa - queda de rins into negativa - role
tues (7/15/08):
conditioning:
au stretches + au stretch pushups, negativa pushups
sequencia:
switch jinga - mea lua de frente (leg goes back) - esquiva parallel - negativa - quick slidy get up thingy - martelo - that standing rasteira variation - esquiva left and right
practice:
queda de rins esquiva - head au or head spin
: to do head au, you lower yourself on one hand from the negativa, let your head touch the floor now, then slide your legs over while your other hand catches the floor, and then your legs fall back into negativa.
: to do head spin, it is kind of the same thing, only you throw yourself inwards. we'll see.
Thursday, July 10, 2008
japan
some nature. maybe mount fuji. a temple. maybe a little capoeira.
some locals. some customs. maybe try and pick up a little japanese.
--
some possibilities:
adventure:
hike mount fuji + visit hot springs, Hakone :
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e6901.html
culture:
Kyoto / Nara - traditional society lives here.
Nagasaki or Hiroshima - A-bomb sites.
Hokkaido - Japan's least developed.
nature (besides Mount Fuji):
Kii Peninsula - "a picturesquely indented tongue of land below Nagoya".
Okinawa - "the hawaii of Japan" : beachy
meditation:
paint a scene (somewhere beautiful).
touristy:
visit capoeira school or roda.
buy something authentic.
see a performance.
eat something nice.
some locals. some customs. maybe try and pick up a little japanese.
--
some possibilities:
adventure:
hike mount fuji + visit hot springs, Hakone :
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e6901.html
culture:
Kyoto / Nara - traditional society lives here.
Nagasaki or Hiroshima - A-bomb sites.
Hokkaido - Japan's least developed.
nature (besides Mount Fuji):
Kii Peninsula - "a picturesquely indented tongue of land below Nagoya".
Okinawa - "the hawaii of Japan" : beachy
meditation:
paint a scene (somewhere beautiful).
touristy:
visit capoeira school or roda.
buy something authentic.
see a performance.
eat something nice.
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Monday, June 16, 2008
capoeira log 7
Monday (June 16, 2008):
today we did two sequencias, very simple, as this is the beginner's class.
1. quexada - esquiva parallel - switch jinga twice
2. armada - descida - switch jinga twice
i guess the focus here was to work on control and fluidity.
we also practiced kicking our leg straight up in the air, switching jinga and doing it on the other side. what's that kick called? it's just a straight high kick.
+ a new instructor came from las vegas to be with us. he's very fast.
+ today i was "hungry for capoeira". haha, mestre high-fived me after the roda. he said "what did you eat?" i said "nothing". and he said "oh, you must've been hungry for capoeira". haha. yeah, i guess was a bit excited today. but to be precise i think, it was the salmon dinner.
+ my classmates had just come back from the summer weekend retreat. they look so happy in the photos. damn.
+ haha, more fun to come.
Tuesday (June 17, 2008):
sequencia -
start from jinga, right leg back - jump and replace the front leg into esquiva parallel to the right - back to jinga (left leg back) - esquiva parallel (* 2) - switch jinga - armada - quexada - jump into rasteira to queda de rins - negativa - roquo - back to jinga
practice:
martelo rotado
esquiva parallel to martelo rotado
[ the martelo rotado is like an armada followed directly by a martelo in the air. Mestre says to kick the martelo-ing leg towards the ground, to get the movement correct and avoid kicking the fan hehe.]
roda:
i shouldve stretched and eaten properly. i was sloppy today. + i have to practice looking more at the other when i do my movements.
eh, tomorrow will be better.
Sat (June 28):
In the park, we worked on various floreiros:
1. queda de rins negativa
2. au to peau je mao
3. au de caluna?
4. the head flippie thing
we also worked on combining 2 - 4. i have to work on *looking* when i do all my movements.
today we did two sequencias, very simple, as this is the beginner's class.
1. quexada - esquiva parallel - switch jinga twice
2. armada - descida - switch jinga twice
i guess the focus here was to work on control and fluidity.
we also practiced kicking our leg straight up in the air, switching jinga and doing it on the other side. what's that kick called? it's just a straight high kick.
+ a new instructor came from las vegas to be with us. he's very fast.
+ today i was "hungry for capoeira". haha, mestre high-fived me after the roda. he said "what did you eat?" i said "nothing". and he said "oh, you must've been hungry for capoeira". haha. yeah, i guess was a bit excited today. but to be precise i think, it was the salmon dinner.
+ my classmates had just come back from the summer weekend retreat. they look so happy in the photos. damn.
+ haha, more fun to come.
Tuesday (June 17, 2008):
sequencia -
start from jinga, right leg back - jump and replace the front leg into esquiva parallel to the right - back to jinga (left leg back) - esquiva parallel (* 2) - switch jinga - armada - quexada - jump into rasteira to queda de rins - negativa - roquo - back to jinga
practice:
martelo rotado
esquiva parallel to martelo rotado
[ the martelo rotado is like an armada followed directly by a martelo in the air. Mestre says to kick the martelo-ing leg towards the ground, to get the movement correct and avoid kicking the fan hehe.]
roda:
i shouldve stretched and eaten properly. i was sloppy today. + i have to practice looking more at the other when i do my movements.
eh, tomorrow will be better.
Sat (June 28):
In the park, we worked on various floreiros:
1. queda de rins negativa
2. au to peau je mao
3. au de caluna?
4. the head flippie thing
we also worked on combining 2 - 4. i have to work on *looking* when i do all my movements.
reality is
"There is, by the way, an area in which a man's feelings are more rational than his mind, and it is precisely in that area that his will is pulled in several directions at the same time. You might sneer at this, but I know now. I was pulled this way and that for longer than I can remember. And my problem was that I always tried to go in everyone's way but my own. I have also been called one thing and then another while no one really wished to hear what I called myself. So after years of trying to adopt the opinions of others I finally rebelled. I am an invisible man. Thus I have come a long way and returned and boomeranged a long way from the point in society toward which I originally aspired".
- The Invisible Man (by Ralph Ellison)
- The Invisible Man (by Ralph Ellison)
Sunday, June 15, 2008
the 5 -10 most useful capoeira conditioning routines
hey, i started on the wrong foot with the whole capoeira conditioning posts. i am gonna start it over real soon. i have so much to say about conditioning that one or two posts simply won't cut it. but for now, i just wanted to write down the 5 most useful routines that helped my game:
1. au/mea lua stretches (left, right, and back)
2. squats (standard + in the jinga position)
3. rasteira/negativa stretches and splits (as low as you can go)
4. handstands (and handstand pushups) on the wall
5. bridges and wall wheels
i feel that just doing these 5 types of conditioning routine in addition to playing capo regularly has helped me tremendously with flexibility, agility, springiness, and fluidity.
if i were to go further to write the 10 most useful routines. i guess i would add:
6. all types of lower ab crunches (everything works your upper abs, so ignore those)
7. tricep pushups (diamonds, v's, and negativa)
8. touching your toes (while standing)
9. laying down on your back, while stretching your legs over your head till it touches the ground (and also holding your toes)
10. the jinga (and all its variations)
1. au/mea lua stretches (left, right, and back)
2. squats (standard + in the jinga position)
3. rasteira/negativa stretches and splits (as low as you can go)
4. handstands (and handstand pushups) on the wall
5. bridges and wall wheels
i feel that just doing these 5 types of conditioning routine in addition to playing capo regularly has helped me tremendously with flexibility, agility, springiness, and fluidity.
if i were to go further to write the 10 most useful routines. i guess i would add:
6. all types of lower ab crunches (everything works your upper abs, so ignore those)
7. tricep pushups (diamonds, v's, and negativa)
8. touching your toes (while standing)
9. laying down on your back, while stretching your legs over your head till it touches the ground (and also holding your toes)
10. the jinga (and all its variations)
Friday, June 13, 2008
no house, no chairs
we have no house, no chairs
just the pat of one another's breath
lying softly on the ears
on my chest
she rests through the phone
somewhere in the echo
we find a home
just the pat of one another's breath
lying softly on the ears
on my chest
she rests through the phone
somewhere in the echo
we find a home
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
capoeira condit continued again...
