Monday, February 28, 2005
WEEK STARTING SAT. 26TH FEB....
I can swear it that this person knows whats up....
The only horoscope I've been going by since 1998.... and its never been wrong!
Saturday, February 26, 2005
Week commencing Saturday, 19th February 2005
...what happens when we get both at the same time?
Wednesday, February 23, 2005
A NEW BLOG... A NEW LOOK AT THINGS...
To get fit, To learn an artform that I have wanted to get into for years....
And its drawing me in.
With the kicks, With the soul of things to come.
So, I made a new blog. A new capoeira blog.
With Axe.
Monday, February 21, 2005
AL JAZEERA'S CONSPIRACY PAGE....
(0) commentsSTARTED MY CAPOEIRA BLOG....
By December, I hope to get a rough idea of all the moves etc...They say it takes up to 5 years for most to get past the beginner stage. Wow, I'm ready to take that on.
Sunday, February 20, 2005
Just Parris - Walk with me
(0) commentsFriday, February 18, 2005
STILL ON THE LOOK OUT....
So many to choose from, so many styles.
I'm waiting on my capoeira book --hopefully, that will give me more info.
Not an easy topic to find straight info on.
Monday, February 14, 2005
HOOKED! ON CAPOEIRA....
Responses from capoeiristas:
They have to WANT to learn capoeira. Capoeira is not something that's easily understood, whether physically, mentally, or spiritually. It's something that can start to consume you and you have to make the decision as to whether you're in for the long haul, or whether you can't deal and have to bail when it starts to drain on you. ( Most people seem to drop out between 2-3 years).
They have to have the drive to practice in their own time, to focus on what their Mestre is trying to teach them, and they have to cultivate the ability to be able to deal with changing times and situations. A lesson we learn does not necessarily apply to all situations, or even to any other situation besides the one that we specifically learned it in, Things change. And the world is tricky.
Patience. Patience is so important. In a world of fast food, 2 year black belts, microwave ovens, and bullet trains, it's even harder to deal with the fact that capoeira is not something you can learn overnight, or even in the space of a few years. It's a life long journey. And every day that you decide to wake up and train, you're recomitting to that journey.
Seek out information: The internet is an amazing tool, but like any tool, it has to be used, and can probably produce as much junk as it can anything else. I think that the perfect student should be out trying to find out all they can about the history of capoeira, the roots, the music, other schools, etc... Stay true to your own Mestre and school, but realize that there are other paths out there to the same goal, and if you learn from them, it might enhance your own abilities as well.
Stay Respectful: Always have respect for everyone and everything around you. This includes your own Mestre, your own school, visiting Mestres and their students, guys off the street.etc.. and also to yourself. If you're a hot head who likes to cause trouble, trouble will find you every time.
Try to be in harmony: Always try to apply the flow of capoeira to the rest of your life. Try to move in harmony with your surroundings and your environment. Sometimes this might mean having to leave your Mestre or your school. Or your partner, etc... If you're not in harmony then you're not only hurting yourself, but also the ones around you. If you talk RESPECTFULLY to any Mestre, who's worthy of the title, and you say that you just don't fit in here anymore in your heart. They should thank you for been given the chance to teach you, and then wish you luck. The ones that freak out on you will only re-enforce the idea that you must leave, either way. If it's time to go. it's time to go.
Practice, Practice, Practice. You have to always practice. Everything. Not just the movements, but the music and songs as well. Know all the instruments, variations and all. Learn as many songs as you can. The only way you get better is with practice. Most people don't want to look foolish so they don't practice the stuff they suck at, so they never get better at it. The ones that practice their weaker skills definately become the stronger in the end, and personally, I have a lot more respect for the people who overcome difficulty than the ones who slide through life only doing what they're good at.
~ Cantor, Capoeira Ache Brasil, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
For all students:
1) Respect the roda at all times, never forget that capoeiristas were severely persecuted for their love of this art.
2) Humility is a good trait to keep yourself grounded when learning in the roda.
3) Help build up the newer student's confidence.
4) Know that if you join a school you become a representative of that school. Your actions whether good or bad can paint a picture of that school.
5) Help promote your school even if the person teaching doesn't ask it of you.
6) When you come to class come to train.
7) Pick up an instrument even if you sound bad playing it, you can only get better.
