Carpoeira’s inception took place in Brazil during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. According to historians, Portuguese explorers brought slaves over from Africa to work in the sugar cane fields. During their time off of the fields, slaves would gather together and participate in an activity that was a cross between dancing and martial arts. This activity became know as Carpoeira. Nowadays, Carpoeira can be seen in music videos, television commercials and video games. While it is entertaining to watch, doing it and training for it is a challenge.
Instructions
1. Create a plan. Before you begin training for Carpoeira, you want to come up with a game plan that will allow you to chart your goals and expectations. Periodically check your progress. If you are meeting your goals and everything is running smoothly, carry on. However, if you are having a difficult time meeting your goals, try to modify your plan or schedule to help yourself achieve success.
2. Do plenty of cardiovascular exercise. Since Capoeira is a consistently active sport, it is important to do cardio on a regular basis. You can run, swim, use the star stepper or elliptical machines. This will help you boost your endurance and get in better shape.
3. Eat healthy. Since certain foods fuel energy while other foods cause you to become tired and weak, it’s important to eat healthy while you’re training for Carpoeria. Stick with whole grains, lean protein and adequate amounts of fruits and vegetables.
4. Weight train modestly. Having muscle mass is very important when you are training for Capoeria. However, having too much muscle mass can be a problem. Weight train modestly and don’t overdo it. Remember the goal isn’t to bulk up. The goal is to increase endurance and flexibility.
5. Improve your flexibility. Since there are a lot of martial arts moves in Carpoiera, it is essential that you attempt to improve your flexibility. Practicing Pilates and yoga can help you maximize your flexibility. In addition, both yoga and Pilates will help you strengthen your core which will help you while you’re training for Carpoeira.
6. Keep a food and training journal. In order to gain better control of your nutritional and exercise needs, keep a food and training journal. Document what you eat along with how you train and how long you train. For example, if you did cardio and weights on a specific day, write down both activities separately in your journal along with how much time you spent on each activity.
