O Historia do “Do Cachorrão”, Scooby Doo
I started Capoeira in September of 1995. My best friend, Sal (Salsita) accompanied me to a cultural arts festival held at Dr. Philips High School, where I was to be performing with my chorus there.
Two (2) weeks prior, he and I had seen the movie “Only the Strong”, starring Marc Dacascos, which was an action film that featured Capoeira as the primary fighting art used. I have come to realize that “Only the Strong” is probably the worst movie ever made, and is extremely inaccurate in its portrait of Capoeira, but to Sal and I (14, and 15 yrs old), it was probably the coolest thing we had ever seen.
When we arrived at Dr. Phillips High School, they were handing out flyers that offered a free introductory class to a martial arts academy. We immediately recognized the flyers as promoting that “stuff” we saw on T.V. a couple of weeks ago, and almost went crazy with excitement.
Apparently, the Academy called “Capoeira Brazilian Pelourinho” had just performed at the festival, and were now gone. We were somewhat dejected that we had missed the display, but were determined to, at least once, see this martial art in person. The prospect of actually taking a class further fueled our enthusiasm.
I cannot remember exactly when, but it was very soon after that that we went to take out first class. That was it… hooked from the moment we stepped in. It was one of the most fun, and exhilarating experiences of my life and, from that moment, I knew that I would like to make this “thing”…this, Capoeira, my life, though I never entertained any thoughts of being good at all… as a matter of fact, no one did. No one, that is, except for Lazaro Al. Santos; my great and wonderful mestre.
I had to have been about the most uncoordinated person on planet earth and, to top that, I was an American and, it was a popular belief amongst the Brazilian populace at the time that no non-Brazilian could ever really “know” the Capoeira. Many people told my mestre; “Forget about Craig. He will never be any good. You are wasting your time.” If I had known that at the time, I would probably have been inclined to agree with them.
Mestre had just come off of traveling and doing shows. If I am not mistaken, he had been on the road performing for some 6 or so years. That being said, many persons doubted his ability to teach… doubted that he was a Mestre at all.
Lazaro was not daunted. Not needing to boast, he made a silent promise to himself;
The student who cannot be taught and the teacher who cannot teach; we would move, fast to the forefront. And, that we did. Sal, Lazaro, and I would train together every single day and, during summer times, all day long. It wasn’t long before Capoeira Brazilian Pelourinho was on the lips of everyone in Capoeira as being one of the strongest, fastest growing academies in Florida, and that name is still on their lips today.
Capoeira has meant so much to me. It is not something that I do. Capoeira IS who I AM! Capoeira has filtered down into every single aspect of my life. In art, in “war”, and philosophy, Capoeira and the teachings of Mestre Lazaro have shaped me into a man that I think that my mother would be proud of, and that means something to me... so much to me. Believe it; without the Capoeira, I would be an entirely different person, and my life would be much less than it is today.
It is because of the Capoeira that I have the confidence to do anything. It is because of the Capoeira that I have traveled the world. It is because of the Capoeira that I came to know my own spirituality, and learn to truly be honest with myself, and the Capoeira has made me a thinking person, rather than the temperamental young man who would solve altercations with his fists that I used to be.
I don’t know what more to say, without saying too much. I could sit and write about Capoeira until time ended, so Eu terminarei com este. Uma mais coisa a dizer: Vindo ao Capoeira ! Você pode também aprender!
Note: Mestre Lazaro named Sal and I Salsita e Scooby Doo;
a) because we were ALWAYS together
b) because we both ate like monsters
and c) because Sal was a skinny, lanky white dude and, plainly and simply, Mestre said that I look like a dog! You’ve gotta love him!
The Cachorrão part was given to me by Mestre Delei Kacula of Capoeira Abolicão. It was after his batizado, and the first time he had met me. He asked Mestre what my name was. Mestre told him my name was Craig, and Mestre Delei asked him what my “real’ name was. Mestre told him, it was “Scooby Doo” so, Mestre Delei turned to me and Said; “Ah. Você é um Cachorrão, huh?, which means; “Oh. You’re a big dog, huh?” After that, it just stuck. Everyone in Abolicão always calls me Cachorrão… some other groups call me Cachoho, which just means Dog; some people even refer to me as “Eddie” after Eddie Gordo from the video game “Tekken 3”, but my academy just refers to me as Scooby.