Malandragem is often associated with mischief, cunning, and street smarts. In Brazilian culture, it grew out of necessity — a way to survive in a world shaped by inequality and oppression.

In this episode, we explore malandragem through the lens of capoeira and ask what it means today.

The book: ⁠⁠⁠50 Lessons on Capoeira, Teaching, and Life⁠⁠⁠ by Alex Maltsev

Contact: mail-podcast@alexmaltsev.me

To become a master, you first have to become a good student.

In this episode, we explore the idea of good study through the “Three Pillars” described by Mestre Ombrinho: the academy, homework, and travel. Together, these pillars form a balanced foundation for long-term growth — not only in capoeira, but in life.

We talk about why regular classes alone are never enough, why solitary practice without connection leads to stagnation, and why constant traveling and workshops can become a distraction instead of progress. Each pillar serves a purpose, and imbalance in any one of them eventually shows up in the roda.

Drawing from personal experience as both a student and a teacher, this episode reflects on plateaus, humility, and the importance of returning to fundamentals when progress slows down.

The book: ⁠⁠50 Lessons on Capoeira, Teaching, and Life⁠⁠ by Alex Maltsev

Contact: mail-podcast@alexmaltsev.me

Mastery in capoeira is not about titles, cords, diplomas, or recognition.

It’s about shaping the body, the mind, and the spirit — and allowing a practice to transform the way you live.

In this episode, we explore the three essential stages of mastery: learning, practicing, and training. Learning is understanding. Practicing is repetition without pressure. Training is practice under pressure — as close to real life as possible.

Using examples from capoeira, music, and teaching, we look at why so many people get stuck in perpetual learning, why pressure exposes gaps we didn’t know existed, and why real growth only happens when practice meets resistance.

Capoeira offers a rare space where pressure, play, risk, and safety coexist.

A training ground for life — where falling, adapting, and acting under uncertainty become skills, not accidents.

The book: ⁠50 Lessons on Capoeira, Teaching, and Life⁠ by Alex Maltsev

Contact: mail-podcast@alexmaltsev.me

In this episode, we explore capoeira as a philosophy for life through a simple but powerful metaphor: apples and potatoes.

Potatoes give quick results. Apples take years to grow, but last a lifetime. Jobs often look like potatoes. A calling, a craft, or a way of life looks more like an apple tree.

I share a personal story from my years teaching capoeira in China — from balancing a corporate job and evening classes, to trying to make capoeira a full-time profession, and eventually burning out. Through a lesson passed down by my teacher, Mestre Cueca, this episode reflects on the tension between survival and meaning, short-term effort and long-term vision.

This is a story about work, purpose, burnout, and why many teachers and practitioners lose sight of their “apples” while digging endlessly for potatoes.

Eat your potatoes — but don’t forget to keep planting apples.

The book: 50 Lessons on Capoeira, Teaching, and Life by Alex Maltsev

Contact: mail-podcast@alexmaltsev.me