Grupo Cordao De Ouro Scotland
CDO Scotland follows the philosophies and techniques of Grand Master Suassuna (pictured below) and Contra Mestre Papa Leguas.
Grupo Cordao de Ouro Capoeira is quickly recognised by its distinct mix of expression, improvisation and agility. Through specific training methods, students of Cordao de Ouro can discover ways of moving that they perhaps did not think could be possible. Our classes are based on the premise that Capoeira is fundamentally a game. Though there are aspects of martial arts or dance,the movements are based on the interaction between people in an exciting, dynamic but peaceful context.
The main focus of CDO Scotland is to provide a safe and encouraging environment for students to develop their physical confidence and ability. Proper care is taken to avoid injury, through disciplined movement, warming up and stretching. Students are not pushed to do anything they feel might compromise their safety. Though within Capoeira, there are plenty of dynamic movements, these are not essential and Capoeira can be enjoyed on a recreational level well into old age. ( Some Masters are in their 90s and still playing!) For those who want to learn all the acrobatic movements, we have the facilities and resources to take you to an international standard.
We believe everyone has something to bring to Capoeira and many things to gain from it, within the game there is plenty of space to explore your own philosophy and put your own personality into the game.
Grupo Cordao de Ouro Capoeira is quickly recognised by its distinct mix of expression, improvisation and agility. Through specific training methods, students of Cordao de Ouro can discover ways of moving that they perhaps did not think could be possible. Our classes are based on the premise that Capoeira is fundamentally a game. Though there are aspects of martial arts or dance,the movements are based on the interaction between people in an exciting, dynamic but peaceful context.
The main focus of CDO Scotland is to provide a safe and encouraging environment for students to develop their physical confidence and ability. Proper care is taken to avoid injury, through disciplined movement, warming up and stretching. Students are not pushed to do anything they feel might compromise their safety. Though within Capoeira, there are plenty of dynamic movements, these are not essential and Capoeira can be enjoyed on a recreational level well into old age. ( Some Masters are in their 90s and still playing!) For those who want to learn all the acrobatic movements, we have the facilities and resources to take you to an international standard.
We believe everyone has something to bring to Capoeira and many things to gain from it, within the game there is plenty of space to explore your own philosophy and put your own personality into the game.
Grupo Cordao De Ouro International
Group 'Cordao De Ouro' is the largest Capoeira group in the UK and one of the largest groups in the World.
Our group Cordão de Ouro, meaning 'rope of gold' and also ‘neckchain of gold’, was established in 1967 in São Paulo, Brazil, by Mestre Suassuna and Mestre Brasilia. The name derives from the neckchain of gold worn by the famous historical Capoeirista 'Besouro Manganga'.
It was a struggle to form a Capoeira group in Sao Paulo in the 1960s, as Capoeira was not well recognized outside the state of Bahia or Rio de Janerio. However, the group grew and became well known for spectacular shows and presentations of Capoeria by Mestre Suassuna, Mestre Brasilia and their students.
Since then the group has grown from strength to strength, with it’s centre in Brazil and spreading to the rest of the world. There are now groups established in the USA, France, Germany, Israel, Sweden, Latvia, Australia, Greece, Russia, Japan, Cyprus, Italy, Norway, Indonesia and a growing number here in the United Kingdom (Nottingham, London, Manchester, Liverpool, Birmingham, Derby, Norwich and Edinburgh).
Similar to Eastern Martial Arts, many Capoeira groups have a grading system using different colour belts to mark progression in Capoeira. Different groups have varying uses of colour for the grades, but most can be put into categories of 'student', 'Instructor', 'Professor'(teacher), 'Contra-Mestre', 'Mestre' (Master), 'Grao-Mestre' (Grand master). Cords are presented to students by their teachers at an annual ceremony and celebration called a 'batizado' (literally 'baptism', though the ceremony has no relation to a religious ceremony).
Our group Cordão de Ouro, meaning 'rope of gold' and also ‘neckchain of gold’, was established in 1967 in São Paulo, Brazil, by Mestre Suassuna and Mestre Brasilia. The name derives from the neckchain of gold worn by the famous historical Capoeirista 'Besouro Manganga'.
It was a struggle to form a Capoeira group in Sao Paulo in the 1960s, as Capoeira was not well recognized outside the state of Bahia or Rio de Janerio. However, the group grew and became well known for spectacular shows and presentations of Capoeria by Mestre Suassuna, Mestre Brasilia and their students.
