IDO MOVEMENT FOR CULTURE

Background. In summer 2019, we implemented a short program to teach the Afro-Brazilian martial art capoeira at our local Boys and Girls Club. Our university supports engaged scholarship in which faculty and students combine research with community service efforts. This dovetailed nicely with our identity as capoeiristas, since capoeiristas are often evangelical in their desire to spread their art. This often takes the form of teaching capoeira to youth of color in underserved communities because of capoeira’s history as a tool of resistance from colonial-era Brazil. However, when capoeiristas use children as “guinea pigs” in their efforts to do good without critically considering the unintentional consequences of their actions, they may do more harm than good.

Problem and aim. Our primary research question had to do with the degree to which children internalize the liberatory goals of capoeira, especially when it is taught in the same setting which has imposed Foucaultian discipline on them. This paper, however, is a reflection on our own experiences.

Methods. The lead author administered an open-ended questionnaire to the research team and conducted an inductive textual analysis of these narratives.

Results. Our reflections revealed more about the benefits volunteers accrue from these projects than about the children who participated in the program. We have little evidence of the children reaping any capoeira-specific benefits from our intervention.

Conclusions. Reflecting on our experiences allowed us to make several recommendations for others interested in implementing a similar martial-arts outreach program, particularly in terms of ethics.

Acknowledgements: We would like to thank the Ted Phea Boys and Girls Club for welcoming our involvement and to all of the children who participated in our classes. We would also like to thank the College of Education at Texas Tech for supporting our research through a small grant to purchase books for the participating children.