MK African Diaspora Martial Arts

We welcome everyone and anyone who is looking to get in shape, learn self-defence, and improve the overall quality of their lives. Please also call 07743720034 to introduce yourself (no impersonal texts please). To allow us to focus on those with a genuine interest, please book and pay online to participate in an intro session. The intro is refunded to you when you become a member.

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MK AFRICAN DIASPORA MARTIAL ARTS

Throughout the African Diaspora, martial arts systems survived from their parent African culture. Most were disguised as dance or games.

The ones our study group focuses on are Caporeira and Danmye (Ladja).

We have trained in the Salvador Bahia(Brazil) and Forte De France Martinique with the leaders of these arts.

Dance and Ritual

Most people agree that the dance rituals typical to the martial arts of African origin began as survival tactics.

The Africans used the dances to develop formational movements, footwork, and effective fighting techniques.
DANMYE
.Danmyé, a dance-combat ritual from the French island of Martinique.

The fighters pretend to dance to deceive the vigilance of the adversary and strike a decisive blow. This principle is common to most of the dance struggles.

Like Brazil’s renowned capoeira Angola, danmyé can be traced as far back as the 18th century, when Africans on the island’s sugar plantations resisted oppression by developing forms of combat disguised as dance.

CAPOREIRA

CAPOREIRA ANGOLA

Capoeira has two forms, Capoeira Angola and Capoeira Regional. Angola is the original form. Angola is slower paced with subtle yet cunning moves and much longer games.The moves are slower, apparently relaxed and close to the ground.

Caporeira Regional is faster paced with more dynamic, acrobatic yet much shorter games. Regional is a newer form of Capoeira spawned from Angola. The players stay mainly erect and throw faster attacks, with more Jumps

CAPOREIRA REGIONAL

The similarities between capoeira and danmyé are striking: Both involve a ring of spectators gathered around two fighters, a pulsating musical framework and a dance ritual.