8) Sing and clap until you can't anymore, than sing and clap some more. :^D
For people who want to learn capoeira:
1) What type of student are you? Goofy and light hearted, serious and focused...etc
2) Listen and watch closely to the person or persons teaching the class. Do they have a personality and methodology that suits your learning style?
3) What are your real intentions for joining a school? Getting fit, meeting new people, school bully took your lunch money...etc
4) How much of yourself/time are you willing to devote to your chosen school.
5) Get in shape playing capoeira. Don't say you're going to get in shape first than then learn to play capoeira.
~ Soneca, Capoeira Brasil, Phoenix, AZ
Everyone feels like quitting sometimes, but it's being able to endure that makes us strong. I remember someone asking Mestre Acordeon if he ever wanted to quit capoeira. He said something to the extent of "sure, yesterday I wanted to quit, but today I am here." I think he was trying to say that even Mestres get frustrated at times, but that doesn't keep them from staying with it.
I also think that a good student should help out at the school, even with little things like sweeping the floor and with bigger things like planning batizados and eventually teaching. They should also encourage the other students, those better than them and those worse than them. A good student should not get jealous of someone who can do a movement or something else that they can't. A good student should be willing to share their knowledge, but they should also know when to say "I don't know that very well and you would probably be better off learning from someone else." The way to grow and to make your school grow is to share whatever you can....and be humble.
~ Espantalho, Brazilian Arts Center, Sacramento, CA
One thing that I think is bad in some students is that they put their teachers up on a pedestal, this is bad for the art, the teacher and the student. unrealistic expectations of the teacher, and some times of Capoeira. Do try and keep it real.
~ Corvo, Grupo Caribe, Davis, CA
Yeah, I fully agree. Endurance and humility make a good student, in my opinion. And about creating a "cult to the mestre", I must agree again. My mestre himself is always saying he is just human, and will bleed if cut, the same way he'll cry when sad. Don't expect your mestres be supermen. They are not perfect, nor invincible...
~ Teimosia, Capoeira Arte e Luta, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
Also to agree that if you want to succeed in anything, not just capoeira, you have to embrace it in its completeness and give it all you can.
It has to be pointed out that there are some people who do capoeira mearly because they enjoy it and have no great ambition in it. I wouldn't presume to put these people down, but you have to decide how far you want to take it. If you want to go all the way you have to work twice as hard and twice as often as is convenient.
~ Jacungo, Filhos de Bimba, Newcastle, UK
I think that a good student should be humble. A little bit of personal comfort in your abilities is healthy, but don't kid yourself. Not everyone is impressed by sincere expression of egotistical pride in one's skills. You may be good, but don't remind me outside the roda.
I'm kind of a rogue. Mestres might disagree with this statement: I think a good student should seek multiple influences to learn from if possible. Train with different schools every once in a while. Get surprised as much as possible when you are a new student so you don't get surprised later. Try and learn your own weaknesses.
~ Atrapallado
TAKEN FROM THIS WOMAN'S ONLINE JOURNAL
... I'm hooked! I'm hooked on watching people do it and thinking that maybe this is a good time to start something new that I would enjoy! I love the symbolic and powerful history behind it, I love that it is not a competition sport, its a personal development project --any age can do it because it doesn't go by your physical success....there is so much more to it than that. It reminds me of yoga in that aspect of things.
I love the music, the atmosphere, the people ....I think this is just what I need to get 'me' back....
OK, I am really unfit at this moment in time so I need to work on it.
Ever since I started locing, this is the first time throughout the journey that I feel I need a new challenge to show me patience.... My locs are pretty long now (even though I never see them that way) and I know they are just doing what they want. Now I feel myself falling back into an old trap of being inpatient, or maybe just bored of things.... My locing project is pretty much complete....
Capoeira is a new project to start for years to come and expand on.
I have added loads of info in my website on it:
CAPOEIRA CORNER
WOMEN & CAPOEIRA
Enjoy! I'm off to look up schools in my area.
Sunday, February 13, 2005
ON FORUM ROTATION....
So I have been on forum rotation ever since last year, watching topics, opinions, latest news, new hobbies....anything.
I'm an addict I know....terrible thing. But what am I addicted to? In forums, people are blunt, maybe not 100% honest but it gives people a chance to really voice thoughts that turn my ideas upside down, forcing me to look at things through another angle. Its great.
