Capoeira isn’t just fun, it also helped to hone Man U’s flipping great Nani
FITNESS & DIET EXPERT
The Man Utd player has something of a martial arts past, hence the gymnastic flips when he’s celebrating on the pitch.
HOW HE DOES IT:
Nani spends most of his time in football training nowadays but admits that he misses the martial art of Capoeira he grew up with on the streets of Lisbon.
“The discipline I followed, La Capoeira, is not well known in England but it’s something I not only admire and miss but it formed a crucial part of my life when I was 15 and 16. Now I only allow myself a somersault or two when I score but I learned some death-defying flips when I practised Capoeira,” he said.
DO IT FOR YOURSELF:
So what is Capoeira? It’s a Brazilian martial art that combines combat, dance and acrobatics for a lively workout. As well as being a great way to burn up calories, Capoeira is also good for developing a wide range of skills such as agility, flexibility, strength, speed and co-ordination. Many of its moves involve a lot of twisting, ducking and energetic kicking (perfect for a footballer).
Martial arts and dance are a good way to boost your fitness levels and burn calories if you ever feel like breaking the monotony of the gym.
Nowadays many of us have so many demands on our time that hobbies and exercise get shelved, so combining the two in a workout, like Capoeira, ticks both boxes with one activity. Visit capoeira.co.uk for a good little local capoeira community.
IS THERE SUCH A THING AS A SAFE QUICK-FIX FOR WEIGHT LOSS? I SEEM TO HAVE GAINED HALF A STONE OVER EASTER, WHICH I’M KEEN TO GET RID OF
Drastic diets are very appealing at this time of year as you’re caught between Easter excesses and the dreaded bikini/Speedo season – no one wants to go on holiday with their Easter excesses still spilling over the front of their swimwear. Whatever route you choose to lose the weight will invariably involve some sort of calorie reduction and the lowest recommended daily calorie intake is 1,000-1200 – this should enable you to lose weight at around two pounds a week. My top tip for maintaining good health while you reduce your calorie intake is to eat plenty of high fibre foods (whole grains, pulses, fruit and veg) – these will keep you feeling fuller for longer and less prone to energy slumps and hunger pangs.