SkiBlue Takes on Her Batizado at the Winter Games

[SkiBlue]

Actual video footage of the event from last year at my school. The guy wearing the bandana and doing flips is my instructor. >.<

For this challenge, I’m going to shift focus temporarily from the standard and usual foundational quests to prioritizing my capoeira training. I’ve signed up for the Winter Games event; a three-day string of capoeira workshops and rodas, which also includes the batizado. In capoeira, the batizado is the initiation ceremony where a new student is tested on their basic knowledge (in the regional style). The prize is the first belt/cord ranking, which is solid green. Since I only started learning at the end of December, I’m going to need some supplemental training and practice to prepare for the belt test. This will be my focus, as I want to do my best.

Changing things up, Ranger style!

Main Quest: Do my best during the batizado test on February 20th and become proficient in the basic moves of capoeira.

Goal One: Practice capoeira every day.



Duh. I should be putting in practice time on non-class days (classes are on Monday and Wednesdays). Obviously, if you want to get better at something, then you should do more of it. Practice should consist of two of the three following parts: basic move practice, sequence practice, and movement drills. The sequences are going to be important; they are similar to katas in other martial arts and are what I will be tested on during the batizado. I’ll focus on the basic movements that are in those sequences (meia lua de frente, armada, queixada, martelo, bênção, aú, rolê, cocorinha, negativa, and rasteira) and practice some drills from class on my own.

Goal Two: Do bodyweight training three times a week (specifically on non-class days).



Capoeira is filled with bodyweight movements; the esquivas are akin to squats and lunges, there’s a lot of pushing yourself up off the floor (I foresee burpees in my future *groan*), and my back is always screaming after extended practice sessions during class. I’m going to be strengthening my weak points with this, combining capoeira movements with standard bodyweight exercises into a basic routine (following the NF exercise template). I believe this means that I'll be taking a break from my Olympic lifting, but once this test is over, I'll return to it and figure out a new training schedule.

Capoeira-Inspired Bodyweight Routine:
- 20x cocorinha
- 10x push-ups
- 20x esquiva de baixa (from ginga)
- 10x inverted rows
- 15sec. static cabeçada
- 30 ginga

Goal Three: Practice the songs and instruments at least once a week.



This should be easy to achieve, but it’s necessary. I need to know one song and how to play one of the instruments at the batizado. I already know the basics of the pandeiro, atabaque, and agogô de castanha, I just need more practice. I have the opportunity to practice them after class and on open-gym Fridays. I will be taking them. Songs will be easy. We practice songs during the roda on class days, and I’ve got a collection of songs that we learned on Youtube; I need to make a CD so I can listen to them outside of class. That will definitely help me become more familiar with them.

Goal Four: Eat Good Food.



Ain’t givin’ up on this. I’m going to follow the W30 Good Food standards for the time being, so that I’m in peak condition for this training regimen. The only thing I plan to reintroduce during this time will be whey protein powder. I’ll gauge where my reaction is to it (positive or negative), and plan accordingly. This should also help keep my stress and Sugar Dragon in check, so I can focus on training.

Even though the Winter Games/Batizado will take place during the third week of the challenge, I’ll keep this going for the full four weeks for simplicity and more practice. Can’t hurt, right? This challenge will start on Monday for me, the official start date, but it’ll roll in straight from the end of my Sugar Dragon quest, which I ain’t stoppin’ ‘til Sunday.

[Nymeria]

I'm following!  Since we're both planning on focusing a bit more and preparing for rank-up exams, we can hopefully keep each other honest.    

[Marauder]

I find Capoeira completely fascinating!  I'm googling all of these moves.  It would be super fun to do a capoeira inspired bodyweight workout some time.  I'll be cheering you on this challenge and for the Winter Games!

 

[SkiBlue]

I'm following!  Since we're both planning on focusing a bit more and preparing for rank-up exams, we can hopefully keep each other honest.  

 

Absolutely! I've been meaning to practice at home all this past month, but I never got off my butt to do so. Time to change things!

 

I find Capoeira completely fascinating!  I'm googling all of these moves.  It would be super fun to do a capoeira inspired bodyweight workout some time.  I'll be cheering you on this challenge and for the Winter Games!

Thanks! My instructor keeps saying that it'll be easy, but I tend to be a serious test taker (I was the only person to get a perfect score when testing for lifeguard certification, and I was the last person to turn in their test; I took it twice while I was sitting there with it).

 

There's a lot you can do for a capoeira inspired bodyweight workout, which is both exciting and fascinating.

 

Meia lua de frente, armada, queixada, and martelo are all kicks; I really like this video to show you what they are. And I'm just gonna stop there before I start rambling. There's plenty of good resources on the Internet.

 

Maybe I'll finally make that video I promised tourennatrix I'd make like a month ago...

[Miss Kitty Fantastico]

As a brazilian, I approve of this challenge. Capoeira is amazing and I used to practice it as a child, since it wasn't uncommon for it to be taught at schools. Reading and remembering/re-learning some of the moves' names made me all nostalgic.

Subbed.

[TheGreyJedi-Ranger]

Whooo! Following

[Tanktimus the Encourager]

Following!

[RMDC]

Following as well!

[Dusk]

Looks awesome!! Sub'd

[QuietRiotGrrrl]

[SkiBlue]

As a brazilian, I approve of this challenge. Capoeira is amazing and I used to practice it as a child, since it wasn't uncommon for it to be taught at schools. Reading and remembering/re-learning some of the moves' names made me all nostalgic.

Subbed.

 

Glad to bring back some awesome memories. I really love it so far, even though I've only been to about eight classes.

 

Whooo! Following

Following!

Following as well!

Looks awesome!! Sub'd

 

It's Day One, folks. Who's ready?!