So far there are about 4 regular forums I visit, each with a completely different topic. And I like what I'm getting ... Then there are times when I spend way too much time in one forum and I know that its time to leave it for a while so I don't lose interest.
Forums -- pick a good one, and learn from what you see. Bringing knowledge, news and ideas together from real people around the world.
Friday, February 04, 2005
JUST WHAT I NEEDED TO KNOW....
Blocked, Stumped And Stuck: 12 Prompts To Get You Writing!
Shery Ma Belle Arrieta
Beginning writers often wonder how to start writing. It's the worry they get themselves into right away that mostly hinders them from getting anything written down.
Experienced writers often get stuck in the middle of their novels, stories or articles. They sometimes agonize and worry about what to write next and that's how they are delayed.
Beginning and experienced writers and the writers in between can sometimes fall into the trap of getting themselves "blocked."
So here are 12 writing prompts you, the beginning writer or the experienced one, can use to start off your writing.
PROMPT # 1 "I write because..." Think of as many reasons as you can. Any reasons you know and feel you should and could write, and why you write. Then from your list, see if you can turn your reasons into an essay, a story or a poem.
PROMPT # 2 Sit still for five minutes. Close your eyes and listen. Don't think, just listen. What sounds do you hear? Is there music? Rustling leaves? Is your TV on? After five minutes, write down all the sounds on a piece of paper. If you can't
think of the correct words for the sounds, write how they sounded (example: "bbbzzztttt" for something you heard). Now use the sounds on your list to create "sound poetry."
PROMPT # 3: Use this prompt to start off your story: "When the dust settled, he saw..."
PROMPT # 4: Quotes are powerful writing starters. They evoke emotions, insights and inspirations for any writer. What's your favorite quote? It may be something a famous dead person said, or a line in a song, or a passage in the Bible. Write the quote on top of your page and write your interpretation of your favorite quote. You can inspire, motivate or even impart a lesson.
PROMPT # 5: When was the last time you received a letter? Or a postcard? Who sent it? What did it say? Did you reply to the letter? Write yourself a letter. Pretend that you are somebody else. Put yourself in your neighbor's shoes, or your old friend's shoes. If you were them, what would you want to tell yourself, or want to know about yourself?
PROMPT # 6: When you ride a bus or a car in one of your trips, what do you do? Do you sleep during the trip? Do you stare out the window and watch unseeingly the view? Or do you take it all in -- the greenery, the buildings, the people, the colors, the hues, the clouds? Recall the most recent trip you've had. Where did you come from and where were you going? Why were you going there? How long was the trip? What did you see on the way? This short exercise will help you with your power of recalling details. The more you recall, the more detailed your writing will be. Do this exercise on a regular basis and you will be able to write with good use of details.
PROMPT # 7: Watch your favorite movie. Afterwards, experiment on giving it different endings. If it's a romantic movie with a mushy happy-ending, why not re-write the ending and say, have the guy end up with the other woman? Or if it's an action film, ask yourself what would happen if the hero got killed. The thing
here is you have to think of a different version for the movie's ending.
Prompt # 8. Imagine you're walking in a mall and all of a sudden, a woman grabs you by the hair and starts a catfight with you. What would you do? Would you fight back? If you're a man, think of what you'll do if another guy punched you on the nose for no reason at all. Would you punch back? Describe the "fight scene."
Prompt # 9. Recall the last dream (or nightmare) you had. Describe the dream in detail.
Prompt # 10. If you were an animal, what would would you be? Why?
Prompt # 11. When you were in gradeschool, what was your most hated subject? Why did you hate it? Do you still hate it? Why or why not? Did the teacher have anything to do with it?
Prompt # 12. Put on your favorite CD or tape. What music comes out of it? When you listen to it, what do you feel? What comes into your mind?
I hope the prompts I have created for you will help you get those words out of your head and onto the paper.
Drop me a line and share with me your writing if you are inclined. Until then, great writing to you!
About the author:
Shery owns The e-Writer's Place. She offers a free e-mail workshop for writers called DAILY WRITES: 31 Days of Writing Bliss! She also authored the e-book on how to create profitable e-mail workshops, e-courses and tutorials.
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(0) commentse-BOOK WRITING....
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