What is Floreio d'Ido Portal? What are the benefits for the body and movement? How do I get started?

The Ido Portal Method is undoubtedly the movement training approach that has gained the most popularity in recent years.

Besides Locomotion, balances, mobility..., one of the areas taught by this professor of Movement at the origin of Movement Culture is Floreio .

Floreio encompasses all ground movements . It's about moving with grace and elegance. It's about being able to achieve spectacular and visually appealing transitions, inspired by Capoeira in particular.

In this article, we will take a look at the Floreio de Ido Portal : what it actually consists of, what benefits it has for the body and movements, and of course how to start this practice simply.

Very good reading my move.

What are the characteristics of the floreio of the Ido Portal method?

The term “Floreio” comes from Portuguese and can be translated as “elegance”, “panache” .

This word refers to the capoeira movements used to embellish the game practiced with a partner.

Capoeira is built on interaction with a partner with whom one mimes a confrontation that can be similar to a dance. Kicks and dodges are used to construct a physical dialogue .

The floreio is the movements that we add around it to make the exchange more aesthetic .

You can spin around, perform acrobatics or move close to the ground .

Ido Portal, before creating the eponymous method and training MMA superstar Conor McGregor , was a capoeira teacher.

This explains the importance of floreio in the Ido Portal method.

However, the movement teacher did not simply reuse floreio as found in capoeira. He mixed it with other influences such as dance and traditional martial arts.

We therefore find classic capoeira movements alongside animal movements such as the lizard walk or the monkey walk.

I divide the practice of floreio into three stages :

1. The upper level which groups together all the movements carried out in a standing position
2. The middle floor with locomotion movements that revolve around the deep squat position
3. The floor where you sit or lie on the floor and which is inspired by contemporary dance floorwork and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu movements

The floreio of Ido Portal's method extracts a component of capoeira to make it a practice in its own right.

It is practiced solo with an expanded vocabulary that draws its inspiration from beyond the world of Brazilian martial arts.

What are the benefits of Floreio? Why practice it?

Through his teaching, Ido Portal aims to promote the development of skills. He differentiates between content (skill) and container (exercise) to focus on the former.

So what skills will you develop through practicing floreio?

Locomotion and the use of the squatting position will develop mobility in the ankles, knees and hips.

If you are not familiar with this position, I advise you to strengthen your knees to practice in a serene manner.

This position close to the ground will also put a lot of strain on your thighs and help develop their endurance.

But the benefits aren't limited to the lower body.

In floreio, you will place your hands on the ground to accompany your movements.

This way your wrists will become stronger and more mobile . Just remember to warm them up well with a suitable routine .

Gentle acrobatics will help you build strong, mobile shoulders , develop proprioception , and even overcome some apprehensions!

One of the pillars of the Ido Portal method is the use of movement as a means of bodily expression.

The floreio lends itself very well to this by following the three-step process highlighted by the Ido Portal programs:

1. Isolation to focus on the technique of each movement
2. Integration with movement combinations to focus on transitions
3. Improvisation that allows creativity by using the movements practiced during the previous phases

Floreio is therefore a very complete practice which will have beneficial effects on your body, the relationship you have with it and your creativity.

Thanks to the three levels (standing, crouching, on the ground) of the floreio, you will be comfortable and able to move in many scenarios.

This is important for athletes but also for parents who want to accompany their children in their adventures.

As we get older , it even becomes vital to avoid falls and know how to get up easily.

To get your floreio practice off to a good start, I encourage you to be patient when you practice. You often have to repeat the movements many times before you can perform them smoothly and aesthetically.

This is part of the process and it's completely normal, don't get discouraged!

How to start practicing Floreio? What exercises should I use?

The beauty of floreio lies in its vast universe. However, it's not easy to know where to start.

Personally, I started by practicing locomotion (middle floor).

This is a good foundation for developing your mobility and strength. However, if your knees are a bit weak, I recommend spending a few weeks strengthening them using the right exercises .

You will then be able to practice more calmly.

In the meantime, you can try Floorwork , which is gentler.

It's also a great way to develop your connection with your body and understand the importance of support and weight transfer.

By incorporating rolls, you can also link this universe to that of soft acrobatics, which is also found in floreio.

I recommend choosing simple movements at first . Limit yourself to three to start with; that's plenty.

This way you can understand the technique more easily.

This will prevent you from getting stuck in the isolation phase and you will be able to move on to integration by imagining combinations of two movements.

Once you're comfortable with the combinations, it's time to practice improvising with these three moves.

To help you, here is a standard program that you can adapt according to the movements you have chosen:

1. Insulation Movement AMovement BMovement C
2. Integration A + BB + CC + A
3. Improvisation Free sequence (example: A + A + C + B + A + B + A + C + C + A…)

You can adjust the duration of the phases according to your needs. When you feel comfortable , move on to the next step.

You can see this example of Floreio's sequence in a video from the master himself ^^

Immerse yourself in practice and in the present moment to achieve beautiful movements.

And above all, have fun and enjoy yourself!

You can start with our Floreio TRAININGS or try Floreio sessions directly , which you can follow in real time in our virtual training room.

Remember that the primary goal of all these sub-areas of movement is to give you an excuse to explore a little more of what your body is actually capable of.

This is the central point of my approach to physical development, allowing you to achieve greater physical autonomy and greater freedom in your body.

There is no rush, take the time to unlock your body, remove pain and stiffness, develop your athletic abilities (strength, endurance, core strength, etc.),

And you'll be surprised how quickly you'll enjoy learning Floreio's movements once your body is truly ready for physical practice.

So, patience and quality!

Train smart, listening to your body, and you'll see it repay you a hundredfold.

Thank you for your attention my move.

Nomad Slim
Founder of MOUVERS