Since then the group has grown from strength to strength, with it’s centre in Brazil and spreading to the rest of the world. There are now groups established in the USA, France, Germany, Israel, Sweden, Latvia, Australia, Greece, Russia, Japan, Cyprus, Italy, Norway, Indonesia and a growing number here in the United Kingdom (Nottingham, London, Manchester, Liverpool, Birmingham, Derby, Norwich and Edinburgh).
Similar to Eastern Martial Arts, many Capoeira groups have a grading system using different colour belts to mark progression in Capoeira. Different groups have varying uses of colour for the grades, but most can be put into categories of 'student', 'Instructor', 'Professor'(teacher), 'Contra-Mestre', 'Mestre' (Master), 'Grao-Mestre' (Grand master). Cords are presented to students by their teachers at an annual ceremony and celebration called a 'batizado' (literally 'baptism', though the ceremony has no relation to a religious ceremony).
Grao-Mestre (Grand Master) Suassuna
Mestre Suassuna (Reynaldo Ramos Suassuna, born in 1938) is the creator of our group Cordão De Ouro. He is one of the most influential Mestres of Capoeira, preserving the beauty and art, as well as promoting the development of cultural and social aspects. He was one of the first mestres of Capoeira in São Paulo and the creator of a particular training style called Miudinho which is practised in our group today.
Mestre Suassuna started Capoeira in Itabuna, Bahia in 1957/58, later joining Mestre Bimba’s academy in Salvador. He performed in Salvador with other legends of Capoeira such as Mestre Canijiquinha and Mestre Waldemar, and soon opened a small academy in Itabuna.
Training with the likes of Mestre Waldemar, Mestre Pastinha and Mestre Bimba, he enjoyed learning all the aspects of Capoeira (something that he still teaches to all of his pupils) taking all that he liked from other people's styles and techniques and using it in his own game. He was known for his amazing agility, technique, speed of execution, sense of humour, and creativity.
Mestre Suassuna has had a monumental career, being one of the main figures responsible for the contemporary Capoeira we see today.
"Well, in the first place, Miudinho cannot be considered a fight in
capoeira; instead it is a development of aesthetically beautiful movements that exist in
capoeira, movements that were forgotten, swallowed by capoeira’s violence, by the
strength of the athletes, who became very driven in the practice of capoeira, from the
exaggerated influence of body-worship. So, while others were developing the more
violent side of capoeira, I thought it more interesting to develop this side of the art, trying
to discover and challenge the limits of the human body’s malleability. Miudinho is the
perfected Jogo-de-Dentro, with variations, things that I introduced or developed with my
students. It’s a game in which you develop your capacity not exactly in fight or malícia,
but in doing movements, for you to feel what your body can do. Neither violence nor
malícia is the goal of Miudinho; it is a game to be worked as poetry, without offense."
** Cut and paste this link below to read a translated interview with Mestre Suassuna to learn a little more about his vision of Capoeira**
http://capoeira-connection.com/capoeira/capoeira-downloads/
Mestre Suassuna started Capoeira in Itabuna, Bahia in 1957/58, later joining Mestre Bimba’s academy in Salvador. He performed in Salvador with other legends of Capoeira such as Mestre Canijiquinha and Mestre Waldemar, and soon opened a small academy in Itabuna.
Training with the likes of Mestre Waldemar, Mestre Pastinha and Mestre Bimba, he enjoyed learning all the aspects of Capoeira (something that he still teaches to all of his pupils) taking all that he liked from other people's styles and techniques and using it in his own game. He was known for his amazing agility, technique, speed of execution, sense of humour, and creativity.
Mestre Suassuna has had a monumental career, being one of the main figures responsible for the contemporary Capoeira we see today.
"Well, in the first place, Miudinho cannot be considered a fight in
capoeira; instead it is a development of aesthetically beautiful movements that exist in
capoeira, movements that were forgotten, swallowed by capoeira’s violence, by the
strength of the athletes, who became very driven in the practice of capoeira, from the
exaggerated influence of body-worship. So, while others were developing the more
violent side of capoeira, I thought it more interesting to develop this side of the art, trying
to discover and challenge the limits of the human body’s malleability. Miudinho is the
perfected Jogo-de-Dentro, with variations, things that I introduced or developed with my
students. It’s a game in which you develop your capacity not exactly in fight or malícia,
but in doing movements, for you to feel what your body can do. Neither violence nor
malícia is the goal of Miudinho; it is a game to be worked as poetry, without offense."
** Cut and paste this link below to read a translated interview with Mestre Suassuna to learn a little more about his vision of Capoeira**
http://capoeira-connection.com/capoeira/capoeira-downloads/
