The acronym “P.G.C.A.” is rising with the sun. This signifies the birth of Pastinha’s Garden of Capoeira de Angola and represents our introduction into the community at large. The Sun, being half risen, is a sign that we are only being “presented” but not fully revealed.
At the horizon is the “Keyhole” which is protected or guarded by two Cobras. The Keyhole suggests that there is a “Key”. That Key is only acquired through strict adherence to the principles contained within the Science of the Capoeira. The “Art” or “Science” of PGCA Capoeira is represented in the Crest by Geometry. This Geometry is “The Written Curriculum” and it is presented in such a way that raises more questions than answers.
The Cobras are the Guardians of this Sacred Geometry or Science and this is symbolized by the fact that the Snakes and the Geometry are interwoven. Historically, certain snakes such as the Cobra have been considered the “natural guardians” over that which is Secret and over that which is Sacred. In the PGCA Crest, the Cobra is the “Gatekeeper”, guarding the “key” which unlocks the mysteries and reveals the secrets represented by the “Keyhole”.
Enclosed within the Geometry are three (3) Adinkra Symbols of West Africa: “Agyindawaru”, “Kuronti Ne Akwamu”, and “Sankofa”. The Adinkra symbols are in the Crest to express key spiritual principles found in the PGCA Code of Ethics. They are enclosed in the Geometry symbolizing that these spiritual principles accompany the physical applications.
At the top of the Geometry
is the Adinkra Symbol known as Agyindawaru.
Agyindawaru refers to the “Faithful Servant”. It is the symbol of Faithfulness, Alertness
and Dutifulness. It also represents the
one who makes the announcement or the call to special events or
ceremonies. This is in our Crest
symbolizing the fact that we “Lead” through “Service”. It symbolizes our responsibility to the
community at large as well as our obligation to the Art. It reminds us that “humility comes before
honor” and that we must be watchful, showing respect, consideration and
courtesy.
As we move clockwise around
the Geometry, the next Adinkra Symbol we come to is known as Kuronti Ne Akwamu
which is the symbol of
Democracy, Duality of the Essence of Life, Interdependence & Complimentary.
The proverb associated with this
symbol is "Ti koro nko
agyina" (One head does not constitute a Council, or One head does not
constitute a jury). Kuronti Ne
Akwamu is in our Crest to
affirm our reliance; one to another. It
dictates our Code of Conduct or Ethics and stresses the importance of working
together. We are not in this art alone and we should not
think that we know everything.
Continuing the
revolution, the last Adinkra symbol is called Sankofa. This Adinkra symbol stresses the necessity
and importance of learning form the past.
It means “Return and Get It”.
This is in our Crest as an acknowledgment of those who came before us
in this tradition. It is an acclamation
that we build the future from the foundation left by our ancestors and that our
ancestors are those upon whose shoulders we stand firm. The Science, from which the written
curriculum comes, has been understood for over five thousand (5000) years.
When we take a close look at the bottom of the Crest we see that the Cobras, having two bodies, are actually joined at the tail. This symbolizes the duel nature of the human being: Our "God Consciousness" and our "Animal Instinct"; our ability to heal and our ability to do harm; our ability to be wise and our ability to be deceptive; our higher understanding and our lower desires. This duality warns that the first struggle is the struggle with self and it cautions those wishing to acquire the “key” to find balance within. It is this symbolic struggle that will determine how far one will be allowed to progress.