k, by now you probably lost all faith in me :) . with good reason.
now i'm bored and don't have the same enthusiasm about talking about capoeira condit. i'm tired. and want to grab a good novel and watch grey's anatomy or something. heeh, just kiddy. k, alright lemme start before you lynch me.
i don't know how to do much. i'm still excited about how much i've been able to learn. my first performance later this june, with my group. i never imagined this day would come. i pictured myself a lazy bum watching grey's anatomy or something haha. about a year ago, i started. capoeira reinvingorated me with that sense of play and violence i buried inside of me since my youth. well here goes:
the S-dobrado was the first floreiro move i learned. how did i? there's a secret to every move. you think you know, but you have no idea. to do this one (and many others), you really have to learn to let go of yourself falling. you start by getting that precise swing of the legs going, while swinging up the hand that touches the ground first vigorously. the swing is like a rasteira, but at the very end of the movement, you kick the sweep leg off the ground. it is precisely at this point the support hand that was previously on the floor should get thrown backwards behind you in au/macaco fashion. for this, and other capo moves, you need ab strength, so if you try and try and try. and keep failing - go do some crunches. and try again. eventually, your body will know what it's doing once you perfect the swing and have enough ab strength to sweep yourself up initially.
it is funny that i picked up the S-Dobrado before the macaco because in my personal opinion, it seems the macaco is somewhat of a training for the S-dobrado. actually, once you can do a macaco - you have a lot of options open to you, it seems. to do a good macaco (one that looks nice) , you can't avoid a little condit. before i could even get off the ground, i had to start by doing: the wall wheel and the back bridge. these are amazing condits, and i still do them to this day. and i still do them to this day. and i highly recommend them. definately. after a month or so of doing wall wheels and back bridges, i slowly felt myself falling into the macaco, the more i tried. now, i don't have to think too much about it. i can go into a macaco, anytime any place.
a macaco is almost a back flip. so it is crucial to get over the fear of falling. practice from the first step, holding yourself up with one hand in crouched position. then swinging your other hand behind you as far as you can, till you are almost midway in the bridge position. THIS IS IMPORTANT: follow the hand that goes back with your eyes. for every movement you do actually, you should look where you are going. it helps you psychologically/physiologically somehow, to complete the move. eventually, start kicking up your legs when you do it. then go for the full motion. fall a couple of times. do some ugly ones a couple of times. go do some crunches. get a smoothie. keep practicing. a month later, and what do you know - perfect macaco. haha.
k, gotta get ready for class. i will continue this later. i prom. :)
now i'm bored and don't have the same enthusiasm about talking about capoeira condit. i'm tired. and want to grab a good novel and watch grey's anatomy or something. heeh, just kiddy. k, alright lemme start before you lynch me.
i don't know how to do much. i'm still excited about how much i've been able to learn. my first performance later this june, with my group. i never imagined this day would come. i pictured myself a lazy bum watching grey's anatomy or something haha. about a year ago, i started. capoeira reinvingorated me with that sense of play and violence i buried inside of me since my youth. well here goes:
the S-dobrado was the first floreiro move i learned. how did i? there's a secret to every move. you think you know, but you have no idea. to do this one (and many others), you really have to learn to let go of yourself falling. you start by getting that precise swing of the legs going, while swinging up the hand that touches the ground first vigorously. the swing is like a rasteira, but at the very end of the movement, you kick the sweep leg off the ground. it is precisely at this point the support hand that was previously on the floor should get thrown backwards behind you in au/macaco fashion. for this, and other capo moves, you need ab strength, so if you try and try and try. and keep failing - go do some crunches. and try again. eventually, your body will know what it's doing once you perfect the swing and have enough ab strength to sweep yourself up initially.
it is funny that i picked up the S-Dobrado before the macaco because in my personal opinion, it seems the macaco is somewhat of a training for the S-dobrado. actually, once you can do a macaco - you have a lot of options open to you, it seems. to do a good macaco (one that looks nice) , you can't avoid a little condit. before i could even get off the ground, i had to start by doing: the wall wheel and the back bridge. these are amazing condits, and i still do them to this day. and i still do them to this day. and i highly recommend them. definately. after a month or so of doing wall wheels and back bridges, i slowly felt myself falling into the macaco, the more i tried. now, i don't have to think too much about it. i can go into a macaco, anytime any place.
a macaco is almost a back flip. so it is crucial to get over the fear of falling. practice from the first step, holding yourself up with one hand in crouched position. then swinging your other hand behind you as far as you can, till you are almost midway in the bridge position. THIS IS IMPORTANT: follow the hand that goes back with your eyes. for every movement you do actually, you should look where you are going. it helps you psychologically/physiologically somehow, to complete the move. eventually, start kicking up your legs when you do it. then go for the full motion. fall a couple of times. do some ugly ones a couple of times. go do some crunches. get a smoothie. keep practicing. a month later, and what do you know - perfect macaco. haha.
k, gotta get ready for class. i will continue this later. i prom. :)
capoeira condit continued...
ok, i'm back. if you are paying attention, you could've gone and worked your lower back and abs in the meantime. also, if you haven't done so yet -- go pick you up a copy of capo condit. from gerard taylor. it doesn't look like much - but it's a great book.
+ watch the vid up above. i'll be back in a few.
+ watch the vid up above. i'll be back in a few.
capoeira condit
i learned a lot in capo about life.
mine and the world.
the roda.
you don't just move left and right.
you move in circles. dissemble.
anyways, philosophy lesson later.
i need to talk about condit.
it's a blessing when you learn something new.
i want to tell you how i learned a few of the moves i learned in capo
and the hunches i have about the moves i'm about to learn.
first let me prep, i used to have the weakest lower back in the world.
which is bad for capo, and in general, it's just bad. go get you a strong lower back before you do anything else. seriously.
second, i used to have the weakest lower abs in the country.
that is also bad. go do some crunches and situps > it will do you good. seriously.
haha, i;m beearting aroung the bush to make this post long and prooooolific.
alright cut to the chase in a few (after these messages -- lemme grab a drink first from the refriga)
mine and the world.
the roda.
you don't just move left and right.
you move in circles. dissemble.
anyways, philosophy lesson later.
i need to talk about condit.
it's a blessing when you learn something new.
i want to tell you how i learned a few of the moves i learned in capo
and the hunches i have about the moves i'm about to learn.
first let me prep, i used to have the weakest lower back in the world.
which is bad for capo, and in general, it's just bad. go get you a strong lower back before you do anything else. seriously.
second, i used to have the weakest lower abs in the country.
that is also bad. go do some crunches and situps > it will do you good. seriously.
haha, i;m beearting aroung the bush to make this post long and prooooolific.
alright cut to the chase in a few (after these messages -- lemme grab a drink first from the refriga)
Monday, June 2, 2008
capoeira log 6
my apologies, joaninha! haha, the log continues...
M (6/2/2008) :
Today we practiced one long (and interesting) sequencia -
right leg back - step + mea lua de frente - quexada - esquiva right/left - left leg back - esquiva lateral - negativa / rolle (2 times) - switch negativa - roquo (sp?) -
martelo (off left) - left back - rastera (off right) - slide in the rastera foot into roquo - back to jinga + switch jinga
T (6/3/2008) :
People were shocked I came two days in a row, haha. Well today we practiced this sequencia -
1. mea lua de frente - quexada - mea lua de compasso / queda de rins * - roquo (sp?) - jinga twice
2. mea lua de frente - quexada - mea lua de compasso / queda de rins * - half rolle - macaco - jinga twice
* haha, i don't know the exact title of this move - so i call it mea lua de compasso / queda de rins to describe it because it's like both of those moves combined. you twist your legs in, ducking your head through your hands through your legs, and sweep compasso style only while leaning your hips on your elbows. you then point your leg back into negativa again. you know what i'm talking about -- you've probably seen it 10,000s of times.
