Jon Blaze
05-20-2007, 12:02 AM
I'm going to talk about this little move called a "Ginga" (Pronounced somewhat like that game you played as a kid :D )
The Ginga is the base movement for the Afro-Brazilian Martial Art of Capoeira. It is one of the many reasons that Capoeira is arguably the most physically draining Martial Art in existence. When two players go into the ring (Called a Roda ["Ho-da"]), they do many combinations of moves that all begin with the ginga (Or another movement/neutral stance). In essence, the two players do not stop until the round is over (Or the music stops playing).
The ginga works ok for cardiovascular fitness and stamina. In the beginning it is to be done as naturally as if you are walking, but over time, you can add more flare to it.
How to do the Ginga:
"Gingar" is Portuguese for "To rock back and forth." This will give some idea on how to do the movement
1. Stand up straight. Spread your legs about shoulder-width apart. Bend your knees to a comfortable point that doesn't position you where your legs are square, but does position you slightly lower than standing.
2. Take your right leg, and step back (Step backward and slightly inward [You will see why in the tips section]) on the ball of your foot.
3. From step 2, move your right leg back the original position (When both legs were shoulder-width apart [Your right foot returns to a normal position as well]). Then, move your left leg similar to the way you moved your right leg in step 2. Return your left leg to the position where both legs were shoulder-width apart, and repeat.
5. After you've got the leg movements down, move you arms in sync with your legs as such:
When your right leg is back, your left arm is bent at about shoulder height, pointing to the right. Your right arm is to the side of you, but you are suppose to naturally let it hang. When your left leg is back, do the same pattern but with opposite arms. You arms are suppose to naturally flow with the movement (Or to your preference [I do it really stiff, controlled , and balanced because of my previous Marital Arts experience :p ]). Take it really easy at first. It is suppose to be as natural as you walk.
Tips.
1. Just do it a few times a day, or for 10-30 minutes for a moderate cardio workout. You can do the movement at whatever speed you may wish after you feel more comfortable with it.
2. (From step 2) You move your leg inward and backward because when you ginga, you are moving in a triangular fashion. When your legs are shoulder-width apart and next to each other, those are two points of the triangle. When you step back with either leg, you are going to the third point of the triangle. You are trying to get both legs to that same point in a rhythmic motion.
3. If you really like it, Throw on some music, and have a little fun with it. :D Try it at different tempos to get your body moving. :)
4. Here are some videos of three people doing it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Th5V4eed3Q
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PMfxaDsPRm0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cO8m-ex438A (This is a tutorial for more help)
Notice how different they do it. Since we aren't taking classes, do the movement to your preference. Just try to keep the triangle.
5. Try to hunch your body forward to ease the stress on your lower back. Unless of course you decide to do suicide kip-ups, aerials, backflips, 540 crescent kicks, and back bridge sweeps... Then you might not be doing the ginga for very long. :p
6. (Opinion) I consider this move somewhat more intense than walking (After you've gotten past the "Natural as you walk" phase), but maybe not as intense as a run. If you end of liking it, I think it might work well as a stepping stone or aid to long runs. It can help with cardio and stamina, and depending on how you wish to do it, it might have less impact than running. It all depends on you.
Here's a roda. They aren't doing the ginga too much (They're too busy doing the other movements :p ), but it will give you an idea on how it applies to this Martial Acrobatic Dance: :D
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hS38bKr6vYE
And for the record: I'm not an 1/8 as good as them. I'm just a wee little beginner. :p
The Ginga is the base movement for the Afro-Brazilian Martial Art of Capoeira. It is one of the many reasons that Capoeira is arguably the most physically draining Martial Art in existence. When two players go into the ring (Called a Roda ["Ho-da"]), they do many combinations of moves that all begin with the ginga (Or another movement/neutral stance). In essence, the two players do not stop until the round is over (Or the music stops playing).
The ginga works ok for cardiovascular fitness and stamina. In the beginning it is to be done as naturally as if you are walking, but over time, you can add more flare to it.
How to do the Ginga:
"Gingar" is Portuguese for "To rock back and forth." This will give some idea on how to do the movement
1. Stand up straight. Spread your legs about shoulder-width apart. Bend your knees to a comfortable point that doesn't position you where your legs are square, but does position you slightly lower than standing.
2. Take your right leg, and step back (Step backward and slightly inward [You will see why in the tips section]) on the ball of your foot.
3. From step 2, move your right leg back the original position (When both legs were shoulder-width apart [Your right foot returns to a normal position as well]). Then, move your left leg similar to the way you moved your right leg in step 2. Return your left leg to the position where both legs were shoulder-width apart, and repeat.
5. After you've got the leg movements down, move you arms in sync with your legs as such:
When your right leg is back, your left arm is bent at about shoulder height, pointing to the right. Your right arm is to the side of you, but you are suppose to naturally let it hang. When your left leg is back, do the same pattern but with opposite arms. You arms are suppose to naturally flow with the movement (Or to your preference [I do it really stiff, controlled , and balanced because of my previous Marital Arts experience :p ]). Take it really easy at first. It is suppose to be as natural as you walk.
Tips.
1. Just do it a few times a day, or for 10-30 minutes for a moderate cardio workout. You can do the movement at whatever speed you may wish after you feel more comfortable with it.
2. (From step 2) You move your leg inward and backward because when you ginga, you are moving in a triangular fashion. When your legs are shoulder-width apart and next to each other, those are two points of the triangle. When you step back with either leg, you are going to the third point of the triangle. You are trying to get both legs to that same point in a rhythmic motion.
3. If you really like it, Throw on some music, and have a little fun with it. :D Try it at different tempos to get your body moving. :)
4. Here are some videos of three people doing it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Th5V4eed3Q
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PMfxaDsPRm0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cO8m-ex438A (This is a tutorial for more help)
Notice how different they do it. Since we aren't taking classes, do the movement to your preference. Just try to keep the triangle.
5. Try to hunch your body forward to ease the stress on your lower back. Unless of course you decide to do suicide kip-ups, aerials, backflips, 540 crescent kicks, and back bridge sweeps... Then you might not be doing the ginga for very long. :p
6. (Opinion) I consider this move somewhat more intense than walking (After you've gotten past the "Natural as you walk" phase), but maybe not as intense as a run. If you end of liking it, I think it might work well as a stepping stone or aid to long runs. It can help with cardio and stamina, and depending on how you wish to do it, it might have less impact than running. It all depends on you.
Here's a roda. They aren't doing the ginga too much (They're too busy doing the other movements :p ), but it will give you an idea on how it applies to this Martial Acrobatic Dance: :D
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hS38bKr6vYE
And for the record: I'm not an 1/8 as good as them. I'm just a wee little beginner. :p