For several years now, Brazil has skirted its heritage with capoeira. It has been overlooked, disregarded and dismissed. Historians battled against bureaucratic red tape. To find the clearing, some gaps in history had to be filled in. A few years ago an 81-year-old Vicente Ferreira Pastinha— a Portuguese man and an eyewitness to the open gaps in history—told capoeira’s story. Descriptions aptly outlined by the old man attest to fast-moving arms and legs, battling against slave owners, and fighting the oppression only to be defeated. Capoeira had its most terrifying results in the slave uprisings against and owners who were in operation since the colonization of Brazil by the Portuguese. With each suppression came more restrictions until at last the insurgent African slaves were defeated. As the white populous worked on the ledgers of history, they erased the black marks of capoeira, pretending it never happened. Vicente Ferreira Pastinha remained alive and brought the reality of the past into full focus. Kept alive, the martial art continued to be taught. If movements were displayed, they were said to be a harmless native dance. This was the way capoeira survived the torture of time. Vicente Ferreira Pastinha revealed how the cultural aspects of capoeira seemed to vanish and how desperate students used its martial art techniques to break down the statutes that were placed in their way. That they used capoeira for damage and destruction without rhyme or reason is also part of the haggard history. Again and again, insurgent blacks were put down in one bloody encounter after another. Capoeira’s heritage seemed to vanish for good. Now, 81 years old and blind, destitute save for the income that has been secured from devoted followers of the art, Vicente Ferreira Pastinha is cared for by students who look at him with the same dedication that Japanese karate or judo students look toward their sensei. He still partakes in capoeira, although the years and the disregard have taken their toll on his prowess. But as Vicente Ferreira Pastinha has revealed the past, a 68-year-old instructor known only as “Master Bimba” is advancing it to the future with his instruction in the martial art. Five years ago, a group headed by Benjamin Muniz started to make a true and schematic study of the “kata” of capoeira, transferring what Vicente Ferreira Pastinha related into viable and teachable terms. Reluctantly, the nation began to recognize capoeira and accept it for what it was although they have staunchly refused to accept it as a national sport. Today, it has been “washed down” as a cultural, native dance. In this manner capoeira is, to the Brazilian hierarchy, “acceptable.”
The UFC returned to American network television for the first time in more than two years Saturday on ABC while former featherweight champion Max Holloway returned to his winning ways following two straight losses, earning a unanimous decision over Calvin Kattar in Abu Dhabi. Holloway showed he still has plenty left as a fighter dominating Kattar from the opening bell of the main event with a mix of punches and low kicks.
It appeared as if the former champion might stop his opponent in the fourth round landing a series of vicious body blows followed by hard elbows to the head as a bloodied Kattar sagged against the fence. But Kattar somehow survived managing to keep himself upright through the fifth stanza as well, only to lose a lopsided decision. After dropping his title to Alexander Volkanovski and then losing a controversial rematch, Holloway may have put himself in position for one more crack at the championship following Saturday's impressive performance.
NEW: Black Belt Hall of Fame Member Profiles (1968-1990)
The Legendary Black Belt Magazine Hall of Fame has never before been documented in a single location. Now, you can learn about all the icons that have achieved one of the greatest honors in all of martial arts.
Black Belt Magazine is proud to announce the NEW Member Profiles feature for the Hall of Fame. At the time of this article, the online records account for every inductee from the inaugural year of 1968 all the way through 1990 (upwards of 200 martial artists). The page will be updated continuously and will include every inductee through 2020 in the near future. For now, you can enjoy images and facts about the legendary members for each induction they received before 1991. Take advantage of this never-before-seen opportunity to learn about many of the martial artists who contributed to the lifestyle, culture, and community that every martial artist experiences today.

ONE Championship kicked off their 2021 campaign in Singapore on Friday, January 22, with ONE: Unbreakable.
The six-bout card featured five finishes including in the main event as Capitan Petchyindee Academy ousted Alaverdi Ramazanov for the ONE Bantamweight Kickboxing World Championship.
See how all of the action went down in The Lion City with this recap of ONE: Unbreakable.
Main Event: Alaverdi Ramazanov vs. Capitan Petchyindee Academy
<p>Capitan Winner by Knockout</p><p>Round 2 - 1:56</p><p>The first round was a blitz from both men, but it was Capitan's forward pressure that gave Ramazanov issues. Those issues grew in the second round with the Thai star walking down his prey and digging his shin into the Russian's legs and body repeatedly. Eventually, with Ramazanov against the Circle Wall, Capitan scored with a right hook to the body and a straight right to the head to put the champion down and take his crown.</p>Shinya Aoki vs. James Nakashima
<p>Aoki Winner by Submission</p><p>In the co-main event, Shinya Aoki added James Nakashima to his long list of victims with a crushing neck crank in the first round. The magician continues to inspire his legion of fans and re-enters the lightweight title picture with his third-straight victory.</p>Rade Opacic vs. Bruno Susano
<p>Opacic Winner by TKO</p><p>In heavyweight kickboxing action, Rade Opacic looked dominant once again with a TKO over Bruno Susano.</p>Zebaztian Kadestam vs. Gadzhimurad Abdulaev
<p>Abdulaev Winner by Submission</p><p>Gadzhimurad Abdulaev made a statement in his debut by knocking off the former ONE Welterweight World Champion with a quick face crank submission. Abdulaev made it look easy which could elevate him into immediate contention as an undefeated athlete on the rise.</p>Meng Bo vs. Samara Santos
<p>Meng Winner by Unanimous Decision</p><p>#2-ranked atomweight contender Meng Bo cruised to a unanimous decision win, but Brazilian Samara Santos made it a more difficult 15 minutes than she had expected. Still, the Chinese contender got the W and looks forward toward the ONE Atomweight Grand Prix.</p>Lito Adiwang vs. Namiki Kawahara
<p>Adiwang Winner by KO</p><p>The show opened with an emotional performance from Lito "Thunder Kid" Adiwang who had recently lost his mother. He dedicated his performance to her and showed out with a big second-round knockout.</p>ONE: UNBREAKABLE | Fight Highlights
<span style="display:block;position:relative;padding-top:56.25%;" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="81276286334653846171e661035fe643"><iframe lazy-loadable="true" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hN_H7Co49eU?rel=0" width="100%" height="auto" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;"></iframe></span>Relive the best moments from every fight at ONE Championship's first event of 2021, including the shocking KNOCKOUT that closed out the explosive World Title...These three simple ways will make you more flexible instantly!
Fighters need to have an optimal amount of flexibility to kick, punch, takedown their opponent and even to escape submission holds. Your body has to be able to move through ranges of motion effectively, and that requires your muscles to stretch and contract functionally. In order to create flexibility, you have to wrap your mind around that it is more than just stretching a muscle.
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