Greetings

[Ro-Ha Til'leto]

I'm a 35 year old Merchant Marine living in Iowa and working in Brazil. I train in martial arts whenever time permits and I enjoy throwing boomerangs with my kids & relaxin' on the couch with the wife. I'm into computers, tattoos, freemasonry and science fiction.

I look forward to interacting with all of you in the future!

R.:

[RyuJin]

brazil huh....haven't per chance studied capoeira have you?....i've always wanted to learn that...just not many schools for it here stateside...unless i lived in miami

[Moonshadow]

Welcome to the JRC, Ro-Ha! Please let me know if you have any questions about the site or our offline meetings. I think I might know another Jedi in Iowa when you happen to be in the states.

--Moonshadow

[Ro-Ha Til'leto]

The Chief Mate on my ship is a blue cord in Capoeira. He has been teaching me a little since we've worked together, mainly working on the jenga. We spoke with a local BJJ instructor and as soon as we can get some free time in the evening we can begin training with their group.

[Ro-Ha Til'leto]

Welcome to the JRC, Ro-Ha! Please let me know if you have any questions about the site or our offline meetings. I think I might know another Jedi in Iowa when you happen to be in the states.

--Moonshadow
That would be helpful, thank you! I live on the western boarder of the state, so if you know anyone around or near Omaha, NE, that would be cool also! I can see downtown Omaha from my backyard (we're pretty close!).

R.:

[RyuJin]

cool....from my understanding the jenga is the basis for all the other techniques...

[Ro-Ha Til'leto]

cool....from my understanding the jenga is the basis for all the other techniques...
Correct. Everything starts with and returns to the jenga. He is constantly correcting me on my form. The way you cover up while moving in the jenga is awkward for me. Plus it feels like I'm off balance alot more than I'm comfortable with. Fortunately he has a great deal of patience with me!


R.:

[RyuJin]

when i was in bootcamp one of the guys in my division knew capoeira...i would watch him trying to figure out the jenga...seems to me you definately need a degree of rythm...which of course i don't...the off balance thing is part of the key...like drunken kung fu(which i know a little of) it throws your opponent off...when i was learning drunken i was always in positions that seemed really off balance, however i found that appearance wasn't the case...looking off balance but remaining fully balanced...looking like a dance but being more in the case of capoeira...still a very cool style i'd like to learn

[Ro-Ha Til'leto]

Yeah, rhythm is important to have and the music that accompanies the 2 players in the rota helps keep the tempo. Being balanced while off-balance is gonna take a little more practice for me! It's just another set of skills that will take a while to get integrated into my 'tool box'.

You mention dancing. It's my understanding that the original practitioners of Capoeira (African slaves) disguised their training as a cultural dance so the so they could practice, teach and pass on their heritage and techniques without incurring the punishment of the guards. Very clever if you ask me...


Do you have Capoeira schools in your area? Go check 'em out if you get a chance. I really enjoy the music from the berimbau!

Good luck!


R.:


when i was in bootcamp one of the guys in my division knew capoeira...i would watch him trying to figure out the jenga...seems to me you definately need a degree of rythm...which of course i don't...the off balance thing is part of the key...like drunken kung fu(which i know a little of) it throws your opponent off...when i was learning drunken i was always in positions that seemed really off balance, however i found that appearance wasn't the case...looking off balance but remaining fully balanced...looking like a dance but being more in the case of capoeira...still a very cool style i'd like to learn

[RyuJin]

from my research that's the origin of capoeira, i wish there was a school for it around here, i think there may be a few in miami, but i'm not gonna drive 5-6 hours..lol
if it's meant to happen it will, that much i'm certain of.
another thing about capoeira(from my research again) most of the techniques were also developed as a means of fighting in very tight quarters, though i don't know how accurate that book was, especially since it was already 15 years old when i read it 14 years ago(an encyclopedia of martial arts)
i wish i could find another copy of it as it was filled with lots of useful info.

[Ro-Ha Til'leto]

from my research that's the origin of capoeira, i wish there was a school for it around here, i think there may be a few in miami, but i'm not gonna drive 5-6 hours..lol
if it's meant to happen it will, that much i'm certain of.
another thing about capoeira(from my research again) most of the techniques were also developed as a means of fighting in very tight quarters, though i don't know how accurate that book was, especially since it was already 15 years old when i read it 14 years ago(an encyclopedia of martial arts)
i wish i could find another copy of it as it was filled with lots of useful info.
I might be mistaken, but I think that particular style is called Angola Capoeira, low and slow, good in tight spaces. My crew mate trains in Palmeiras (think I spelled it right). More contemporary, typically what I see when I'm down there.

