An interesting quote from a recent interview with Mestre Moraes, founder of Grupo Capoeira Angola Pelourinho, (GCAP) :

How can Capoeira Angola help in the process of consciousness-raising (individual or collective)?

I am unable to conceive of Capoeira, being an instrument to orient its practitioners, by socio-political facts, being used to raise individual awareness. In the moment that it began to show it rebellious side in Brazil, repression against the groups that practiced it began, and not against the individual. As such, I believe that without collective consciousness, mestres will be transformed into personal trainers.

-- Mestre Moraes, interview in Praticando Capoeira, FICA-DC Archives: New CD & Interview with Mestre Moraes

Most folks who have practiced Capoeira for some time will agree it has changed them in profound (though maybe subtle) ways; "raised their awareness/consciousness."

Mestre Moraes seems to suggest that an individual consciousness isn't being raised at all, but rather, her or his group consciousness. I can't decide if he's just arguing semantics -- to me, individual consciousness raises into group consciousness -- or really blowing open a widely-held idea. Either way, he succeeds at provoking thought and challenging popular belief, as usual.