Go Down On Her Soldado

Macgyver and I practicing a combination involving a kick and esquiva

Having grown up in a multi cultural household, you learn that something being said isn’t always what someone was trying to convey. My mother had a very good command of the English language. She never had a problem communicating with native speakers in this country. When she became flustered or upset however, she spoke in a mixture of German, English and I believe some other yet undiscovered language that a linguist would have a hard time deciphering. So it was that my school mates and I went to my house after school one day to have cookies and milk. My mom invited everyone in with her usual smile and open arms. She had baked chocolate chip cookies from scratch. Each of one of us received 2 cookies and a small glass of milk. We all sat around and talked and decided on playing a game of tag outside after our snack. Everyone finished eating and drinking. My friend Brian and I took the dirty cups to the kitchen sink. Upon entering the kitchen, we saw them, all lined up on a baking sheet. There sat several more hot chocolate chip cookies fresh from the oven. Brian and I looked at each other and knew what had to be done. We ran to the baking sheet and snatched up 2 more cookies apiece and shoved one in our mouths for good luck. As we smiled at each other  for this good fortune, my mother walked in the kitchen and screamed, “god will kill you very bad du kinder!” We tried to run from the kitchen, but even at that age, the word kill has a way of paralyzing you. The other kids in the living room must have heard it too, because the next thing I know they were running out the front door.

Many years had passed since that day and there I stood in capoeira class going over a combination with a new American student. She seemed thoroughly interested in capoeira. She was picking up the movements fairly easily. As class progressed and new combinations were practiced, she continued showing a complete sense of confidence in what she was doing. Then it happened during the roda, she kicked me in the head. I never saw it coming. My mestre stopped playing the berimbau and exclaimed, “go down on her Soldado!” I paused for a second, looked at her and saw her face turn a crimson red. My mouth fell open and I was frozen in place, just like that day when my mother caught Brian and I taking extra cookies from that baking sheet. For the rest of that game, I stayed extra low fearing my mestre would say those words again.

Superbuff Going Down on them workout- 10 sets of weighted lunges ( in between each set stretch and rest rest for 1 minute.) 10 sets of squats without weights ( hold the squat at the bottom for 2-3 seconds and then come back up to the starting position.)5 sets of the “superman.” (Simply lay on your stomach and tense your abdominals and raise your arms and feet off the ground.) These exercises will strengthen your lower back and body allowing you to maintain strong low stances for capoeira.

* Make sure and practice these exercises at least once a week or  “god will kill you very bad du kinder!”