Example Of Motivations For Capoeira Training Essay

The chosen interviewee for this assignment, who agreed to devote some of her precious time and answer a few questions, is Victoria Anton. Victoria is 29-year old lecturer at the University. She has recently received her PhD in Politics and now teaches modules in Defence and Security studies. Although Victoria lived most of her life in USA, she is or Slavic origin, particularly from Check Republic. The main rationale for choosing her for the interview was her commitment to practicing capoeira, which is an Afro-Brazilian martial art, for almost 9 years. The transcript of her interview is shown below.

Question1: Please describe briefly your past exercise and sport participation history?

Victoria: Well, my sports history has always been related to capoeira, and it was my main interest in the last 9 years. As a child, I was not as ports person, and I hated physical training at school. However, when I was 19, I had that idea that I wanted to learn how to fight and build up my confidence. The decision to choose capoeira instead of all other martial arts was due to its mixed nature, where dance moves, acrobatics and fighting are all entwined. So, I began to do the usual capoeira training, but after a few years I realised that it was not enough, that other martial arts can improve my capoeira techniques, so, at the age of 25 I began to practice kickboxing and jiu-jitsu. I also had to go to the gym quite often in order to keep my muscle weight in a shape. So, at some points of these 9 years, I was having from 6 to 8 different trainings a week.

Question 2: Please describe your current exercise and sport participation.

Victoria: Right now I have decreased the number of training sessions I have per week. They vary from 3 to 5 depending on my tutoring schedule. At least 2 of the trainings include capoeira sessions with groups, and one session of jiu-jitsu. When I have more time, I work out in the gym or attend jiu-jitsu class.

Question 3: How long have you been participating in capoeira sessions?

Victoria: Nine years of capoeira and four years of kickboxing and jiu-jitsu.
Question 4: Why do you currently participate in these sessions?
Victoria: I absolutely adore practicing capoeira and how kickboxing and jiu-jitsu classes strengthen my capoeira technique. In general, the main reason I am doing it is because I love it. It also helps to relieve stress and keep my body in shape. It is also because I train with people I have known for almost nine years, and they are my best friends. They are like family to me.

Question 5: Have experienced any barriers or challenges to practicing capoeira? What are they and how have you overcome them?

Victoria: The main barrier is time, of course. When I was working on my PhD thesis, I had time only for three trainings a week, but I continued them nevertheless. Now, I can have only 3-5 sessions because I am teaching. However, I manage to balance my life and make sure that sport remains an essential part of it. Training with friends helps in keeping that balance.

Question 6: What is the level of support that significant others in your life offer for your participation?

Victoria: Well, I gain all the support I need from my friends I train with. My boyfriend also did capoeira for a long time, so he knows how important it is for me. Colleagues from my work consider it being a bit childish and non-academic activity. However, I never considered myself being conservative. Plus, my students find it very cool that their tutor can fight like Mark Dacascos (she laughs).

Question 7: How long do you see yourself practicing capoeira?

Victoria: I really do not know. I think it became such an inseparable part of my life that I would practice it until I can, probably most of my life. I have seen masters of capoeira in their sixties jumping acrobatics like their young students in their teens. So, I think I would like to be like one of them.

Question 8: Do you foresee any barriers or challenges in practicing capoeira in the future?

Victoria: No, not really.
Question 9: Any thoughts or helpful suggestions on becoming motivated to participate in exercise or sport and sticking with it once you begin?
Victoria: Yes. My suggestion is if you like something and you are good in it, do not stop, and keep practicing no matter what. The main motivator is the person that practices sports, and it is about one’s body and feeling of satisfaction. Keep that feeling to yourself and never let it go.
Analysing Victoria’s replies in terms of the studied discourse, it can be concluded that, in terms of Gerald Kenyon’s subdomains for physical activity, Victoria’s motivations correspond to two domains. First of all, for her practicing capoeira is crucial for being healthy and fit. She loves the feeling of being satisfied with a good workout and that her body is actually in the good shape and capable of doing all those techniques. For this reason, she added a few other martial arts to her practices. While it helps her well-being, for her, the main benefit of the practice in psychological health, which is improved through concentration, stress relief and building up her self-confidence and also sense of security in the contemporary dangerous social environment. Victoria’s second motivation, in terms of Kenyon’ subdomains, is a social endeavour of the physical activity. Her capoeira friends are the source of her socialising and support, unlike her university colleagues. Thus, attending capoeira sessions can be also compared to meeting up with friends and socialising while training. Although it is often advised by trainers to concentrate on training and not on socialising, when people have been training together for nine years they become a certain social group with its own interests and mutual understanding.