Thursday 1st of March 2012
Mestre Ousado Workshop at DDL
Last night none other than Mestre Ousado (it means audacious) gave a workshop at DDL. It was supposed to start at 7 and finish at 9:30, but in true Brazilian style it started at 8 and finished at 10:30.
Mestre Ousado was the first mestre to come to London in 1988, one year before I came over. He opened the first Capoeira school here, and then off he went to Singapore to open the first Capoeira school there. He’s been instrumental in introducing Capoeira to the world. He’s a living legend. He’s 65 years old, and he’s shorter than I am, so around 155cm! But his arms are huuuuuge! He’s incredibly fast and agile. Last night was a treat. I bought his book: As asas do Mestre, and he gave me a Capoeira name. ‘Brasileira’ was just something my Mestre called me because he couldn’t remember my name.
The name I was given by Mestre Ousado is ‘Risadinha’ which means ‘little laugh’ or ‘little smile’ – he said he thought of that name because every time I started speaking I’d be smiling. When I got home last night I was on cloud nine! What an amazing, special night!