Do you train in martial arts? You mentioned you knew a little about Kung Fu...

R.:

[RyuJin]

lol...i've trained in quite a few over the years...american karate, renshinkan ryu ninjutsu(aka shinjo ryu renshinken kempo/fuma ninjutsu, i just recently learned of the alternate name)tae kwon do, jiu jitsu, shuri-te karate, some wing chun(aka ving sun), a small bit of drunken(enough to be of use) maharlika kuntaw(indonesian stick fighting similar to escrima/arnis), muay thai, an apprentice of mine taught me bushido(a form of kendo), i've also picked up a little bit of fencing though katana's don't work well with those techniques....some of those styles i learned when i was overseas in the navy. the american karate i learned first then my uncle taught me the next 3 styles...in all i've been studying various styles since i was 8....almost 34 now....been jedi since 13...looooong time now...makes me feel kinda old...but on another jedi site i go there's several that are much older then me and makes me feel young again :) lol

[Mindas Arran]

Capoeira isn't very good in tight places as the spinning kicks require quite a bit of space and 'runway' so to speak. There are some direct kicks (bencao) they aren't as prevalent. Capoeira Angola is another way of playing the game (as opposed to the flashier, faster paced 'Regional' style). From what I've seen of Angola, I don't know that I'd call it a combat-ready form so much as a dance. Really, watching Angola it seems almost like a Shamanic ritual or something. Really neat, just not incredibly useful in combat.

[jdmcowan]

Wow, RyuJin, what a list. Are some of those self-taught or are they all with certified teachers? I'm also curious about a couple of the Japanese words you use. You say you learned jiu jitsu, but the Japanese "jujutsu" (and various creative alternate spellings) simply means "grappling". However, I commonly see the spelling you used for the Brazilian variation, is that what you studied? Also, do you know more about this "bushido" you studied? In Japan the word is used to refer to the full range of philosophy and arts studied by the samurai. So I get the impression that this is must be an American "form of kendo" (not to put it down - pretty much all martial arts are modern variations of older traditions). Was there more to the name and "bushido" was just used as a nickname?

Jeremy

[Ro-Ha Til'leto]

Capoeira isn't very good in tight places as the spinning kicks require quite a bit of space and 'runway' so to speak. There are some direct kicks (bencao) they aren't as prevalent. Capoeira Angola is another way of playing the game (as opposed to the flashier, faster paced 'Regional' style). From what I've seen of Angola, I don't know that I'd call it a combat-ready form so much as a dance. Really, watching Angola it seems almost like a Shamanic ritual or something. Really neat, just not incredibly useful in combat.
The part of the training that I find most useful, in addition to the sweeping and off-balancing techniques, is the lower body work out. After training for just a short period, my core and quads are spent!!! Being low and stretched out in the jenga really works my lower body. Just practicing basic techniques in the jenga gets the 'ol ticker hummin'!!!!

[Ro-Ha Til'leto]

lol...i've trained in quite a few over the years...american karate, renshinkan ryu ninjutsu(aka shinjo ryu renshinken kempo/fuma ninjutsu, i just recently learned of the alternate name)tae kwon do, jiu jitsu, shuri-te karate, some wing chun(aka ving sun), a small bit of drunken(enough to be of use) maharlika kuntaw(indonesian stick fighting similar to escrima/arnis), muay thai, an apprentice of mine taught me bushido(a form of kendo), i've also picked up a little bit of fencing though katana's don't work well with those techniques....some of those styles i learned when i was overseas in the navy. the american karate i learned first then my uncle taught me the next 3 styles...in all i've been studying various styles since i was 8....almost 34 now....been jedi since 13...looooong time now...makes me feel kinda old...but on another jedi site i go there's several that are much older then me and makes me feel young again :) lol
That is a pretty good list! I haven't heard of some of those styles. Can you elaborate on them a little (renshinkan ryu ninjutsu, maharlika kuntaw)? You and I are about the same age, and I was in the USN also!!

My studies include JKD concepts, some Wing Chun, Small Circle Jujitsu and RCSF from DBMA (Kali Silat and others). My training includes Tang Soo Do and Tae Kwon Do (BB in both), Thai Boxing, a little BJJ and Judo and a smidge of Capoeira.

