Stunt demo for Parafina, aka Amir Solsky

Music: "Forget to Remember"

The best of the best from our 3rd Annual Batizado & Troca de Cordao event. Special thanks to Professor Missionario from Israel, all the special guest instructors from California, and all the students of Professor Parafina who helped to make this an amazing event.

Music: "Headstrong," by Trapt

You may have seen the program "Fight Science" recently on TV. A National Geographic special, by Base Productions, hosted by James Lew.

The program was designed to compare the science of various martial arts styles. Our own Amir Solsky was there to represent the art of Capoeira.

Here is a collection of segments that featured Amir Solsky, aka Professor Parafina.

Summertime. Capoeira at Universal Studios, California.

This video represents our first day/night performing. The first of many.

Music: "Cells," from the Transporter 2 Soundtrack

More games, more tricks, more killer footage from our nights at Universal Citywalk in the Summer.

And man, some of them were ridiculously hot.

Music: "Fuel," by Metallica and the San Francisco Symphony

Our friends at Nike asked us to come and put on a show following their screening of the 2006 World Cup Finals, in Venice, California.

We were more than happy to ablige. From the floor, to the concrete, to the grass, we proved once again that Capoeira Los Angeles kicks ass.

Music: "Da Funk," by Daft Punk

Finally in May of 2007, Parafina returns from his travels.

And what better way to welcome him back than by surprising him with a belated Birthday Roda?

Music: "Disappear" by Metallica

Another Birthday roda. This time it was our beloved Professor Parafina's turn to play everybody in the class, back to back.

And man, did he have fun.

Music: "Crush 'Em," by Megadeth

Another specialty roda, only this time addressing two different occasions.

Sadly, Lloyd informed us that he was to be moving out of L.A. But on a brighter note, Eugene informed us that it was his birthday.

So, we held a special roda. A farewell celebration for Lloyd, and a birthday celebration for Eugene, all at the same time.

Music: "Land of Confusion" by Disturbed

Once again, we at Capoeira Los Angeles upheld the tradition of making the birthday person play everybody in the roda, back to back. This time around, it was Amazona (Julia Getman)'s turn.

Per her request, we have made this particular video a little more light-hearted, including not only the birthday roda, but also a bit of samba dancing, some goofing around after class, and a montage of the regular roda as well.

Music: "I Think I'm Paranoid" by Garbage and Crystal Method, respectively

For the fourth year in a row, we at Capoeira Los Angeles were invited to support our friends at "Walk for Water."

As usual, the event was held at Paramount Ranch. As usual, we had a blast.

Music: "Barra Barra," from the Black Hawk Down soundtrack

October. A great month for birthdays.

A great opportunity for 4 of the advanced students of Professor Amir Solsky to play every single person in the roda, as is the tradition.

A great opportunity for an awesome video.

Music: "Vicarious," by Tool

They may be small, but don't let their size fool you. Parafina has trained these young ones to play, perform, and kick butt in the roda just the same.

This party montage proves it.

Music: "What Kind of Love Are You On" by Aerosmith

Orlando and I were recently invited to perform at a house party.

The lights were dimmed, the glowing bracelets were applied, and we took turns showing off on the marble floor.

I would like to add that there is a rather large crowd behind the camera. You don't see them in the video, but they're there. :)

Music by Crystal Method

In early April of 2006, the Grandmaster of our group "Cordau de Oro," Graomestre Suassuna, visited San Diego.

Not only did we of Capoeira Los Angeles drive down for this momentous occasion, but many of the Capoeiristas all around California, and all around the United States even, visited for Suassuna's workshops and rodas.

When the man who has trained most of the Mestres you know is in town, especially since he's rarely ever even in USA, you don't want to miss it. This video is Part 1, the rodas and workshops in the gym.

Many special thanks to Mestre Pintiado and Contramestre Paulo Batuto for organizing and hosting this amazing event.

Music: "Frigga" by Beatdrop

Topping off a weekend jam-packed with indoor workshops and rodas, we all went outside to Belmont Park, Mission Beach for the Maculele workshops.

Of couse, we also took the opportunity to do a great deal of acrobatics on the grass, and we had a regular roda as well. This video is Part 2.

Music: "Metamorphosis," by Methods of Mayhem

Come to Gymnastics Olympica. Learn how to flip.

Class information available here.