F (6/6/2008) :
1.) reach out wide into au stretchy pose - pull in your body into queda de rins so that your ear nearly touches the floor, but doesn't - negativa - rolle - switch jinga - quexada - slide into that "queda de rins/ mea lua de compasso" move - negativa - rolle - switch jinga
2.) repeat 1, but start off with an armada.
3.) start from 2, but after the first negativa, switch negativa - au over into negativa on the other leg - rolle.
[ this movement is from last week: au - descida - negativa - rolle (diagonal forward) (+ repeat) ]
happy jogando!
M (6/2/2008) :
Today we practiced one long (and interesting) sequencia -
right leg back - step + mea lua de frente - quexada - esquiva right/left - left leg back - esquiva lateral - negativa / rolle (2 times) - switch negativa - roquo (sp?) -
martelo (off left) - left back - rastera (off right) - slide in the rastera foot into roquo - back to jinga + switch jinga
T (6/3/2008) :
People were shocked I came two days in a row, haha. Well today we practiced this sequencia -
1. mea lua de frente - quexada - mea lua de compasso / queda de rins * - roquo (sp?) - jinga twice
2. mea lua de frente - quexada - mea lua de compasso / queda de rins * - half rolle - macaco - jinga twice
* haha, i don't know the exact title of this move - so i call it mea lua de compasso / queda de rins to describe it because it's like both of those moves combined. you twist your legs in, ducking your head through your hands through your legs, and sweep compasso style only while leaning your hips on your elbows. you then point your leg back into negativa again. you know what i'm talking about -- you've probably seen it 10,000s of times.
F (6/6/2008) :
1.) reach out wide into au stretchy pose - pull in your body into queda de rins so that your ear nearly touches the floor, but doesn't - negativa - rolle - switch jinga - quexada - slide into that "queda de rins/ mea lua de compasso" move - negativa - rolle - switch jinga
2.) repeat 1, but start off with an armada.
3.) start from 2, but after the first negativa, switch negativa - au over into negativa on the other leg - rolle.
[ this movement is from last week: au - descida - negativa - rolle (diagonal forward) (+ repeat) ]
happy jogando!
Friday, May 30, 2008
Thursday, May 29, 2008
feist is feisty
i like that song "there is a limit to your love"
....
alalalala the truth gone upstream
alalalaa all the trouble that you give me
i know iknow iknow
only i can save me
i'll go ill go i'll go
lay down the rules
oohhhhhhhhh....
[then the heavy beat comes in : boom boom boom]
there's a limit to your love
like a waterfall
in sloooooooooooooow
motion
like a map
with no ooooooooooocean
there's a limit to your love
your love your love your luv
hehehe...
[feist marry me
there is no limit to my love]
:)
....
alalalala the truth gone upstream
alalalaa all the trouble that you give me
i know iknow iknow
only i can save me
i'll go ill go i'll go
lay down the rules
oohhhhhhhhh....
[then the heavy beat comes in : boom boom boom]
there's a limit to your love
like a waterfall
in sloooooooooooooow
motion
like a map
with no ooooooooooocean
there's a limit to your love
your love your love your luv
hehehe...
[feist marry me
there is no limit to my love]
:)
Monday, May 26, 2008
every party has a winner and a loser
one host is gonna regret
telling all they can feel at home
-Erlend Oye
from Timothy Ferris "the four-hour work week":
An american businessman took a vacation to a small coastal mexican village on doctor's orders. Unable to sleep after an urgent phone call from the office the first morning, he walked out to the pier to clear his head. A small boat with just one fisherman had docked and inside the boat were several large yellow-finned tuna.
The american complemented the mexican on the quality of his fish.
"How long did it take you to catch them?" the American asked.
"Only a little while" the Mexican replied, in surprisingly good english.
"Why don't you stay out longer and catch more fish", the american then asked.
"I have enough to support my family and give a few to friends", the mexican said as he loaded them into a basket.
"But what do you do with the rest of your time?".
The mexican looked up and smiled.
"I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, take a siesta with my wife, Julia. And I stroll into the village each evening where i sip wine and play guitar with my amigos. I have a full and busy life, senor".
The american laughed and stood tall.
"Sir, I am a harvard MBA and can help you. You should spend more time fishing, and with the proceeds buy a bigger boat. In no time you could buy several boats with the increased haul, and then eventually you would have a fleet of fishing boats."
He continued, "instead of selling your catch to a middle man, you would sell directly to the consumers, eventually opening up your own cannery. You would control the product, processing, and distribution. You would need to leave this small coastal fishing village, ofcourse, and move to Mexico City then to Los Angeles and eventually New York City, where you could run your expanding enterprise with proper management."
The mexican fisherman asked, "but senor, how long will all this take?"
To which the american replied, "15...20 years....25, tops".
"But what then senor?"
The american laughed and said, "that's the best part! when the time is right you would announce an IPO and sell your company stock to the public and become very rich. You would make millions."
"Millions, senor? Then what?"
"Then you would retire and move to a small coastal fishing village where you would sleep late, fish a little, play with your kids, take a siesta with your wife, and stroll to the village in the evenings where you could sip wine and play your guitar with your amigos."
telling all they can feel at home
-Erlend Oye
from Timothy Ferris "the four-hour work week":
An american businessman took a vacation to a small coastal mexican village on doctor's orders. Unable to sleep after an urgent phone call from the office the first morning, he walked out to the pier to clear his head. A small boat with just one fisherman had docked and inside the boat were several large yellow-finned tuna.
The american complemented the mexican on the quality of his fish.
"How long did it take you to catch them?" the American asked.
"Only a little while" the Mexican replied, in surprisingly good english.
"Why don't you stay out longer and catch more fish", the american then asked.
"I have enough to support my family and give a few to friends", the mexican said as he loaded them into a basket.
"But what do you do with the rest of your time?".
The mexican looked up and smiled.
"I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, take a siesta with my wife, Julia. And I stroll into the village each evening where i sip wine and play guitar with my amigos. I have a full and busy life, senor".
The american laughed and stood tall.
"Sir, I am a harvard MBA and can help you. You should spend more time fishing, and with the proceeds buy a bigger boat. In no time you could buy several boats with the increased haul, and then eventually you would have a fleet of fishing boats."
He continued, "instead of selling your catch to a middle man, you would sell directly to the consumers, eventually opening up your own cannery. You would control the product, processing, and distribution. You would need to leave this small coastal fishing village, ofcourse, and move to Mexico City then to Los Angeles and eventually New York City, where you could run your expanding enterprise with proper management."
The mexican fisherman asked, "but senor, how long will all this take?"
To which the american replied, "15...20 years....25, tops".
"But what then senor?"
The american laughed and said, "that's the best part! when the time is right you would announce an IPO and sell your company stock to the public and become very rich. You would make millions."
"Millions, senor? Then what?"
"Then you would retire and move to a small coastal fishing village where you would sleep late, fish a little, play with your kids, take a siesta with your wife, and stroll to the village in the evenings where you could sip wine and play your guitar with your amigos."
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
i got my passport!!!
woohoo, i 'm going to china.
or japan. or brazil. or africa. whereva, man. i'm fweeeeeeeeeee!
or japan. or brazil. or africa. whereva, man. i'm fweeeeeeeeeee!
