Class focusing on acrobatics in capoeira. This class is open to everyone, however we’ll be training some high risk movements under the safe supervision of your instructor.

Date: Sunday 18th April, 2010

Time: 6.30pm-9.00pm

Location: Go Sho (Mitaka Dai Go Shogakkou Elementary School)

Access: Go Sho directions

Cost: Normal class fees apply

Spring is here! The weather is getting warmer, the sun is staying up longer, the flowers are blooming.

It’s time for Hanami!

Date: Sunday 28th, March, 2010

Time: The park is open 9.30am-5pm. You’re welcome to arrive earlier, but let’s meet around 12 midday at the Open Field/みんなの原っぱ.

Location: Tachikawa Showa Kinen Koen

Cost: Park entry fee: Adults (15+) 400 yen, Children (6-15) 80 yen.

Access: Nishi Tachikawa Sta. (JR Ome Line), one stop from Tachikawa Sta. (JR Chuo Line)

Bring your own lunch and drinks and if you want to share, bring a little something for everyone.

Bring your berimbaus and pandeiros, bring your capoeira pants and t-shirts, and bring your axé! Bring your guitars, frisbees, soccer balls and whatever else you want. It might get a little chilly in the afternoon, so bring some warm clothes too.

ALL WELCOME

No Smoking or Littering

Cancelled in case of rain!

The Park

Flower Blog

Predictions

Continue reading for map of Tachikawa Showa Kinen Koen

View Showa Kinen Koen – Mina no Harappa/Open Field in a larger map

English

「三鷹の森ジブリ美術館公園」（井の頭公園内）で、新鮮な空気、緑そしてカポエイラを楽しみましょう！
詳しい場所は、下のグーグルマップをチェックしてください。

日程： 2010年3月27日（土）

時間： 13.00-17.00

場所： 井の頭公園　-　三鷹の森ジブリ美術館公園

費用： 無料（入園料はかかりません）

アクセス： ＪＲ吉祥寺駅、またはＪＲ三鷹駅より徒歩１５分

持ち物： 「マイ箸」（自分専用の箸）

雨の場合にはキャンセルです

三鷹の森ジブリ美術館公園

ウィキペディア

終日禁煙でお願いします

日本語

First Park Roda in 2010!

Come on down to Inokashira Koen – Ghibli Museum Park and let’s enjoy a day of fresh air, green grass, and capoeira. Please check the Google Map below for access to the park.

Date: Saturday 27th March, 2010

Time: 1.00pm-5.00pm

Location: Inokashira Koen – Ghibli Museum Park

Cost: FREE (no entry fee required)

Access: 15 minutes walk from JR Kichijoji or Mitaka Stations

Bring your “My Hashi”

Cancelled in case of rain!

Ghibli Museum

Inokashira Park on wikipedia

No Smoking Please

Here’s the first video from the capoeira performance, in three parts, unedited. More to come, so stay tuned!

Thanks Yukari and Taiki

MIFA International Festival 2010

Thanks to Yukari and Eric!

お疲れ様でした！

Here’s the video from Instrutor Caçapa’s appearance on “The Golden Hour – Yokoso 9Ch”.

Tokyo MX YouTube Channel

The Golden Hour Homepage

Yokoso 9Ch Blog

What a cool experience! It wasn’t my first time on live TV in Japan, but my first time to participate in a real television studio production at this level.

You might be able to tell I was a little nervous, but it wasn’t just the thought of saying or doing something regrettable on live TV that was giving me the shakes. The fact that I only got 3 hours sleep the night before sourcing the photos and MP3 background music, and then did a full 9 hours at work, rushed to the studio for debriefing and rehearsal and then had to wait about an hour to go on.

Earlier that day I got a call from the producer during my lunch break telling me the MP3 didn’t work, and I needed to create an Audio CD for them to use. As luck would have it, there was a stack of blank CD-Rs, internet connection, and laptop computer waiting for me at work. I had about 10 minutes before my next class to download the MP3 from the GBCJ Odeo podcast site, and burn an Audio CD.

I got to the studio and was met by Ryo, who I had been communicating with since last Sunday about the appearance. He was extremely kind and helpful, and reminded me to just have fun on the show. We did a debriefing about the interview, then went into the studio to check out the area I would have for my capoeira solo.

Next we did a rehearsal with the crew. Silhouette pose, Questions and Answers, a quick berimbau solo, a full 70 seconds capoeira solo, and then finally the website plug. The solo was a good warm-up, so good in-fact that I was already covered in sweat and out of breath!

The crew were happy with the rehearsal, and we went over the questions one more time. The main thing I was worried about was keeping my answers short and snappy. I do tend to go on and on when it comes to talking about capoeira.

Next I met the hosts and we did another rehearsal, this time no berimbau solo (cut due to time restrictions), and no capoeira solo (keeping it a surprise for the hosts).

All was good. 10 minutes before show-time. Toilet break. The live show started, and I just had to wait outside the studio until 9.40pm when the producer would call me back. I waited in the foyer where a huge flat-screen TV was showing the live, and live-to-air (with 5 second delay) in split-screen.

