ATHLETIC CLUBS OFFER DO-IT-YOURSELF APPROACH TO P.E.

Capoeira instructor Aranha and Alexandra Lippman '05

Alexandra Lippman '05 began taking Capoeira classes on her own in Philadelphia last summer, and she loved it so much that she ended up writing her anthropology thesis about it. Lippman describes Capoeira as "something most easily categorized as 'martial arts' — but it's more than that. It originated with African slaves in Brazil as a type of self-defense technique disguised as dance, because the practice of martial arts was forbidden to slaves. Music and song, which was added later, is also an essential part of Capoeira. Now it's practiced as a form of exercise around the world."

After a semester of classes, Lippman found a way to bring Capoeira to Bryn Mawr. "My housemates are the ones who urged me to start the Capoeira club," she says. "About 25 people called or e-mailed me, and there are 10 or 12 people who come regularly. We have an instructor who comes in from Philly once a week for two hours — his capoeira name is Aranha, which means 'spider' in Portuguese, and he works with ASCAB, the American Society for Capoeira and Arts from Brazil." The club has even attracted interest from outside Bryn Mawr's campus: students have come to visit from Haverford and Villanova.

Lippman is one of several Bryn Mawr students who have begun their own athletic clubs this year. The College requires that every student complete eight half-semester physical-education credits before she graduates. In addition to the Physical Education (P.E.) courses offered by the College, students also have the option of creating their own athletic clubs. Some of these clubs introduce new athletic activities to campus, while others appeal to students who want to invest more time and energy in a sport they've encountered in a P.E. class. Currently active athletic clubs include groups dedicated to badminton, equestrian sports, boxing, fencing, golf and ice skating.

"It's exciting that so many groups have formed this year," says Director of Athletics and Physical Education Amy Campbell. She explains that all clubs are fully student-initiated: once the student leaders decide they want to form a club, she sits down with them only to hash out the logistics. "There is a minimum time requirement of 12 hours for P.E. credit, but apart from that, it's up to the club leaders to set boundaries," she notes — how long and how often the club meets, how many people the club can accommodate and other administrative issues.

Lippman is confident that the Capoeira club will go on after she graduates this spring. "There are some people who come pretty regularly," she says. "I think it will continue."

— Allison Siegenthaler '07

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