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Students gathered in Free Speech Plaza to watch performances by international students Friday. The performances wrapped up the University’s seventh annual International Education Week. Shotokan Karate, a student organization that practices several karate techniques at the University Recreation Center, demonstrated a typical class in karate dojo. One of the exercises the group demonstrated was kata, a choreographed series of movements emphasizing timing and balance. Another exercise called kihon involves repetitive sequences of movements. The last exercise the group demonstrated was kumite, a sparring technique participants practice against opponents. Cynthia Speer, anthropology junior and Shotokan Karate secretary, said International Education Week is important for the University. “I think it’s an amazing opportunity to spread cultures to people in America who would not otherwise know about it,” she said. Speer, who has practiced karate for three years and earned a purple belt, said she enjoys learning about Asia’s history. “I like the formal aspect and the ritualistic aspect,” she said. Speer said the rank system for karate has seven skill levels. She said students test their abilities each semester to advance to the next level. Eleven students from the Brazilian Student Chapter performed capoeira and forro. “Capoeira is a Brazilian martial art created by the slaves at least 200 years ago,” said Kurlan Barbosa, petroleum engineering freshman and Brazilian Student Chapter vice president. “They disguised [it] as a dance, so [their masters] wouldn’t notice.” Barbosa said forro is a dance that was popular with the poor class in northeast Brazil, and it spread quickly to other parts of the world. “Brazil is a very popular place, and its culture attracts people,” he said. “Everybody will fall in love with at least one aspect of Brazil’s culture.” Nandini Banerjee, agricultural economics graduate student, performed an impromptu south Indian classical dance called Bharatnatyam. “Bharatnatyam is based on one of the Indian mythological figures who has river [the] Ganges on his head – Shiva,” said Banerjee, who has been dancing for 13 years. “Through Indian classical dances, people can learn about different aspects of Indian culture. It’s a combination of expression and rhythm.”
—–Conact Angelle Barbazon at [email protected]