Music: "Current," by the Blue Man Group

A fancy house in Brentwood, California. Fashion models. Samba dancers.

Capoeiristas.

We performed in the dark, on the brick, and on the slippery grass.

Music: Stripped, by Rammstein

Our friends at Paramount Ranch invited us to come back yet again for their annual "Walk for Water" charity event.

We flipped, we played, we practiced, we showed off. Good times.

Music: Hautoa, by Oceania

In Capoeira, we have a tradition when it's one of the students' birthdays. Part of the tradition requires that they supply refreshments and goodies for everyone else. The other part of it is that they have to play everybody in the roda, back to back.

I'm happy to say that Michael did a great job in both parts there.

Music: Talk Amongst Yourselves, from the Transporter 2 soundtrack

The Fit Expo. Show-off grounds for bodybuilders, supermodels, supplement specialists, and of course, Capoeira Los Angeles.

By the way, this is Mazedude's first performance / video since his injury, so hurray for him.

Music: Moonchild

Our friends at Iowalab asked us to come to their end-of-the-summer party and hold an open roda, as a way to really give the event an energy boost. Considering it was at a private beach house in Malibu, with excellent food - and a rather small wooden floor set up in the sand for us - we were more than happy to.

Yes, that is Parafina... with the short hair and swim trunks.

Music: Magic Carpet Ride a la Crystal Method

Back when we were kids, Erik and I used to stay up late watching Martial Arts movies, after which we would proceed to choreograph little fight scenes in the dining room. For old times sake, we filmed another fight scene when I visited him in Ireland, August 2005.

You may notice a swarm of kids that gathered around while we filmed. First they cheered us on... then offered to help film (I even let them a few times)... then they started to get annoying and really screwed with our continuity. Ah well. It's just a silly fight scene.

By the way, the shirt you see me wearing (and getting all sweaty) is the new Capoeira Los Angeles T-Shirt, for sale on this very website. Hint hint.

Music: Linkin Park Reanimation

Once a year, the students of Capoeira Los Angeles, under the instruction of Professor Parafina, must play for their belts.

With the aid of a few visiting Mestres, the new students earned their first belts, and the advanced students all went up a notch. And we all had a lot of fun.

Music: Roda Maravilliosa Remixed - Produced by Mazedude, Performed by Parafina and Students

So, this is what we do when we can't sleep. Go and film a fight scene.

On the pavement.

In the dark.

Music: Living Dead Girl, Wolf Mix by Mazedude

Upon request, here's another video of Parafina, doing what he does best.

Short but sweet, here are some roda clips from our Sherman Oaks studio.

Music by Tommy Lee

Just a fun little show we did for a Charity Event in Palm Springs.

Music: "Yaleo," by Santana

From all our various club shows all over L.A, so far we've really only been able to get ahold of the footage shot at Club Rio on Ventura Blvd.

Here's a montage of our coolest moments there.

Rodas, acrobatics, and even the "get the dollar in your mouth" Angola game.

Music: "Vapor Trail", By Crystal Method

This is my extended version of all the cool footage we shot that one awesome night at Gymnastics Olympica for Noel's Stunt Team Demo.

There were so many of us taking turns showing off for the camera, the energy was just great.

Music: "Escape from Hellview", by CKY

This is the extended version of a short Capoeira video I made for a commercial project.

Highly stylized, Amir and Orlando play a game on the concrete. Cool stuff.

Music: "Clubbed to Death", from the Matrix Soundtrack

I can't tell you what this was for, but the video features rehearsals and motion capture sessions for an upcoming video game.

Weapons, throws, acting scenes, capoeira, muay thai kickboxing, tae kwon doe, boxing, wushu, and more.

Music: "Rogue Spear Remixed", by Bill Brown

Performance montage featuring footage from festivals, the stage, parties, class demonstrations, music video performance, and more.

Almost 5 minutes long... wow.

Music: "Blurry," by Puddle of Mudd

After a year of hard training, Amir's finest students earned their first belts. The belt ceremony, or "Batizado", consists of each student playing a visiting Mestre or Profesor until they are taken down, and subsequently "baptized" into the World of Capoeira. And, naturally, we have some pretty hardcore games before and after, for hours at a time.

Open rodas are held all the time, hosted by various mestres. Once in a while, they're videotaped. And once in a great while, one of Parafina's students edits a video out of his most kick-ass clips from the video. :)

This roda was held by Mestre Batata. Thanks.