The Art of Teaching
A good capoeira player needs to train, a good capoeira teacher needs to study.
Mestre Cueca's idea of teaching how to teach has come from Mestre Edan, who dedicated many years to systematizing and creating methods of teaching capoeira. In his interview for Jogo Bonito, he called teaching an art and compared himself, a capoeira teacher, with an artist, who creates something new on every class with his students.
However, there was another, more trivial reason for Israeli masters to start teaching new generations of capoeira instructors. In 1995 a new sport law legislation was passed in the state of Israel, forcing any type of sports instructors in every area to undergo an instructors course in the Wingate Institute for Physical Education and Sports in Netanya.
The Israeli center for capoeira headed by Mestre Edan managed to escape this law for about 2 years since capoeira wasn't well-known in Israel. However it eventually became impossible to legally rent gyms or to have insurance without this diploma.
Master Eli Avigzar, founder of the Krav Maga Association in Israel, a head of the self-defense school of the IDF (Israeli Defense Forces) and also a commander of Mestre Edan in the army, took the Israeli center under his wing to ensure capoeira's legal development. He helped Mestre Edan and his closest students reconsider and create the methodology for teaching capoeira. With his help capoeira was recognized as an official martial art in Israel.
However, there was another, more trivial reason for Israeli masters to start teaching new generations of capoeira instructors. In 1995 a new sport law legislation was passed in the state of Israel, forcing any type of sports instructors in every area to undergo an instructors course in the Wingate Institute for Physical Education and Sports in Netanya.
The Israeli center for capoeira headed by Mestre Edan managed to escape this law for about 2 years since capoeira wasn't well-known in Israel. However it eventually became impossible to legally rent gyms or to have insurance without this diploma.
Master Eli Avigzar, founder of the Krav Maga Association in Israel, a head of the self-defense school of the IDF (Israeli Defense Forces) and also a commander of Mestre Edan in the army, took the Israeli center under his wing to ensure capoeira's legal development. He helped Mestre Edan and his closest students reconsider and create the methodology for teaching capoeira. With his help capoeira was recognized as an official martial art in Israel.
How the courses happen in Israel
The Israeli instructors course is significantly different from the courses in Russia. It lasts for over 200 hours (approx. 3 weeks) and is held under boarding school conditions, during which students stay in the campus for the entire week, returning home on the weekends. They cover general subjects such as anatomy, biology, sport psychology, and first aid. Students are tested and graded on each subject. Half of the day is dedicated to specific studies of capoeira, such as teaching methodology, technique, music, and history.
“
One of my favourite aspects of teaching the course over the years was to see how students change after having passed it. They literally step out different people than they walked in. They change physically but also something in their posture, their confidence and sparks in the eyes shows that they have become someone, who acquired important tools to make a difference in other people's lives.
Course specialities in Russia
Since in most other countries there are no official requirements for a teaching certificate, including Russia, organizers of the courses here are able to focus on capoeira specifics only. Another difference is the duration of the course — in Russia the course lasts only 3-5 days, but most teachers repeat it every year.
In Israel the certificate is essential for a capoeirista to start a group. However in Russia and other countries, the majority of participants already have their own groups and students. They are mostly interested in their personal development and perfecting their skills. As capoeira has been developing super fast in the last few years in Russia, Mestre Cueca realized there was a great need to change the structure in order to prepare a larger generation of good capoeira teachers. The instructors course for 2017 includes three teachers — Mestre Edan, Mestre Cueca and Contra Mestre TaRusso. It will be divided into three different levels.
In Israel the certificate is essential for a capoeirista to start a group. However in Russia and other countries, the majority of participants already have their own groups and students. They are mostly interested in their personal development and perfecting their skills. As capoeira has been developing super fast in the last few years in Russia, Mestre Cueca realized there was a great need to change the structure in order to prepare a larger generation of good capoeira teachers. The instructors course for 2017 includes three teachers — Mestre Edan, Mestre Cueca and Contra Mestre TaRusso. It will be divided into three different levels.
How it works
1
The foundations of teaching
At this level participants will receive basic teaching tools. This level is available for intermediate/advanced students and is created to help them to make a first step towards further development in this art.
2
Specialization for teaching children
Includes both theoretical and practical parts. At this level, those who already have teaching experience will receive additional tools for teaching children. It is suited for anyone who has passed the first level or has an experience of teaching children or assisting on kids classes.
3
Team leaders
This is a selected group of the top teachers from Russia, that already have students who teach under them. This will be the first year this level will be taught. It includes personal development, planning, coaching and leadership tools for working with abigger organization.
What people say:
Ilya Velikikh,
Head of the Russian Center for Capoeira in Kirov
For me, as a leader of a capoeira center in Kirov, instructors courses are one of the main tools for pushing the school forward and always maintain the right course of the students' and self-development. The knowledge and the skills, that I receive there, help me to discover capoeira from a new and unique side and to deliver the information to students in a simple, easy and joyful way. Instructors courses are the greatest motivator, which makes you want to train and to teach! I attended them for the first time in 2013 and have never missed them since then.