[stancheung75]

Capoeira isn't very good in tight places as the spinning kicks require quite a bit of space and 'runway' so to speak. There are some direct kicks (bencao) they aren't as prevalent. Capoeira Angola is another way of playing the game (as opposed to the flashier, faster paced 'Regional' style). From what I've seen of Angola, I don't know that I'd call it a combat-ready form so much as a dance. Really, watching Angola it seems almost like a Shamanic ritual or something. Really neat, just not incredibly useful in combat.

totally true. A Angolaro, Angola Capoerista doesn't look at their art as a total fighting martial art. It's looked upon also as a game with song and music. It's brought over to Brazil by the Bantu people of Angola Africa.

It's a lot like full body tai chi. I believe in the Capoeira community the Angola style is considered their more "ground fighting" system.

Good Job Mindas you know your stuff. If I ever develop "Martial Arts of Warrior Culture" as a college course. I know who to turn to for help :sHa_thumb:

[RyuJin]

Wow, RyuJin, what a list. Are some of those self-taught or are they all with certified teachers? I'm also curious about a couple of the Japanese words you use. You say you learned jiu jitsu, but the Japanese "jujutsu" (and various creative alternate spellings) simply means "grappling". However, I commonly see the spelling you used for the Brazilian variation, is that what you studied? Also, do you know more about this "bushido" you studied? In Japan the word is used to refer to the full range of philosophy and arts studied by the samurai. So I get the impression that this is must be an American "form of kendo" (not to put it down - pretty much all martial arts are modern variations of older traditions). Was there more to the name and "bushido" was just used as a nickname?

Jeremy

the american karate was self taught...my parents wouldn't pay for me to attend a school, the renshinken ryu ninjutsu, tae kwon do , and jiu jitsu, were taught by my uncle who had a gold belt in tae kwon do, black belt in renshinken ryu, and blackbelt in jiu jitsu, the particular type of jiu jitsu i'm not sure of i simply used the spelling i seen on his certificate. in all my uncle had 1 goldbelt, 3 blackbelts and 6 brownbelts, the bushido i was taught my apprentice/friend learned from a retired japanese officer of wwii so i'm guessing it was a family style, and moderately old.the maharlika kuntaw was taught by an on base instructor, the other styles were all taught by friends that were taking them.

[RyuJin]

That is a pretty good list! I haven't heard of some of those styles. Can you elaborate on them a little (renshinkan ryu ninjutsu, maharlika kuntaw)? You and I are about the same age, and I was in the USN also!!

My studies include JKD concepts, some Wing Chun, Small Circle Jujitsu and RCSF from DBMA (Kali Silat and others). My training includes Tang Soo Do and Tae Kwon Do (BB in both), Thai Boxing, a little BJJ and Judo and a smidge of Capoeira.

the renshinken ryu i just recently found out they have alternate names for, but when i was taught it was just renshinken ryu, based on my study of other styles the majority of techniques are basically the same but more emphasis is placed upon stealth and efficiency. maharlika kuntaw is an indonesian stick fighting style similar to escrima or arnis where you use 2 short sticks as a pair for trapping, blocking, and striking. i have read a couple of bruce lee's books on JKD concepts and applied some of his theories to what i already know and the results were very impressive in terms of speed and power, i've even attempted some of his workouts which are extremely greuling.

[RyuJin]

the shuri te was taught to me by an instructor that had appeared in blackbelt magazine a few times, he had won the u.s. open for swords, lead the 1996 u.s. team in greece(he invited me to participate on that team but i had to go to bootcamp). he had a charity match with bill "superfoot" wallace, met bruce lee, ed parker and many more martial arts legends. he broke tradition for me by having me train at the front of the class as a white belt(by tradition the lower ranks are in back so they can see the proper technique) some of the others weren't too pleased but he told them if they had as much dedication as me then he wouldn't have done it(he was talking to his blackbelts and brownbelts). under his training had to constantly spar with brownbelts and above because they were the only ones that had the speed,power and proper technique to be a challenge for me...he was always "gushing" about me...

[Ro-Ha Til'leto]

I believe in the Capoeira community the Angola style is considered their more "ground fighting" system.

I'm not sure how they view the Angola style, but I do know that the Brazilian I train with doesn't care for it. Maybe that's indicative of the community, maybe not. I'll ask him when I see him again.