Capoeira background music:
( https://krushandkill. webcindario. com/sounds/Paranaue. mp3 — Paranaue )
( https://krushandkill. webcindario. com/sounds/Axe. mp3 — Axe Capoeira)
The woman disguised a smile and escorted them to the door near her desk. As soon as she opened it, the sound of unknown music reached them, and Shintaro Nakaoka frowned, while the boys were smiling. They followed Sakamo and their jaws dropped. In the large room they were now standing, a group dressed in white clothes and with ropes on their waist like belts, were making a large circle. A few were playing instruments, while the others were clapping or moving their heads and singing the song.
In the middle of the circle, two men were doing the weirdest dance that Shintaro ever saw, following the rhythm of the music. When the music went faster, so did they. When the music was slower, they moved almost in slow motion. Sakamo took off his shoes and socks and walked to the circle while stretching his arms and legs. He made a few high kicks and punches, and the people in the circle made some room for him. In the centre of the circle, a fighter with a broken nose was practising with Mestre Machado, and when he saw Sakamo, he tapped Mestre Machado’s hand and rotated his body, going to the newcomer and tapping his hand.
Sakamo jumped to the circle with a flip and a high kick and joined the smiling man that taped his hand as a greeting.
Shintaro Nakaoka approached the circle as well, together with the other two dumbfounded boys that soon were like everyone else, clapping by the rhythm and watching in complete disbelief Sakamo doing the same movements the one in front of him was doing. As the fight disguised as a dance continued, so did the difficulty of the movements. Shintaro watched as Sakamo was swinging and breaking the movement, and in between the swings, he would kick or make one rotatory movement to escape a kick or a punch. Then, Mestre Machado caught Sakamo off guard, wide open for a direct attack after another swing and rotation that avoided a kick to the head. He aimed a quick headbutt at Sakamo’s chest, which reacted instantly, by lifting his knee to stop him, and elbowing his head, making him swing back in pain. Sakamo swung back as well and asked while continuing on doing the swinging movement:
“Are you alright? Sorry, I think I hit you too hard because you don’t look so good.”
Mestre Machado had one knee on the floor and he was slowly shaking his head, trying to stop the dizziness. He then raised one arm and signalled for the music to stop:
“Let’s male a break! Take five to drink water!”
He then made a pained smile towards Sakamo and said:
“Man, you really need to hold your strength! You almost broke my skull! What movement was that?”
“Sorry, it was Muay Tay. I felt danger and when that happens, my body always goes for the best and strongest counter-attack. In that case, Muay Tay was the best. Lucky for you it was not Krav Maga that I used, or you would be in a really bad spot. I need to learn your Martial Art some more so that I get used to it and don’t mix styles during practice.”
Mestre Machado made a slight smile and rubbed his head:
“Yeah, I was not counting on that reaction. You are dangerous, boy. So, you came for a visit? Decided to learn with us?”
“Actually, I came for a business proposal, but I need to make a question first if you don’t mind.”
Mestre Machado nodded, regretting immediately because the dizziness returned:
“Sure. Ask away. I am rather curious about that proposal.”
“Well, don’t be offended, but I need to ask. You and your students, you have your official papers in order? None of you is illegal in Japan?”
“No, because that would be against the Capoeira Art. Why do you ask? Worried that we are all criminals because most of us are a tiny bit darker than you?”
Sakamo shook his head:
“I couldn’t care less about your skin colour. For me, you could be pink with yellow dots. It’s because of my business proposal. I need a place like this to do some classes for my students, and I wouldn’t mind renting the place for a few days of the week if we can agree on a schedule. That will also be beneficial to you because we could do joint classes and some of my students would for sure like to learn ‘Capoeira’. If you could fit in your class a few songs from the pop idol Tomoe-chan, it would be even better. Some of the rhythms in her music are similar to the ones you use, and she sings in Japanese, and that is always a good marketing stunt to attract Japanese students.”
Mestre Machado raised one eyebrow:
“It’s not very usual to do ‘Capoeira’ without Brazilian songs. I don’t know that pop idol, is she famous?”
“Yes, very much indeed. She will for sure come for a few lessons, and that will attract a bunch of reporters that are always after a scoop about her. I asked about your papers because my students are either police officers or security guys that work for the government, with a bunch assigned to the Imperial Family.”
Mestre Machado made a big smile:
“I am sorry, but I am about to laugh. Do you really want to make me believe you are the teacher of all those guys? For real?”