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
blahbidiblah
went to painting info session today.
that doesnt tell you much about my raw emotion.
it is just an event in my life.
an event that was free.
you could've gone as well if you wanted to.
any way, i insulted a sculptor.
i asked her if she was any good, basically.
haha, we all take ourselves so seriously don't i?
are artists truly the way
do we (or i) really escape the duality imposed on reality
good bad right wrong high low
can you go anywhere
like DuChamp
that doesnt tell you much about my raw emotion.
it is just an event in my life.
an event that was free.
you could've gone as well if you wanted to.
any way, i insulted a sculptor.
i asked her if she was any good, basically.
haha, we all take ourselves so seriously don't i?
are artists truly the way
do we (or i) really escape the duality imposed on reality
good bad right wrong high low
can you go anywhere
like DuChamp
Thursday, May 1, 2008
the battle for survival in America
i am searching for a good work/life balance book:
i've read "GTD: the art of stress-free productivity",
Seven Signal's "Getting Real", skimmed the "age of speed".
Yet to finish "Prefactoring" by Kevin Pugh,
and thinking about reading the "4-hour work week".
A new book is set to come out:
"Why Work Sucks and How to Fix It: No Schedules, No Meetings, No Joke--the Big Idea That's Already Transforming the Way We Work"
and one that seems so interesting:
"Simpleology: The Simple Science of Getting What You Want"
i never used to resort to self-help books so much, but uh, i feel like this guy (sometimes):
"Sure, you can work ANYTIME! If you feel like it, work on Sunday at midnight! Sure! No stress! No pressure! Just be on-call, at work, any time, or all the time. What's really silly is that business has some people buffaloed into thinking this is what they really want.
This is why I don't own a cell phone. It's GREAT being unavailable."
[ha, I found him on Amazon]
the fact is it's a war. and people need help. me, included.
maybe soon, it is time to put away the books, and grab the big guns.
i've read "GTD: the art of stress-free productivity",
Seven Signal's "Getting Real", skimmed the "age of speed".
Yet to finish "Prefactoring" by Kevin Pugh,
and thinking about reading the "4-hour work week".
A new book is set to come out:
"Why Work Sucks and How to Fix It: No Schedules, No Meetings, No Joke--the Big Idea That's Already Transforming the Way We Work"
and one that seems so interesting:
"Simpleology: The Simple Science of Getting What You Want"
i never used to resort to self-help books so much, but uh, i feel like this guy (sometimes):
"Sure, you can work ANYTIME! If you feel like it, work on Sunday at midnight! Sure! No stress! No pressure! Just be on-call, at work, any time, or all the time. What's really silly is that business has some people buffaloed into thinking this is what they really want.
This is why I don't own a cell phone. It's GREAT being unavailable."
[ha, I found him on Amazon]
the fact is it's a war. and people need help. me, included.
maybe soon, it is time to put away the books, and grab the big guns.
Friday, April 25, 2008
capoeira log 6
M (4/21/08):
sequencia >
esquiva parallel - esquiva lateral - negativa - rolle - switch jinga - quexada - switch jinga armada
practice >
esquiva parallel - esquiva lateral - negativa - half rolle - macacco
W (4/23/08):
sequencia >
descida - switch jinga - mea lua de frente - back to jinga - esquiva lateral - negativa - roquo (sp?) - switch jinga - quexada - esquiva parallel left and right - back to jinga - switch jinga
(note to self: learn to spell the movements , haha)
sequencia >
esquiva parallel - esquiva lateral - negativa - rolle - switch jinga - quexada - switch jinga armada
practice >
esquiva parallel - esquiva lateral - negativa - half rolle - macacco
W (4/23/08):
sequencia >
descida - switch jinga - mea lua de frente - back to jinga - esquiva lateral - negativa - roquo (sp?) - switch jinga - quexada - esquiva parallel left and right - back to jinga - switch jinga
(note to self: learn to spell the movements , haha)
Saturday, April 12, 2008
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
capoeira log 5
M (4/7/08)
sequencia:
low jinga variation - descida - back to jinga - mea lua de frente to parallel - back to jinga - quexada - esquiva parallel - armada - descida on same side - negativa - rolle - quexada
practice: more descida - negativa - half rolle - macaco with partner
W (4/9/08):
we had a long intense roda. so long, so intense that i almost didn't think we would have practice. but at the last 15 minutes, we did have a little practice. though it was probably one of the most painful experiences i've had in a long time, after such a roda (long and intense!). all we did was repeated cycles of:
descida - switch jinga - roll into esquiva lateral - back to jinga - switch jinga - esquiva parallel left and right - switch jinga
+ workouts:
lots of squats and pushups and ankle raises. oh my!
i guess the highlight of it all, despite the pain is... backtrack to the roda, i was in the middle of volta mundo with M. I had just bought the game too, but Mestre told us to stop. while we were circling each other, he said words i didn't expect... about how much i improved and yadda yadda yadda. i was flattered/honored.
sequencia:
low jinga variation - descida - back to jinga - mea lua de frente to parallel - back to jinga - quexada - esquiva parallel - armada - descida on same side - negativa - rolle - quexada
practice: more descida - negativa - half rolle - macaco with partner
W (4/9/08):
we had a long intense roda. so long, so intense that i almost didn't think we would have practice. but at the last 15 minutes, we did have a little practice. though it was probably one of the most painful experiences i've had in a long time, after such a roda (long and intense!). all we did was repeated cycles of:
descida - switch jinga - roll into esquiva lateral - back to jinga - switch jinga - esquiva parallel left and right - switch jinga
+ workouts:
lots of squats and pushups and ankle raises. oh my!
i guess the highlight of it all, despite the pain is... backtrack to the roda, i was in the middle of volta mundo with M. I had just bought the game too, but Mestre told us to stop. while we were circling each other, he said words i didn't expect... about how much i improved and yadda yadda yadda. i was flattered/honored.
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
capoeira log 4
monday (3/31/08) -
partner sequencia:
offender: descida - esquiva parallel left and right - jinga left - jinga right - mea lua de frente - quexada - esquiva duck
defender:descida - esquiva parallel right and left - jinga right - jinga left - roll into esquiva lateral back to jinga - esquiva duck - quexada - switch jinga
practice:
a. descida - negativa - half role - macaco
b. quexada - pull front leg in - macaco
Macaco notes:
1. when you do the negativa -macaco combo, if your left hand hits the ground first during the negativa, the right swings up during the macaco. and vice versa.
2. swing your hand outward diagonal rather than inward diagonal.
3. look straight ahead the whole time.
4. when you are just a beginner macaco-er, you land your lift hands more lateral to the hand on the floor (sort of like au). as you progress, your hand extends more and more over your head, till it starts to land more parallel.
wednesday (4/2/08) -
sequencia:
1.) descida - back to jinga - esquiva lateral - negativa - role - roquo (sp?)
2.) quexada - descida - esquiva parallel - armada - esquiva parallel left and right
3.) quexada - descida - esquiva parallel - armada - esquiva parallel left and rght
practice:
aus with partner looking at each other, + the one-handed version.
also we had roda practice, where we were only allowed one kicking leg at a time. he would call us out individually to buy the game.
It was another action-packed, yet crowded wednesday. 3 people were turned away from class today, it was so crowded.
partner sequencia:
offender: descida - esquiva parallel left and right - jinga left - jinga right - mea lua de frente - quexada - esquiva duck
defender:descida - esquiva parallel right and left - jinga right - jinga left - roll into esquiva lateral back to jinga - esquiva duck - quexada - switch jinga
practice:
a. descida - negativa - half role - macaco
b. quexada - pull front leg in - macaco
Macaco notes:
1. when you do the negativa -macaco combo, if your left hand hits the ground first during the negativa, the right swings up during the macaco. and vice versa.
2. swing your hand outward diagonal rather than inward diagonal.
3. look straight ahead the whole time.
4. when you are just a beginner macaco-er, you land your lift hands more lateral to the hand on the floor (sort of like au). as you progress, your hand extends more and more over your head, till it starts to land more parallel.
wednesday (4/2/08) -
sequencia:
1.) descida - back to jinga - esquiva lateral - negativa - role - roquo (sp?)
2.) quexada - descida - esquiva parallel - armada - esquiva parallel left and right
3.) quexada - descida - esquiva parallel - armada - esquiva parallel left and rght
practice:
aus with partner looking at each other, + the one-handed version.
also we had roda practice, where we were only allowed one kicking leg at a time. he would call us out individually to buy the game.