 

[Mr_Willes]

 

Very interested in the W30 Good food standards.

[SkiBlue]

 

Very interested in the W30 Good food standards.

 

W30 Good Food standards are pretty simple; eat whole, unprocessed, nutrient-dense food (meat, veggies, fat) and avoid any potentially irritating foods like legumes, diary, grains, and stuff like that. I'm going to be slack with the added sugar; I'll only consume stuff that's minimally processed and doesn't have the horrendous sugar abominations in them, but at the same time I'll avoid recipes with added sugar still and keep away from re-creating baked goods. The only other mod is whey protein powder (which doesn't seem to be doing too bad at the moment); otherwise, I'm sticking to the rest of the rules. 

[Mr_Willes]

I'm intrigued, and i hope i don't come of as negative, but isn't it super hard to eat like that? I think more than half we eat is processed in one way or the other... Now if i lived by my own i would be much more flexible with buying foods and prepping them. Now my wife is the one who mainly does the grocery shopping and preparing the food. We do often eat the regular stuff. Fresh potatoes, with a cooked or raw version of some veggie, and some meat.

[athousandwords]

Awesome challenge!  Excited to follow along again!

[Terra]

There you are...  So excited to see more martial arts here!!!  And testing soon, wahoo!!!

[SkiBlue]

I'm intrigued, and i hope i don't come of as negative, but isn't it super hard to eat like that? I think more than half we eat is processed in one way or the other... Now if i lived by my own i would be much more flexible with buying foods and prepping them. Now my wife is the one who mainly does the grocery shopping and preparing the food. We do often eat the regular stuff. Fresh potatoes, with a cooked or raw version of some veggie, and some meat.

 

It definitely can be difficult, especially in a pinch. Most stuff is processed one way or another, but I just try to do the best I can with what I have by focusing on meat, eggs, seafood, veggies, fruit, and good fats. I check the labels on everything to make sure it has a minimal amount of ingredients, like the 5lb bag of frozen broccoli or tomato paste.

I've spent the last few years building up the pantry supplies and habits to make the transition more permanent. It's worked well so far, and the system is pretty solid now. I like to try a recipe or two every week, and I pick a few things I know are good, grab the supplies for the week on Saturday, and prep and cook most of the stuff on Sunday (for breakfast, lunch, and sometimes dinner), which include home-made sauces. I add any requests that the husband puts in (usually a mass amount of protein, rice, and cooked veggies) on that day too. Dinners usually consist of something pre-made on Sunday or a meat-and-veggie combo that's relatively quick and easy to put together. I pick up any other things the husband requests that I don't really like to eat (pre-made protein bars, peanuts, peanut butter, and such), because they wake up my Sugar Dragon.

I spent the last 30 days following those rules to the letter (which took a lot of work and prep, but it was worth it), but now I'm on my own version of the slow roll. I want to stick to these standards as much as possible, especially when at home. I won't count it too terribly against myself if I go off a little bit, but I'd like to stick as close to these standards as possible when I do. And when I do vary a bit, I won't do it two meals in a row, to avoid waking the Sugar Dragon.

It's one of those things that I built up to do, and having the husband on board and supporting/helping me along the way has been very instrumental in doing so, even if he doesn't follow those standards as closely as I do.

 

Awesome challenge!  Excited to follow along again!

 

I need to check up on your challenge to see how your Whole30 went!

 

There you are...  So excited to see more martial arts here!!!  And testing soon, wahoo!!!

I'm equally nervous and excited!!

[SkiBlue]

Challenge Update 1.1

Practice: RANGERED
BW Training: None
Music: None
Good Food: RANGERED
 
I had to miss class last night due to having to go grocery shopping. The husband had wanted to chill on Saturday, and we visited my family on Sunday due to birthday celebrations, so we kinda needed food in the house as soon as possible. I have enough to hold me over for today, but stuff needs to be cooked tonight.

I managed some practice in the gymarage while waiting for the husband to get finished with work. It was probably only ten minutes worth, but it's better than nothing. It was some first sequence practice; meia lua de frente and armada combos, then the cocorinhas into negativa combos.
 
Have some food porn from last night:

 
Them potatoes are white, but they're Japanese sweet potatoes; they have a less sweet, but more rounded flavor, so all you need is some ghee and salt.

[Tanktimus the Encourager]

That food looks amazing.

[SkiBlue]

That food looks amazing.

 

Thanks! <3 Last night was one of those "came home hangry and stressed, so I went over-board to chill out" nights.

[JediNickD]

That is a lot of new vocabulary for me... spend the rest of the day googling or get actual work done? Damn you internet with your answers to everything! (getting work done, but subconsciously distracted)

[Miss Kitty Fantastico]

I just saw @ the Mini Challenge thread that you are trying to learn portuguese. My language can be a real bi*** sometimes, so let me know if you need any help.

[Tanktimus the Encourager]

Portuguese and Spanish:

 

_____(the one you know) is just _______(the one you are learning) on crack.

[SkiBlue]

That is a lot of new vocabulary for me... spend the rest of the day googling or get actual work done? Damn you internet with your answers to everything! (getting work done, but subconsciously distracted)

 

Haha! I've got a really neat kick video for you, which should cover half those terms.

 

I just saw @ the Mini Challenge thread that you are trying to learn portuguese. My language can be a real bi*** sometimes, so let me know if you need any help.

 

Awesome! I will probably take you up on that. When I learn a language, I always excel with reading and writing, but can hardly get anywhere with listening and speaking. >.<

 

Portuguese and Spanish:

 

_____(the one you know) is just _______(the one you are learning) on crack.

 

They're both on crack to me; I took three years of Russian in college.

[RMDC]

I love capoeira for its origins, especially the elements of its history mirrored in Okinawan karate. If only there were more written records of capoeira's earliest development.