PLAYING IN THE LIGHT
My Journey with the Art of Capoeira
By Patrick "Galego" Hilligan
With a foreword by Mestre Acordeon
"Playing in the Light is a beautifully written account of the journey Patrick has taken to get from a teenager rambling about the world to become a Mestre with his own very successful capoeira school in Sacramento. He touches on many of his travels to different countries and explains how they helped him grow into the person he is today. He provides enough explanation about capoeira that someone who was not familiar with it would be able to follow along, without making it tiresome for someone who has practiced the art. I was amazed to learn of his dedication to a goal he set for himself back in 1990 - to dedicate his life to capoeira. This he has indeed done, and many students have benefited from his commitment. Anyone who likes reading about people who have surmounted challenges to get where they are would enjoy this book." –Hilary Pollock
Leaving rural Illinois, young Patrick Hilligan adventures through Roman ruins, an Israeli kibbutz, and the Great Pyramids of Egypt. Traveling across the globe he encounters American bandits and a Mexican shaman, celebrates Cinco de Mayo in Oaxaca and Carnaval in Bahia, and finds his roots in Ireland and his purpose in California.
After a self-styled vision quest, Patrick devotes himself to learning capoeira, a 500-year-old Brazilian martial art rich in acrobatics, dance, music, and philosophy. It is through capoeira that he finds the purpose he so intensely pursued all his life and the way to make his dreams come true.
Playing in the Light reveals how youthful ideals can come to fruition, and how one person can make a difference while rejecting complacency and corruption. It is a call to follow the deepest yearnings of the heart despite the challenges life brings, and to find true fulfillment.
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