It was another action-packed, yet crowded wednesday. 3 people were turned away from class today, it was so crowded.
Friday, March 28, 2008
capoeira log 3
i know, i know. i've been slacking.
wednesday (3/26) -
sequencia: reverse jinga direction - descida - switch jinga - reverse direction - esquiva parallel left to right - circular esquiva lateral (back to jinga stance) - reverse direction
partner sequencia:
offender: mea lua de frente - quexada - esquiva parallel - au - descida (on same side
) - negativa - roqou (sp?) - switch jinga
defender: esquiva parallel - circular esquiva lateral (back to jinga stance) - armada - au - descida (on the same side) - negativa - roquo (sp?) - switch jinga
friday (3/28) -
sequencia:
descida - esquiva lateral - descida - fake armada - descida - switch jinga
partner sequencia:
offender: armada - quexada - esquiva lateral - quexada - esquiva duck
defender: esquiva parallel - descida - quexada - esquiva duck - martelo
wednesday (3/26) -
sequencia: reverse jinga direction - descida - switch jinga - reverse direction - esquiva parallel left to right - circular esquiva lateral (back to jinga stance) - reverse direction
partner sequencia:
offender: mea lua de frente - quexada - esquiva parallel - au - descida (on same side
) - negativa - roqou (sp?) - switch jinga
defender: esquiva parallel - circular esquiva lateral (back to jinga stance) - armada - au - descida (on the same side) - negativa - roquo (sp?) - switch jinga
friday (3/28) -
sequencia:
descida - esquiva lateral - descida - fake armada - descida - switch jinga
partner sequencia:
offender: armada - quexada - esquiva lateral - quexada - esquiva duck
defender: esquiva parallel - descida - quexada - esquiva duck - martelo
Thursday, March 27, 2008
official citizen, loparu
loparu is citizen. now, he has the right to get government jobs, petition to get family members to the states, um vote, relinquish ties to my former yardies (haha) and most importantly, go abroad on a US passport. one step closer to the land of the rising sun. next step: get passport.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
reactive forces
music emanates through the main stream
the main stream carries the music
the mainstream understand the music
but what is to understand
in the main stream?
people's voices i hear
them in my mind
for my mind is what i see
what i see is my mind
not in my mind
for my mind is outside of me
reactive forces
the reactive forces
i ignore them
when i look down
when i look side to side
when i look up
when i look diagonal
reactive forces
i ignore them
the main stream carries the music
the mainstream understand the music
but what is to understand
in the main stream?
people's voices i hear
them in my mind
for my mind is what i see
what i see is my mind
not in my mind
for my mind is outside of me
reactive forces
the reactive forces
i ignore them
when i look down
when i look side to side
when i look up
when i look diagonal
reactive forces
i ignore them
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Saturday, March 8, 2008
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
your brain is a library
where the largest part of it consists of shelves and shelves of reference material; another part, the librarian to catalogue that info; and yet another part, the curious researcher who asks the librarian for help.
such was my observation today.
non sequitur:
i told N "do an au sem mao" randomly.
she asked me what that was.
i didn't want to tell her, but i said i would show her eventually. so i put it off.
afterwards, we went into Barnes and Nobles, and after some hours N had completely forgotten I was supposed to explain "au sem mao".
when we left Barnes, keeping my promise (sort of), I did a few au sem maos ( or something like it, hehe). although, i didn't tell her that's what i was attempting. and she didn't ask. perhaps she thought i was being the clown. haha, so i let it slide.
much much later, non sequitur:
i said "fish", referring to a talk on Oprah where this doctor was talking about healthy foods. in this case, i didn't mean to mess with her mind. perhaps, i just started the sentence prematurely. nevertheless, this instance reminded N instantly of "au sem mao". "Hey you were supposed to tell me!" is what she said. haha.
That was amazing to me. It occured to me instantly what happened in N's mind. my random mention of "fish" enabled her to instantly tap into the most recent memory where she had experienced the same notion of confusion. therefore, an emotion was catalogued and referenced in her library, but not the event directly.
Although, I thought N had forgotten the incident completely, her brain had good tabs on it afterall. The smart librarian put it away on the shelf in the seemingly most useful way to access later... so that when the time came, it could suggest to the researcher the proper thought. hehe.
I told N the library analogy above.
such was my observation today.
non sequitur:
i told N "do an au sem mao" randomly.
she asked me what that was.
i didn't want to tell her, but i said i would show her eventually. so i put it off.
afterwards, we went into Barnes and Nobles, and after some hours N had completely forgotten I was supposed to explain "au sem mao".
when we left Barnes, keeping my promise (sort of), I did a few au sem maos ( or something like it, hehe). although, i didn't tell her that's what i was attempting. and she didn't ask. perhaps she thought i was being the clown. haha, so i let it slide.
much much later, non sequitur:
i said "fish", referring to a talk on Oprah where this doctor was talking about healthy foods. in this case, i didn't mean to mess with her mind. perhaps, i just started the sentence prematurely. nevertheless, this instance reminded N instantly of "au sem mao". "Hey you were supposed to tell me!" is what she said. haha.
That was amazing to me. It occured to me instantly what happened in N's mind. my random mention of "fish" enabled her to instantly tap into the most recent memory where she had experienced the same notion of confusion. therefore, an emotion was catalogued and referenced in her library, but not the event directly.
Although, I thought N had forgotten the incident completely, her brain had good tabs on it afterall. The smart librarian put it away on the shelf in the seemingly most useful way to access later... so that when the time came, it could suggest to the researcher the proper thought. hehe.
I told N the library analogy above.
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Wiki Happiness
"Satisfaction with Life Index Map - Map has no authentic source. Map coloured according to The World Map of Happiness, Adrian White, Analytic Social Psychologist, University of Leicester.
green = happiest
blue
purple
orange
red = least happy"
...Haha, Canada is the happiest in the world & the U.S. is second?!
Wiki Happiness
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Sunday, February 24, 2008
talking to someone
can be a breath of fresh air
especially when you are down
i got a lot of backed up stuff
i still gotta write about my yoga ashram trip
and my latest painting class
(i'm no yuppie)
lots of deep stuff has been entering my mind
and it leaves
and it leaves
just like the leafs on the trees
so this weekend i've been doing my spring cleaning a little
early
it is hard work
will i finish tonight?
as spiderman said in spiderman 2
'strong focus on what i want
strong focus on what i want'
hehe, then he jumps and falls over himself
this is when he was losing his powers
gee, i hope the remake of the hulk
is a good one
although i unlike others
did appreciate the first one
k back to work
having lots of stuff around you that you don't care about
creates this hidden psychic tension
diverts your energy and focus
\peace
remind me to talk of what's been going on lately
lots of backed up stuff
talking to someone
can be a breath of fresh air
especially when you are down
especially when you are down
i got a lot of backed up stuff
i still gotta write about my yoga ashram trip
and my latest painting class
(i'm no yuppie)
lots of deep stuff has been entering my mind
and it leaves
and it leaves
just like the leafs on the trees
so this weekend i've been doing my spring cleaning a little
early
it is hard work
will i finish tonight?
as spiderman said in spiderman 2
'strong focus on what i want
strong focus on what i want'
hehe, then he jumps and falls over himself
this is when he was losing his powers
gee, i hope the remake of the hulk
is a good one
although i unlike others
did appreciate the first one
k back to work
having lots of stuff around you that you don't care about
creates this hidden psychic tension
diverts your energy and focus
\peace
remind me to talk of what's been going on lately
lots of backed up stuff
talking to someone
can be a breath of fresh air
especially when you are down
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Thursday, February 14, 2008
painting 2
so today's class
there was a new nude
and a new student
i was late again unfortunately (i tried)
but i still got a good rough drawing out
the teach said it was good and would make a good composition
so i remade it on the canvas
...i got a lot done
painting the background basically...
for the next three weeks, we'll be working with this nude.