Luckily the foyer was a huge, almost empty space with a big, reflective, glass door where I could rehearse my solo. Stretch, warm-up, and mental preparation for the interview. I went over 3 or 4 sequences that I wanted to stitch together for the 45 seconds they had given me. I got in about 10 really clean “au sem mão”, and felt happy with myself.

The time came, Ryo called me into the studio. “Pose”, I crouched behind the paper screen and waited in ‘queda de rins’. “Go, go!” I chopped through the screen with my hand, and then flew through it in ‘virado’, getting the paper stuck to my foot and slid into a ‘negativa’ on landing. Nothing to worry about, big smile. Dramatic entrance achieved!

Then question time. I tried my best to keep it brief and to the point, but remember all the points we had discussed in the rehearsal.

Next came solo time. Keeping track of all the cameras, the time-keeper, and the hosts’ desk proved to be a little difficult when I had to pull out of my final ‘virado’ in the sequence. Overall everything went to plan.

Solo over, almost out of breath, but had to answer the last couple of questions. Website and classes plugged, and mission accomplished.

Say my “thank you”s and “goodbyes” to everyone. Time to head home and watch the DVD of the show.

Once again, thanks to Ryo and the crew from Tokyo MX, and the hosts 徳光　正行, キンテーロ　ミレラ　and レオナルド for a fantastic experience and a great chance to promote capoeira.

Instrutor Caçapa will be appearing on live television in Japan tonight!

Tokyo MX (Channel 9) has invited Caçapa to appear on the show “The Golden Hour – Yokoso 9Ch”. A short talk-show type program aiming to promote Non-Japanese living in, or visiting Japan.

Date: Thursday, February 25th, 2010

Time: 9pm-10pm (Yokoso 9Ch starts around 9.40pm)

Japanese TV or OneSeg: Channel 9, Tokyo MX

Tokyo MX YouTube Channel

The Golden Hour Homepage

Yokoso 9Ch Blog

If you’re not in Japan then you may be able to watch live using this program, Keyhole TV.

Otherwise stay tuned for the YouTube upload.

Instrutor Caçapa here throwing some recommended capoeira stuff your way!

First up, I just got my hands on some PUMA 917 Lo Sneakers, and I gotta say, they are great. They were on sale at Kichijoji Parco’s ABC Mart, but you can buy them online right here from Amazon (US/Japan).

The second recommended shoe comes from our very own GBCJ Kids Capoeira maniac, Oto-chan. The Jinga, a shoe designed just for capoeira.

We’ll have some more info about the shoe helping kids in Brazil soon, but in the meantime, here’s a sneak preview from Amazon (Japan).

More recommended goodies!

オンライン・ショプ

Online Shop

2009 was a year of reflection. We started off with a bang, with several exciting workshops and performances in January and the pace hardly slowed down after that. However, things weren’t all great. Membership dropped off a little in April, we became a smaller, let’s say ’streamlined’ group. We were not ready to have our 3rd batizado in 2009, or visit our Bantus brothers and sisters in Brazil for the World Meet. Maybe it was a side effect of the Lehman Shock, maybe it was a sign to head in another direction.

Whatever it was, it was time to reflect. It didn’t effect our dedication to capoeira though, just focused our attention more on creating better relationships within the capoeira community in Japan, and creating a better future for GBCJ in 2010.

The 2009 highlights included:

Visiting Guests

Thanks to Instrutor Sabão, Capivara, Chá Mate from GBC Australia, Instrutor Coelho from GBC Malaysia and Mico Estrela for stopping by on your visists to Japan. Thanks to all the visiting capoeira instructors and students from all over the world that also shared their axé at Bantus Capoeira Japan classes and rodas.

Capoeira Kids

From teaching a workshop to 90 excited International Elementary School kids to starting our very own Bantus Capoeira Kids Class, 2009 saw GBCJ planting the seeds for a big, strong capoeira tree.

Capoeira Performances

In 2009 we started regular musical performances at Antaru Cafe 8, giving us another opportunity to share the Bantus Capoeira Axé amongst the community. We also performed on stage in front of appreciative audiences at the Amnesty International Film Festival, MISHOP International Festival in Inokashira Park, Mitaka Sports Festival, and a hugely successful Antaru Festival in Yoyogi Park.

Workshops and Batizado Visits

Although we weren’t able to host our own batizado in 2009, we were invited to many batizados all over Japan and were able to meet many great visiting mestres. Bantus Capoeira Japan’s own Instrutor Caçapa was also invited down to Osaka to teach 2 days of workshops for Força Da Arte at their internal batizado in April.

Bantus Japan 5th Anniversary

2009 also marked the 5th Anniversary of the Grupo Bantus Capoeira in Japan. Looking back at 5 years of capoeira in Tokyo, Japan.

Read more

Check out the list of 70 highlights from 2009, read more and leave comments below.