Sakamo turned away and went to Tadasaburo Sasaki that was near Shintaro in a corner, trying to hear their conversation but failing because they were speaking too fast for them to understand. Sakamo made a slight smile and asked:
“Tadasaburo-kun, do you mind calling the driver? I need him to do a fighting demonstration here.”
Tadasaburo went to the exit and Sakamo winked to the puzzled Shintaro Nakaoka, and he joined the curious ‘Capoeira Master’.
“Just a moment, I have one of my students outside and he will come to see you in a moment.”
Tadasaburo Sasaki returned, with the driver looking around as soon as he entered, evaluating the room, exits, and people inside. His eyes met Sakamo and he went to him. He made a slight bow and asked:
“I was told I was needed, how may I help, Sakamo-san?”
“Mestre Machado here don’t believe that I am a Martial Arts teacher. Do you mind doing a demonstration for him? Or at least, show him your identification?”
The serious man went for the inside pocket of his jacket, and Master Machado gulped at the quick sight of a gun on a holster under his left arm. The man opened the wallet and showed his identification as a member of the Security Force attached to the Imperial Family. He put the wallet in his pocket again, took off his jacket and the holster with the gun. He quickly removed the magazine and the bullet in the chamber and delivered everything to Sakamo while asking without averting his sight from the puzzled ‘Capoeira Master’:
“What shall I use, Sakamo-sensei? Deadly force, joint locks or restrain?”
“Nothing too serious, probably restrain will be enough. Go with Judo or Jujutsu, that should do it.”
The driver took a few steps back, took off his shoes, stretched his arms and did a few high kicks, increasing the speed between kicks and punches. He then made a defensive stance by lowering his body with his open palms facing forward. Sakamo looked at the ‘Capoeira Master’ and said:
“Chose your best fighter and let’s do a quick test, shall we? Your student against mine.”
Mestre Machado clapped his hands to call for attention, and his students ran to him. He gave a few orders and the circle was made around the driver and a big, muscular man with his hair tied in a ponytail. The music started and the ‘Capoeira’ fighter started to swing while the driver looked at him, preparing his move. A quick kick went to the driver’s head, followed by a rotative kick to the legs, and he avoided both by rolling to the side. The moment the driver put his left hand on the ground to stop the rolling, he jumped forward, tackling the fighter, and breaking his balance. A quick rotation with his body and the ‘Capoeira’ fighter was now with the driver behind him, and he was being strangled. As the grip increased, so did the danger. When he was feeling his lungs screaming for air, the ‘Capoeira’ fighter taped the driver’s arm that was around his neck, and he let him go. The driver got up and went to Sakamo, that gave him his jacket and holster with the gun. He put on his shoes and asked:
“Do you need anything more, Sakamo-sensei?”
Sakamo faced the dumbfounded Mestre Machado and asked:
“Do you believe me now?”
“Well… if he is a Security Guard, he learned that because of work, it doesn’t prove he learned with you.”
“Fair enough, but before me, he only knew boxing and to shoot his gun, but if you still don’t believe me, that’s okay. Well, I made my offer, what about if we talked about a rental price and a schedule?”
Mestre Machado smiled:
“That you can take care with my receptionist, but I give classes on Monday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday morning.”
“That works for me because I can use Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays with you. Considering I give my classes on Saturdays and Sundays because I don’t have a place to use, my students will like to have more days.”
Mestre Machado wrinkled his nose:
“You are talking about renting this place, but can you afford it? This rent is not cheap, I wouldn’t mind splitting the expense but you are just a kid. Unless your parents give you a bunch of money as an allowance, I don’t see how you can afford it.”
“Oh, no need to worry about that, my students pay me for the classes I give, and if I give more classes, I will get more money. I hope I can start my classes here next week, because my schedule is full for this week, and I am going to visit my hometown in the weekend. I need one more thing, do you mind if I use this gym right now? That girl over there challenged me for a fight against her Kendo, and I want to teach her a few things. I thought I could use ‘Capoeira’ if you don’t mind setting the rhythm.”
Mestre Machado glanced at Shintaro, that was looking at them with a frown:
“She has a weapon, do you also need one? I only have machetes, maybe it’s a bit too much because she is using a strange wooden stick.”
“I think a machete would be too dangerous. No, I will only use punches and kicks, I think it will be enough.”
“That will for sure be a nice demonstration to watch. Some of my Japanese students doubt that ‘Capoeira’ can be used against someone with weapons, or during a real fight because they say it looks too much with a dance.”
Sakamo made a slight smile:
“Yeah, a dance, alright, only if it’s a deadly dance!”