& i'll be filling up the details.
and now that i got all the right tools.
i realize i have to learn
1. better color mixing technique
2. filling in opaque color
3. scratching out clear definitive lines with paint
also, i need a palette knife, more assortments of blues and a nice crimson.
there was a new nude
and a new student
i was late again unfortunately (i tried)
but i still got a good rough drawing out
the teach said it was good and would make a good composition
so i remade it on the canvas
...i got a lot done
painting the background basically...
for the next three weeks, we'll be working with this nude.
& i'll be filling up the details.
and now that i got all the right tools.
i realize i have to learn
1. better color mixing technique
2. filling in opaque color
3. scratching out clear definitive lines with paint
also, i need a palette knife, more assortments of blues and a nice crimson.
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Sunday, February 10, 2008
we step back
she steps forward one
and i step forward two
she steps back three
and i step back twenty
she proceeds sixteen
and i proceed eleven
she steps back thirty five
and i step back too...
until our backs finally
meet each other
and i step forward two
she steps back three
and i step back twenty
she proceeds sixteen
and i proceed eleven
she steps back thirty five
and i step back too...
until our backs finally
meet each other
Friday, February 8, 2008
painting is fun (as hell)
painting is fun
painting is fun
painting is fun (as hell)
can i get a hell yah?!
hell yahhh
painting is fun
yesterday in the saga
instructor told me everything i'm doing is wrong
"this isn't kindergarten"
told me to get the painting supplies of a painter
why'd he tell me this : 'cause to save some cash, i brought my old rusty painting
set
a few weak brushes and some small portions of colors haha
i was like beforehand, telling myself
why go get broke buying some more paint now
lemme just use these "kindergarten" thingies
but jyeah
he asked another student if they could lend me some paint
also introduced me to the acrylic medium
oooh wah
i tell you when i put it down on the canvas
it was like a new awakening
oh the possibilities
oh the sensation i cant describe
like an instant inner peace
so jyeah, 100% here now - i'm gonna get some real supplies
and start to paint like a painter
instructor's advice:
> get lots of color
- don't eget tubes, get jars of paint!
get a wide assortment, don't need too much black
need lots of white (i'm offended, hehe)
need lots of blues, earth tones, light color
get a variety of each color
yeah lots and lots of color!
> get a paper pallette
the bigger the better - cause it's gonna get messy.
need to splatter and spread and blend paint - lots of it.
> get some good brushes
invest in some good brushes! it's worth it. he didn't tell me this directly, overheard him talking to another student.
hmm, i like this guy! you know why painting is such a good meditation? it forces you to see life as it is, not what you imagine. and when you see life as it is, you realize that it is way more than what you imagined actually -- which in turn, improves your imagination. after all, we live in nature, we cannot go against it , no matter how we try. there are so many surfaces and so much depth in life. it's wonderful.
breaking things down into their basic shapes:
we've been learning how to "see" in class. that is, basically, how to put together a composition. well, observing the figure: no matter what position you are in the room, you can see the four walls, the other students around you, the floor, and the inhabiting objects.
where to begin is the hardest part for me. not just in painting, but in life. haha, as a side note - i ran across this quote: "i'm like a mosquito in a nudist camp. i know what i want, but i don't know where to start"... but precisely where you start in the painting is the nude, the subject of your piece. i.e., what you want to stand out the most. aha, so i started from the figure, her toes - to her head - and back to her toes. i drew the silhouette using tiny curvilinear shapes.
once i can start to see the nude emerge on the page, then i have to map relationships of space from the figure: how big and what direction to make each thing is what it comes down to. this forces you to stare for a long time. you look at it some more, draw something, then you're like "nah, that's not quite right". you do it again. ahh... i love it.
instructor says think space: foreground, background, the floor, the vertical, the horizontal, and the curve.
think light: watch the reflections around the room and what tales they have to tell.
the blue blanket the nude was lying on was causing the edge of her white skin to look orange. did i notice this? heck no.
painting is fun
painting is fun (as hell)
can i get a hell yah?!
hell yahhh
painting is fun
yesterday in the saga
instructor told me everything i'm doing is wrong
"this isn't kindergarten"
told me to get the painting supplies of a painter
why'd he tell me this : 'cause to save some cash, i brought my old rusty painting
set
a few weak brushes and some small portions of colors haha
i was like beforehand, telling myself
why go get broke buying some more paint now
lemme just use these "kindergarten" thingies
but jyeah
he asked another student if they could lend me some paint
also introduced me to the acrylic medium
oooh wah
i tell you when i put it down on the canvas
it was like a new awakening
oh the possibilities
oh the sensation i cant describe
like an instant inner peace
so jyeah, 100% here now - i'm gonna get some real supplies
and start to paint like a painter
instructor's advice:
> get lots of color
- don't eget tubes, get jars of paint!
get a wide assortment, don't need too much black
need lots of white (i'm offended, hehe)
need lots of blues, earth tones, light color
get a variety of each color
yeah lots and lots of color!
> get a paper pallette
the bigger the better - cause it's gonna get messy.
need to splatter and spread and blend paint - lots of it.
> get some good brushes
invest in some good brushes! it's worth it. he didn't tell me this directly, overheard him talking to another student.
hmm, i like this guy! you know why painting is such a good meditation? it forces you to see life as it is, not what you imagine. and when you see life as it is, you realize that it is way more than what you imagined actually -- which in turn, improves your imagination. after all, we live in nature, we cannot go against it , no matter how we try. there are so many surfaces and so much depth in life. it's wonderful.
breaking things down into their basic shapes:
we've been learning how to "see" in class. that is, basically, how to put together a composition. well, observing the figure: no matter what position you are in the room, you can see the four walls, the other students around you, the floor, and the inhabiting objects.
where to begin is the hardest part for me. not just in painting, but in life. haha, as a side note - i ran across this quote: "i'm like a mosquito in a nudist camp. i know what i want, but i don't know where to start"... but precisely where you start in the painting is the nude, the subject of your piece. i.e., what you want to stand out the most. aha, so i started from the figure, her toes - to her head - and back to her toes. i drew the silhouette using tiny curvilinear shapes.
once i can start to see the nude emerge on the page, then i have to map relationships of space from the figure: how big and what direction to make each thing is what it comes down to. this forces you to stare for a long time. you look at it some more, draw something, then you're like "nah, that's not quite right". you do it again. ahh... i love it.
instructor says think space: foreground, background, the floor, the vertical, the horizontal, and the curve.
think light: watch the reflections around the room and what tales they have to tell.
the blue blanket the nude was lying on was causing the edge of her white skin to look orange. did i notice this? heck no.
Thursday, February 7, 2008
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
capoeira log 2
this won't be very detailed like the last one. today we did basically the same as last class. i'll just mention the sequencia:
right leg back - step forward, meia lua de frente - esquiva lateral - descida - negativa - quick get up - jinga left - armada - quexada left - quexada right
everyone seemed kinda tired today, so Mestre went kind of easy on us.
right leg back - step forward, meia lua de frente - esquiva lateral - descida - negativa - quick get up - jinga left - armada - quexada left - quexada right
everyone seemed kinda tired today, so Mestre went kind of easy on us.
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
capoeira log 1
we learn such funky sequences in class. for a long time now, i've been saying i should record them. then i change my mind. see, because i question if it will make me less spontaneous in the roda. however, i just can't fight the feeling 'cause i want to remember everything i learn. so here is capoeira log 1. Nothing fancy, I will just go over what we did in each class. The class I'm recording now is M 2/4/05 (6:30-8pm). I should do this for my painting class too.. i'm getting ahead of myself. anyhoo, here goes:
conditioning:
maybe another log, i'll go into our Monday conditioning routine, cause of a lot of it we repeat. what we did differently this time, is a type of crunch. we would crunch from superman position (lying on our backs, our arms straight out), grab our legs, negativa to the left, go straight into jinga position, switch jinga then lie back down into superman.
sequencia:
1. right leg back - esquiva lateral - descida - negativa - [quick get up] (*note to self: find out name for this) - esquiva left - esquiva right - negativa
- switch leg, repeat.
