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It’s funny, I tend to find that most groups that score high on individualism when viewed from outside, can get pretty collectivism / cult-homogenous internally. Even us bitcoiners.

What I like about capoeira is the variance across groups tho. Each little sub tribe has its quirks and habits but very broad variance across them I’d say.

It’s also funny to me because on one hand, capoeiristas (when they can afford it) play like they’re monks, disinterested in money. But then when they need money, they REALLY need money, and they can get really weird, cutthroat about it.

If anything bitcoin is a tool that can help teachers to live more fully in capoeira and propagate their academics from a position of financial strength (which grants freedom). Bitcoin is the strong asymmetrical play. Bitcoin would be the malandros way…

satsminded 2y ago

I resonate with everything you write here. The decentralized nature and ebb and flow of in and out of groups is true and an interesting parallel. I’ve only really trained in one school- so hasn’t been my personal experience yet- but I’m open to it if I find another mestre.

About the money thing- so true . It’s also a Brazilian thing I believe. As an American, I’ve only tried to be generous with my mestre and others when possible.

A lot of mestres live around the world and are sending money to BR regularly. I agree that doing it with bitcoin is more malandro and even kinda manjinguero, as they are exploiting with courage and necessity their cyber (street) know how to make their way in a world that’s so often stacked against them.

Like saylor talks about cyberspace being the next frontier, the symbolism of capoeiristas using bitcoin seems like something potent. Can’t quite put my finger on it.

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satsminded 2y ago

And to your point about professed individualism actually seeming collectivist from the inside, it’s true . Humans need group cultures.

Maybe what I meant was a strong and clear hierarchy in capoeira groups, their social events, and of course rodas.

But come to think of it, I’ve been to enough btc conferences to notice the same haha

Moon 2y ago

I’ve been rereading Nestor Capoeira’s books he calls out Authoritarian Capoeiristas as “schumcks” and “motherfuckers” - it’s great 😂

The way I go about it - just like authoritarian bitcoiners - when I can avoid such people, I do, but fortunately / unfortunately capoeira also teaches us that such people are an inescapable part of life.

“Capoeira is everything the mouth eats…”

Moon 2y ago

Nice. I’ve had more of a “wandering capoeirista” experience. Established a foundation with one mestre over several years (but the group changed maybe 3 times lol).

Then I travelled extensively internationally with work for about 10 ish years. Played capoeira where I could find it but fell deeply out of practice.

That said, capoeira had my mind, and I think, was a strong contributor to how I malandro-ed and mandingueiro-ed my way through the pandemic (a whole other set of stories lol).

Now I’m training heavily again in my local area (great group) and bitcoin helps me feel secure in no longer compromising in not having active practice and training in my life for the sake of work…

Capoeira and bitcoin both help one to move like a ghost among men.

satsminded 2y ago

dude your writing about this topic is 🔥”…move like a ghost among men”. Have you trained in brazil? I’ve done it twice for a total of 6 weeks. Training hard, max sweat.

Moon 2y ago

I have yet to be so fortunate. Let’s see what blessing of expanded freedom the next bull market (which can take its time getting here) brings…