When you pull your own weight, your mind will never fail you. There's a huge difference between the two. It's only when you keep going-even though your body isn't quite cooperating-that you'll find inner strength. You'll be utterly amazed at what you discover if you visit that space often enough.

Matisyahu - One Day (live + beatbox)

I've had this song in my iPod since January but I still love it! It's such an uplifting and real song! Take a listen ! Check the beatbox too!!

What makes me truly happy inside....

Miudinho capoeira games like this inspire me to keep training and eventually have great control, expression, balance, coordination, strength, power, agility and speed like this. Capoeira always takes me away from anything I'm going through in life; whether I'm having a great week or down week, capoeira still takes me away from my daily life for hours at a time letting me focus on having pure fun w/ expression and control of my body. The musical aspect of brazilian songs and singing in portuguese inspire me as well to really find songs that lift my spirits up day to day. It's crazy how certain songs can really change your mood or even enhance them. Anyways, I just thought I'd share this clip of some people from my group. CAPOEIRA!!...Cordão de Ouro!!!!

Capoeira Song - Mea Patua

http://capoeirascience.com/pt-br/node/108

Contra Mestres Casquinha and Xuxo of CDO wrote the verses to go with this beautiful song. Watch the tutorial with clips of Casquinha himself in action, learn the lyrics, discover more of capoeira's rich mythology and become a better musician yourself.

A patuá is a sacred amulet, magical protection to achieve the famed 'corpo fechado' (protected body) and stay safe in capoeira.

As Casquinha tells us a patuá can be anything that is sacred - his berimbau, his friends and the songs that accompany him on life's journey.
This capoeira song tutorial was filmed in High Definition around the time of the last Dec 2009 Batizado. Thanks to Kia for the cameras and all the participating Mestres in this video Mestre Gil, Mestre Simon and of course Mestre Poncianinho who not only hosted the event but really helped to make this video happen.

Giving thanks

I don't give thanks solely on Thanksgiving day. I give thanks and show appreciation every chance I get. This year has been pretty amazing despite that the beginning of this year didn't start off so great. Since the Spring of this year I can't be thankful enough for everything that has happened to me. I graduated college, improved a lot with my capoeira, made friendships stronger, took people out of my life that I don't need, kept my family bonds stronger than ever by being a better son, uncle, brother and capoeira irmão to my C.D.O. fam bam. This year has been a non-stop fun ride with so many road trips with different friends, celebrations from Sacramento to San Diego! I'm thankful for my friends in Sacramento, Fairfield, Oakland, Vallejo, San Francisco and all over the world like Seoul and Okinawa/Tokyo. I've met so many people this year from local to internationally and realized there are so many good people out there that share a common ideal- be happy with your life and spread your positive energy and knowledge to those around you. By doing this, the world will be a better place. The goal I have for myself every year is to ask whether or not the world was a better place with me in it. And each year, I always make sure I achieve this goal because I honestly believe we're all here to achieve a set of goals for ourselves and in the future look down the road we've created for those behind us. Although, this road is created however it may be, those bumps in the roads make us realize how we're getting through life and give thanks to everyone around us for making us who we are. Each year is a new chapter for me and I cannot reiterate enough that I am always thankful for everyone I love and everyone that has affected my life, positively or negatively.

Thank you everyone for being you,

Your acts are fully recognized!

Love & Peace Everyone

change

we're all looking for the same thing
something to complete us when we're dreaming
of what life could be like- no hesitating.

with all the love and hate in the world
I try to find my balance somewhere in the middle;
because to live on one side is to know the other exists.
steadily living my life with full appreciation, I still find bumps on my road.
while the change in my life will never happen with me sitting alone,
I act upon every detail that I want to progress to be known.
for you, but more importantly, for me.
the change will not be seen by those who refrain
but only to those who are not afraid.
to be outside of the box and out of the comfort zone
because sometimes the comfort zone can keep us in a plateau
so why sit down and keep writing this..
I have to make changes right now
so for now I have to......go