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Living City: The art of fighting

October 31, 2013

Capoeira instructor Kevin Hendrickson and students talk about Capoeira and its uniqueness among other martial arts.

Photo by Georgina De Moya | The State News

When it comes to the art of fighting, it’s more of a dance. Capoeira, an Afro-Brazilian martial art combining dance and fighting moves, was invented by slaves in Brazil during the colonial period and disguised as a dance to keep it hidden.

Kevin Hendrickson, a personal defense professor at MSU, teaches Capoeira at IM Sports-Circle every Wednesday.

“There is an important aspect of it that no other martial art really has, which is the importance of music,” Hendrickson said.

Marketing sophomore Erica Gohil, who’s practiced it for a month, said it lets her express herself through fighting and dance.

Dimondale, Mich., resident Tom Jones has been practicing Capoeira for more than 5 years. He thought he’d never enjoy Capoeira when he first started.

“After about six months, I changed my mind,” Jones said.

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