Judas

I first heard about Capoeira through a conversation with "Snooze" at the "Scratch" Hip Hop club in the Crossbar at Kings Cross . We were with Alex "Shaolin" and watching the B Boys do their thing. I said I've always wished I could "break dance" Snooze said I don't know about break dancing but with all the Kung Fu and Salsa you do I'm surprised you don't do "Capoeira" he proceeded to explain what it was. A couple of days later I saw an advert for a capoeira class with Simon "Fantasma" of East London Capoeira" and I decided to give it a try. I loved it so much I soon wanted to do another class each week, however my schedule meant I couldn't make Simons other class. As luck would have it a young Brazilian name "Lagatixa"  who turned up for Simons roda each week invited me to his Saturday class at pineapple studios so for a number of months I trained with both teachers without issue. Later that year they announced they were going to hold a special capoeira event together, a batizado (baptism) where new members would be initiated into the group, and established members would change their cords.

They would invite visiting Masters from Brazil , Simon was part of the well known Capoeira "Senzala" Group, Lagatixa the lesser known regional group  "Viva Conquista".

The weekend of the event arrived and it seemed like we were training every day Simon had invited a number of Senzala Masters including  Mestre "Samara" , Mestre "Sorriso" and his Mestre "Gato" unfortunately Lagatixa's Mestre "Accordeon" couldn't come so he sent in his place a young Contra Mestre from Salvador, Bahia called "Axé".

Out of nowhere an issue arose. people kept asking me who I would do my Batizado with?  I didn't know the answer. I was going to do it with everyone at the event?  Wasn't I ? 

Apparently I had to decide if I was doing it with Simon or Lagatixa. I didn't know what to do,  but people kept asking. As the hour approached I was wearing Lagatixas white trousers and Simons white t-shirt. Someone asked again and I replied I don't know.  Simon then said very publicly "I don't care who he does it with" at which point Lagatixa who was very much a merchandiser threw me tshirt for  free.

The Masters called everyone together and Simon directed them to sit in a roda. The music followed the slightly slower rythmn of Angola and my friends who trained with Simon played the Masters one by one.

When  this was done Lagatixa directed everyone to stand and the musicians followed faster rhythms of Sao Bento . My friends who trained with Lagatixa played the same Masters one by one. My game was with Mestre Gato who kicked me out of the roda with a bênçāo .

It is customary for new students to be given a nickname at a Batizado.

The event was over and as we left the sports hall a large number of students and Mestres were sitting on the wall outside. As I left and walked past them my friend Faisca from Simons group said "It's Judas" and another added (while pointing at Simon)  "He betrayed the Christ"  to howls of laughter .  Axé looked on seriously and said you can't call him that!

Axé decided to stay in England and teach so eventually I ended up training with Capoeira Angola Palmares.