2. left leg back - esquiva lateral - right leg back - quiexada - jump into rasteira -
rasteira turns quickly into queda de rins - negativa on left - [quick get up] - esquiva left - esquiva right - jinga left - jinga right.
- switch leg, repeat.
3. same as 2, but instead of the last jinga, go straight into meia-lua de compasso.
practice:
we practiced au se mao. Little foam sticks were laid out one in front of another, with equal space in between. from the parallel position (left leg facing the first foam stick), we were meant to fling our heads first (swinging out our arms to get momentum and balance), then kicking the right leg straight out into the air, left leg follows and we land in the same parallel position between the next stick and repeat.
thank goodness for youtube, here is a clip of how it is supposed to look:
after we got through the sticks we had to practice au de cabeza back to the starting position. from parallel position, we grab the floor, put our heads on it and do a short au back into parallel.
roda:
roda was action-packed as usual. Mestre was nice to watch. i favor a lot of his movements. like he goes into au, stops into handstand, goes unto the head, then shoots back into the same direction he started into parallel. wow, it's like every class he changes his style, and he's always surprising you with new moves. today, he would fake that sweep thing you do before the S-dobrado. he faked, spinned around then did that funky au where you invert forward in the air into a front flip. he did that a few times. + he did that sweeper into that flying spin kick (gotta look up the name for this). he's usually so fast, other people can barely move in the roda with him... towards the end, Mestre closed in the roda, so that we we're all standing really close to each other. no one was fighting at this point. and then by Mestre's command, the singing, clapping, instrumentation grew at a fever pitch. 4...3...2...1....ay! class was over!
the previous class:
i can't tell you in so much detail now as the class i just had, but we practiced doing short aus and fake short aus combined with negativa. you know like from parallel go as if you are going into a short au, but stop half way, then do that to the other side, then quickly do an au for real - that's what i mean by fake au... but then we would tilt slightly and land in a negativa at the last step. yeah, we did that a lot. even practiced the fake aus from one end of the gym to another. we looked like bears kicking backwards basically.
we also did practice the animal movements. the sapu? (frog) - crouched like a frog, you hop like a frog; caranguejo (crab) - similar to a bridge position, you walk backwards like this; urso (bear) - legs spread apart, both hands straight on the floor, you walk like a bear; jacare (alligator) - your chest almost flat on the floor, arms bent, legs bent, you walk like an alligator; serpente (snake) - looks just like the stretching position you do after crunches; aguia (eagle) - one leg straight out in the air behind you like superman, the arms flapping as wings. these animal movements are fun, and i want to begin to use them more in the roda. in the roda, everyone naturally, was practicing their (fake)/short aus a lot. i want to see a lot more of the animal movements though - some don't seem practical like serpente and aguia, but the others are (at least funny/fun).
also we had practice work with the instruments, even though i only got to play the agogo. i got caught leading the songs, and whoops, my secret was revealed - that i didn't learn any of them yet, and i did horribly... My mestre was like sing Bob Marley, trying to lighten the situado.
\- wow, i didn't mean for this to get so long. but i like the way it went, so there will be no doubt, some other capoeira logs. -/
conditioning:
maybe another log, i'll go into our Monday conditioning routine, cause of a lot of it we repeat. what we did differently this time, is a type of crunch. we would crunch from superman position (lying on our backs, our arms straight out), grab our legs, negativa to the left, go straight into jinga position, switch jinga then lie back down into superman.
sequencia:
1. right leg back - esquiva lateral - descida - negativa - [quick get up] (*note to self: find out name for this) - esquiva left - esquiva right - negativa
- switch leg, repeat.
2. left leg back - esquiva lateral - right leg back - quiexada - jump into rasteira -
rasteira turns quickly into queda de rins - negativa on left - [quick get up] - esquiva left - esquiva right - jinga left - jinga right.
- switch leg, repeat.
3. same as 2, but instead of the last jinga, go straight into meia-lua de compasso.
practice:
we practiced au se mao. Little foam sticks were laid out one in front of another, with equal space in between. from the parallel position (left leg facing the first foam stick), we were meant to fling our heads first (swinging out our arms to get momentum and balance), then kicking the right leg straight out into the air, left leg follows and we land in the same parallel position between the next stick and repeat.
thank goodness for youtube, here is a clip of how it is supposed to look:
after we got through the sticks we had to practice au de cabeza back to the starting position. from parallel position, we grab the floor, put our heads on it and do a short au back into parallel.
roda:
roda was action-packed as usual. Mestre was nice to watch. i favor a lot of his movements. like he goes into au, stops into handstand, goes unto the head, then shoots back into the same direction he started into parallel. wow, it's like every class he changes his style, and he's always surprising you with new moves. today, he would fake that sweep thing you do before the S-dobrado. he faked, spinned around then did that funky au where you invert forward in the air into a front flip. he did that a few times. + he did that sweeper into that flying spin kick (gotta look up the name for this). he's usually so fast, other people can barely move in the roda with him... towards the end, Mestre closed in the roda, so that we we're all standing really close to each other. no one was fighting at this point. and then by Mestre's command, the singing, clapping, instrumentation grew at a fever pitch. 4...3...2...1....ay! class was over!
the previous class:
i can't tell you in so much detail now as the class i just had, but we practiced doing short aus and fake short aus combined with negativa. you know like from parallel go as if you are going into a short au, but stop half way, then do that to the other side, then quickly do an au for real - that's what i mean by fake au... but then we would tilt slightly and land in a negativa at the last step. yeah, we did that a lot. even practiced the fake aus from one end of the gym to another. we looked like bears kicking backwards basically.
we also did practice the animal movements. the sapu? (frog) - crouched like a frog, you hop like a frog; caranguejo (crab) - similar to a bridge position, you walk backwards like this; urso (bear) - legs spread apart, both hands straight on the floor, you walk like a bear; jacare (alligator) - your chest almost flat on the floor, arms bent, legs bent, you walk like an alligator; serpente (snake) - looks just like the stretching position you do after crunches; aguia (eagle) - one leg straight out in the air behind you like superman, the arms flapping as wings. these animal movements are fun, and i want to begin to use them more in the roda. in the roda, everyone naturally, was practicing their (fake)/short aus a lot. i want to see a lot more of the animal movements though - some don't seem practical like serpente and aguia, but the others are (at least funny/fun).
also we had practice work with the instruments, even though i only got to play the agogo. i got caught leading the songs, and whoops, my secret was revealed - that i didn't learn any of them yet, and i did horribly... My mestre was like sing Bob Marley, trying to lighten the situado.
\- wow, i didn't mean for this to get so long. but i like the way it went, so there will be no doubt, some other capoeira logs. -/
Sunday, February 3, 2008
Friday, February 1, 2008
what's going on lately?
my head's a little unwell, but overall i'm a little better... the other day, took a while to try to mindmap everything i'm feeling visually. it isn't perfect but sums it up well. remind me to look at it everytime i forget myself.
different note: finally enrolled in a painting course at SVA. it is pretty nice to finally take some time and develop my skills. what i like about this course is there is a lot of personal attn. and the class size is small. i'm beginning to feel like an artist already. the instructor says to "draw everyday". something i have been putting off for a while. i know he's right. i'm a little rusty. by the time, i would start to get a reasonable sketch down of the nude model, she would get up for her 20 minute break. haha. the instructor whispered to me a little secret, "the pencil won't hurt the paper"!
Saturday, January 26, 2008
fear of death
"I just think it's a fear of death. People don't want to be deep, it has to be superficial so it's dressing in armour with black sunglasses, very cool, but not revealing, not thinking. But you know people may misunderstand me but that's OK, I get enough appreciation. But I hope that when Bush leaves people will loosen up a little bit."