Julia Fomichyova
Teacher of the Russian Center for Capoeira in Moscow
I attended the courses 5 times and every year it was a breakthrough. The first time became a real level-up for me. Not even the course itself, but the preparation for it. I'd been training for 3 years by that moment and I had to boast my skills significantly to get there. I read a lot about capoeira, learnt how to play different rhythms on berimbau and practiced new movements.
The course itself is an immense energy charge and a push forward. Not only do I receive an inspiration but also the exact tools for the development — how to conduct a class, how to teach the movements etc. Although I didn't teach then, those courses helped me to understand, what the teacher was doing, what was going on during the classes and how the group would develop. To be honest, thanks to them, I also became a better student, as well as a teacher. The priceless information is the main thing that you are given on the instructors course — how to be successful in capoeira, in teaching and in life.
The course itself is an immense energy charge and a push forward. Not only do I receive an inspiration but also the exact tools for the development — how to conduct a class, how to teach the movements etc. Although I didn't teach then, those courses helped me to understand, what the teacher was doing, what was going on during the classes and how the group would develop. To be honest, thanks to them, I also became a better student, as well as a teacher. The priceless information is the main thing that you are given on the instructors course — how to be successful in capoeira, in teaching and in life.
Konstantin Budylnikov
Head of the Russian Center for Capoeira in Vologda
For me, the instructors course is one of the key events of the year. The first course has destroyed all my stereotypes about teaching. I've been walking with my eyes wide open for a long time after that, thinking: "Can you really teach like that?" The course is a place, where you can dive into the depth of experience of the best capoeira teachers and enjoy the company of the same fans of this art like you are. The advantage of the course is that not only does it improve your body but also my mind and ideas. It gives you a direction for the group's and self-development for a year ahead, or even years.
Capoeira online or a teaching revolution
In March 2017 Brazilian Institute of Capoeira Education — Instituto Brasileiro de Capoeira Educação — was launched. It is a professional online school for capoeira teachers. The launch of IBCE has become a big event for the whole capoeira community. Founded by mestre Ferradura, the institute offers high-quality online education available all around the world. Mestre Ferradura opened IBCE with the aim of providing students, who want to teach capoeira, with technical and scientific knowledge in a pedagogical and educational manner.
The first course dedicated to teaching little children is available for free on the official website. It lasts 28 weeks and includes lectures, presentations, photos and videos. Every student receives necessary materials online and has to submit an assignment in the end of every week. The course includes periodical exams to make sure the students are up to the standard.
Over 3000 people signed up for the course on the first week, making the website crash unexpectedly. However, the organizers were glad to see how many teachers are looking for more tools and information.
The project has received a lot of support among capoeira masters from different groups. In general, it seems that people today understand that if something is good for capoeira then it is good for everyone. Nevertheless, there were some negative opinions as well. Soon, on the website there will be two more courses available. Before signing up, make sure your Portuguese is good enough to take the classes.
The first course dedicated to teaching little children is available for free on the official website. It lasts 28 weeks and includes lectures, presentations, photos and videos. Every student receives necessary materials online and has to submit an assignment in the end of every week. The course includes periodical exams to make sure the students are up to the standard.
Over 3000 people signed up for the course on the first week, making the website crash unexpectedly. However, the organizers were glad to see how many teachers are looking for more tools and information.
The project has received a lot of support among capoeira masters from different groups. In general, it seems that people today understand that if something is good for capoeira then it is good for everyone. Nevertheless, there were some negative opinions as well. Soon, on the website there will be two more courses available. Before signing up, make sure your Portuguese is good enough to take the classes.
 |  |  |  |
Fun facts
1
The idea of a long-distance education in capoeira appeared long before new technologies have developed.
2
Capoeira sem Mestre (Capoeira without a Master) is a concept, which appeared in the previous century. Historically, the development of capoeira can be divided into two stages: the Era of Rebels — Manduca do Praia, Besouro Preto, Nascimento Grande and other personalities, who are praised in capoeira songs; the Era of Education, when Bimba, Pastinha and other masters managed to improve capoeira image, developed an educational system and received mestre titles for their achievements.
3
During the latter period a popular opinion existed, that every student should belong to a certain group, school or master. But the amount of students grew faster than new masters appeared and this is when the "capoeira sem mestre" concept received a new wave of popularity. In the beginning of XX century first capoeira coursebooks appeared. Among them "A capoeira guide or brazilian gymnastics" (Guia do capoeira ou Gymnastica Brazileira, 1907) or "National gymnastics. Methodology and rules" (Gymnastica Nacional. Methodisada e Regrada, 1928).
4
In 1961 a book by Lamarthine P. da Costa "Capoeira without a Master. 49 figures" (Capoeira sem mestre. Com 49 figuras) was published. One of the most famous modern capoeira books is "The Little Capoeira Book" by Nestor Capoeira.
5
In the 1990s a film "Only the strong" and Tekken video game has been the main tutorials for capoeira followers.
6
Finally, in the 2000s, both teachers and students received unlimited opportunities for sharing and getting knowledge, however this was mostly chaotic and not systematized. IBCE will become the first online-academy with its own educational system and methodology.
Credits: Elizaveta Krainova, Alexandra Safonova, Dmitriy Korotkov, Yury Bessudnov, Ivan Blagushin, IBCE, Jogo Bonito archive.
