I'm not too sure I can properly bring this subject about, but I guess I'm just going to put it out there.

My name is Shelly.  I have been around the acting business for about a year.  I got chances to work with people like the Rock and some of the Soprano's.  Everythingis still quite new and I am going to do more things in the next few weeks.

The thing that I want to start writing about is martial arts in films.  I am so fascinated with Bruce Lee and my idol, Jackie Chan and if I ever got a chance to work with Jackie Chan, that would be an ultimate dream come true, whether to say that might be so off the wall to even dare to think that I might get a chance to work with Jackie Chan.

I have been training on and off in a martial art for the past two years.  This martial art is called "Capoeira".  I know most are probably going to say "Cap-who-a?--Cap-what-a?"  The easiest way to explain it--ever see how some breakdancers, dance?--well some of the movements are actually based on the martial art, Capoeira.  It started in Africa a few hundred years ago and transended in Brazil.  It was disguised as a dance, around fires with music.  This was so people could learn to protect themselves, without gettting arrested.  To protect themselves further, they also would get nicknames, so if they did get arrested, they could protect their identies. Then alot of bad people would disrespect the martial art and fight with also cheapen the aspects of Capoeria, by fighting with knives.  So, for so very long, Capoeira became illegal, and people had to fight to make it become legal.

Now in the United States, I believe it's only been here for about maybe 50 years and it's slowly starting to catch on.

If one was to ask me why did I choose this martial art, Capoeira.  Well, the very first time I saw "Only the Strong"-(Capoeira film)--I was quite fascinated, but at the time around 1992, I didn't think I really would get into martial arts, even though I always loved martial arts deep down inside since I was kid.

So about two years--my life was changing.  I was with a guy for ten years and he left.  So instead of just wanting to just sit around and die on the couch.  I started looking into a school.  I found one in the next city over to me.  Well, I went there and the rest is history. 

I joined "Grupo Capoeira Brasil".  Grupo Capoeira Brasil is the largest internationally known group around the world, not only is it here in the United States-Boston, New York, Arizona, Florida, California, other places, I can't think off the top of my head, but also--Mexico, France, Brazil, Australia and other places too.

I was given the nickname "Po Do Arroz" by my instructor--Instructor Caveira.  It means "Wacky Clown"--and even though I am very quiet and humble in class--well outside--I'm very energetic.  I also have my own set of nun-chucks, which I love so much.

Now, I guess you can say, I would love to see more of this martial art in films.  Right now I am involved in a series that is on the internet and they are trying to promote it for tv.  It is called "High Heel Samurai" and I play a rival from Dorchester.  I did get to do my first fighting scene, and hopefully in the next week or so, anybody will be able to view it.

But, there is one film that I am waiting to get the script for.  I got casted as the lead actress role in the film "Freedom Run", which is a martial arts film and the style is Capoeira.  I have to say, I can't wait to get this script, because I'm really over joyed to have an opportunity to do this.  If there is a fighting scene for me--you might say, this could be my "Enter the Dragon", but Capoeira style.

I couldn't say exactly the right words to ever try and promote Capoeira to people, maybe just writing from my heart, something that is honestly coming from me and people seeing it, maybe that's a start.  Well, I guess I don't have anything to lose, just keep going and try and do my best.

Capoeira babe