-Bjork
-Bjork
Thursday, January 24, 2008
can't focus
free expression
discipline
planning
any given individual at any given time will be exhibiting one of the three above.
free expression = not thinking
discipline = proverbial reminders stored in your subconcious
planning = actively taking the fun out of life
i seek to spend my time 60%, 30%, 10%
(instead of 10%, 30%, 60% - which i do now)
discipline
planning
any given individual at any given time will be exhibiting one of the three above.
free expression = not thinking
discipline = proverbial reminders stored in your subconcious
planning = actively taking the fun out of life
i seek to spend my time 60%, 30%, 10%
(instead of 10%, 30%, 60% - which i do now)
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
the best thoughts
Bankroft Hall - the epitome of my childhood. i revisited only once, and it brought real tears to my eyes. at that time, i visualized the past, and how dream-like it was. and i don't think there has ever been a time so sweet. i keep forgetting it for some reason now. it isn't constant on my thoughts. but randomly, like today, I'll think of Bankroft Hall... there has to be a reason for this.
Saturday, January 19, 2008
unfiltered poetry medley
My piece is near me
I fear this won’t last long
Cops arrest me
What did I do wrong?
-
God is the equation for all variables.
-
I grew up in the hood
Where a rat’s life
Is closer to paradise
[‘cause ain’t nobody gonna visit
My domicile
So I got to reconcile]
I may start off slow
But I won’t pass
The finish line like that.
And I will pass the
Finish line, in record
Time! I alone,
On this track.
No peer on earth can seduce her
Her stare is like medusa
She wakes up early like the roosts
To say “day, rise up beneath me”
Feet glossy, eyes rainy and pearl shaped
---
When loren gets even mightier
Than the pen is
Rhinos tear through the flesh
In the stampede
…
The fear has left
Only a mark
Only a mark
Only a mark (that I’m free)
[and we look to the sky
I don’t know why
We look to the sky]
So when the eyes they bleed
And the fears are done
Tears to me are mere epiphanies
“The peace that died”
She died right in front of my eyes
Oh I cried
I cried I cried
And she died right in front of mine eyes
I cried
I cried
I fear this won’t last long
Cops arrest me
What did I do wrong?
-
God is the equation for all variables.
-
I grew up in the hood
Where a rat’s life
Is closer to paradise
[‘cause ain’t nobody gonna visit
My domicile
So I got to reconcile]
I may start off slow
But I won’t pass
The finish line like that.
And I will pass the
Finish line, in record
Time! I alone,
On this track.
No peer on earth can seduce her
Her stare is like medusa
She wakes up early like the roosts
To say “day, rise up beneath me”
Feet glossy, eyes rainy and pearl shaped
---
When loren gets even mightier
Than the pen is
Rhinos tear through the flesh
In the stampede
…
The fear has left
Only a mark
Only a mark
Only a mark (that I’m free)
[and we look to the sky
I don’t know why
We look to the sky]
So when the eyes they bleed
And the fears are done
Tears to me are mere epiphanies
“The peace that died”
She died right in front of my eyes
Oh I cried
I cried I cried
And she died right in front of mine eyes
I cried
I cried
Friday, January 18, 2008
Thursday, January 17, 2008
My new schedule - don't forget it!
Monday - Recreation Day
: running/conditioning
: reading/painting
: Capoeira
Tuesday - Jumpstart Day
: hardcore labor
Wednesday - Handle-my-Biz Day
: personal biz development
: Capoeira
Thursday - Launch Day
: finalize hardcore labor
Friday - Event Day
: weekly review
: cleaning/errands
: hang with pals / go somewhere
Saturday - Meditation Day
: be lazy
OR
: try something new/spontaneous
OR
: go hiking/road trip
OR
: paint
OR
: catch up wit fam/close friends
OR
: volunteer
etc.
Sunday - Lazy Day
: do whatever i want
: running/conditioning
: reading/painting
: Capoeira
Tuesday - Jumpstart Day
: hardcore labor
Wednesday - Handle-my-Biz Day
: personal biz development
: Capoeira
Thursday - Launch Day
: finalize hardcore labor
Friday - Event Day
: weekly review
: cleaning/errands
: hang with pals / go somewhere
Saturday - Meditation Day
: be lazy
OR
: try something new/spontaneous
OR
: go hiking/road trip
OR
: paint
OR
: catch up wit fam/close friends
OR
: volunteer
etc.
Sunday - Lazy Day
: do whatever i want
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
how to use a planner
if you are using a planner, you most likely DON'T want to do the stuff you put in it. AND if you DO, most likely, you are going to forget it. So the rule of thumb is leave everything that is INTERESTING AND MEMORABLE out of your planner. If it is interesting, but not memorable, you need to store it somewhere you won't forget. If it is memorable, but not interesting, it is obviously important -- BUT you need to get it out of your head for sure! However, if it is INTERESTING AND MEMORABLE, you will
1. only taint the experience by putting it in a planner
2. probably ignore the other tasks
3. make your planner scary and crowded
in a perfect world, one wouldn't need a planner
1. only taint the experience by putting it in a planner
2. probably ignore the other tasks
3. make your planner scary and crowded
in a perfect world, one wouldn't need a planner
Thursday, January 10, 2008
like paper
try to exhibit
the same representation
in front of
and behind one's back
where we don't cross out
with our pens
and don't spitball
from our tongues
loose leaf
like our friends
but with all the lines
in between
scribble across the margin
all the hopes
and the dreams
encrypt them in doodles and
ink blots
of our illegible handwriting
crumple what is sensible
and rewrite unmentionables!
on a new page
we can say it is a new chapter
in our lives
but if we were wise
we'd admit ourselves
a piece of nature
taken from the forest
the same representation
in front of
and behind one's back
where we don't cross out
with our pens
and don't spitball
from our tongues
loose leaf
like our friends
but with all the lines
in between
scribble across the margin
all the hopes
and the dreams
encrypt them in doodles and
ink blots
of our illegible handwriting
crumple what is sensible
and rewrite unmentionables!
on a new page
we can say it is a new chapter
in our lives
but if we were wise
we'd admit ourselves
a piece of nature
taken from the forest
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
I promise myself
To be so strong that nothing can disturb my peace of mind.
To talk health, happiness, prosperity to every person I meet.
To make all my friends feel that there is something worthwhile in them.
To look at the sunny side of everything and make my optimism come true.
To think only of the best, to work only for the best and to expect only the best.
To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as I am about my own.
To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future.
To wear a cheerful expression at all times and give a smile to every living creature I meet.
To give so much time to improving myself that I have no time to criticize others.
To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.
To think well of myself and to proclaim this fact to the world, not in loud words, but in great deeds.
To live in the faith that the whole world is on my side, so long as I am true to the best that is in me.
- Christian D. Larson
To talk health, happiness, prosperity to every person I meet.
To make all my friends feel that there is something worthwhile in them.
To look at the sunny side of everything and make my optimism come true.
To think only of the best, to work only for the best and to expect only the best.
To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as I am about my own.
To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future.
To wear a cheerful expression at all times and give a smile to every living creature I meet.
To give so much time to improving myself that I have no time to criticize others.
To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.
To think well of myself and to proclaim this fact to the world, not in loud words, but in great deeds.
To live in the faith that the whole world is on my side, so long as I am true to the best that is in me.
- Christian D. Larson
life=
diverging & converging planes of substance
substance= an arbitrary unit, includes the undefinable
to define the undefinable, by definition,
is impossible
except as a single term,
the 'undefinable'
we put meaning into terms
and take meaning out of them
but on what terms?
the duality of human reasoning
substance= an arbitrary unit, includes the undefinable
to define the undefinable, by definition,
is impossible
except as a single term,
the 'undefinable'
we put meaning into terms
and take meaning out of them
but on what terms?
the duality of human reasoning
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