1. 2009 commences with our first class (with Instrutor Lula): January 4th
2. Open Roda with Tribo da Lua: January 4th
3. Open Roda with Cordão de Ouro: January 10th
4. Special Workshop with Hooplovers: January 11th
5. Special Kids Capoeira Workshop, K International School: January 14th
6. Roda de Despedida for Instrutor Lula: January 17th
7. Capoeira Rhythm Workshop with Instrutor Lula Alvorada, Kichijoji: January 17th
8. Amnesty International Film Festival Yakult Hall, Shinbashi: January 18th
9. Bantus Capoeira Japan on Yokohama FM with DJ Kaori Adachi: January 19th
10. Antaru Cafe 8 Opening Party Asagaya: January 25th
11. Nação Capoeira Open Roda: February 8th
12. Capoeira Axé da Bahia Open Roda : February 15th
13. Roda de Despedida for Machado: February 21st
14. Antaru Cafe 8 Live Asagaya: February 22nd
15. Workshop with Instrutor Sabão: February 25th
16. Video Update: March 5th
17. Online Shop Updated: March 5th
18. March in March Shibuya: March 8th
19. GBCJ Annual General Meeting 2009: March 14th
20. Video Update: March 20th
21. Antaru Cafe 8 Live Asagaya: March 29th
22. Hanami Party 2009 Showa Kinen Koen, Tachikawa: April 5th
23. Earth Day Open Roda Inokashira Park: April 19th
24. Workshops with Instutor Caçapa and Força Da Arte Internal Batizado Osaka: April 25th-26th
25. Major Class Schedule Change announced: May 4th
26. Kids Capoeira Classes commence: May 9th
27. Open Roda in Inokashira Park: May 10th
28. Capoeira Batuque Batizado: May 17th
29. Mestre Pintor celebrates 20 Years: May 20th
30. World No Tobacco Day 2009 Open Roda, Inokashira Park: May 31st
31. Antaru Cafe 8 Live Asagaya: May 31st
32. Capoeira Presentation at the French School of Tokyo: June 6th
33. Nação Capoeira Open Roda: June 7th
34. Tsuyu Special announced: June 21st
35. Antaru Cafe 8 Live Asagaya: June 21st
36. Workshops and GUETO Batizado Kanazawa: June 27th-28th
37. Grupo Tempo Open Roda: July 18th
38. Open Roda Inokashira Park: July 19th
39. Antaru Cafe 8 Live Asagaya: July 19th
40. Grupo Tempo Batizado: July 20th
41. Filhos da Terra/Expressão e Arte Batizado: July 26th
42. Open Roda Inokashira Park: August 23rd
43. Antaru Cafe 8 Live Asagaya: August 23rd
44. Capoeira Marana Batizado: August 30th
45. Festival Brazil Open Roda Yoyogi Park: September 6th
46. Special Acrobatics Workshop with Mico Estrela: September 6th and 13th
47. Capoeira Axé da Bahia Street Roda Kichijoji: September 20th
48. Força Da Arte Batizado and Percussion Camp Osaka: September 21st-23rd
49. Nação Capoeira Batizado: September 22nd
50. Open Roda with Mestre Cabello: September 26th
51. MISHOP Festival 2009: September 27th
52. Capoeira Basics Clinic: October 3rd-31st
53. Capoeira Nação Batizado: October 11th
54. Mitaka Sports Festival 2009: October 12th
55. Visit from Instrutor Coelho GBC Malaysia: October 24th
56. Capoeira Regional Japan Batizado: October 25th
57. Picasa Web Albums announced: October 29th
58. Myojo Gakuen Speech Day: November 7th
59. Antaru Festival Street Roda Yoyogi Park: November 7th
60. Antaru Festival 2009 Yoyogi Park: November 8th
61. Lagoa do Abaete Workshop: November 8th
62. (HQ) Videos on YouTube :November 17th
63. Beginners Open Roda with Capoeira Narahari, Expressão e Arte, and Cordão de Ouro: November 22nd
64. Capoeira Axé da Bahia Street Roda Kichijoji: November 22nd
65. 5th Anniversary Bantus BBQ Musashino Park: November 23rd
66. Antaru Festival Street Roda Videos: November 29th
67. Bantus Japan 5th Anniversary: November 29th
68. Junk Berimbau Workshop: December 6th
69. Visit from Capivara and Chá Mate GBC Australia: December 19th
70. Antaru Cafe 8 Christmas Party Asagaya: December 20th
71. GBCJ 5th Anniversary Bounenkai 2009: December 26th

Photos

Videos

Podcast

GBCJ Class of 2009

Caçapa, Cafuné, Cotonete, Toupeira, Tatu, Formiga, Espantalho, Gavião, Caboclo D’Agua, Eric, Yosuke, Oto-chan, Ryoga-kun, Risa-chan, Polina-chan!

And thanks to our regular guests in 2009; Maria Bonita, Branca de Neve, Viola, Kayo, Elfo, & ダブちゃん.

どもありがとうございました・おつかれさまでした

2008 Wrap Up

2007 Wrap Up

2006 Wrap Up