Capoeira is an Afro-Brazilian art form inspired by games, dance, and martial arts. The sport was brought from Angola to Brazil at the end of the 16th century and became popular in the regions of Bahia, Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais, and São Paulo. Participants form a roda, or circle, and music is played on instruments such as the berimbau. The game is characterized by fluid, acrobatic movements and extensive use of kicks, headbutts, and sweeps. Less commonly used techniques include elbow strikes, punches, and throws. The origin and purpose of the sport have been the subject of considerable debate for years. Some people consider Capoeira a unique Brazilian dance with improvised fighting techniques, while others see it as a direct derivative of ancient African techniques.
History of Capoeira
The origin of Capoeira is not entirely clear. It is a combination of African and Brazilian martial arts, but opinions remain divided. The leading theory today is that it is an African fighting style developed in Brazil. Even the etymology of Capoeira is disputed. The Portuguese word capão means castrated rooster, which could suggest that the style was derived from cockfighting. It has also been suggested that Capoeira may derive from the word kipura, which describes the movements of a rooster in a fight. The Afro-Brazilian Carlos Eugenio has suggested that the sport was named after the round basket, called a capa, carried by the slaves.
Others believe that Capoeira was created and developed by slaves brought to Brazil from Congo and Angola. They pretended to be dancing while actually practicing their fighting techniques. Finally, one group claims that Capoeira was used by slaves in Palmares, a colony of escaped slaves, to defend themselves against attacks by slave hunters.
Status in Brazil
Capoeira was banned in Brazil for some time. In 1890, Brazilian president Deodoro da Fonseca signed a law prohibiting the practice of this martial art throughout Brazil. Despite this, members of the poorer population continued to practice the martial art on the streets, especially during holidays. Despite the ban, Mestre Bimba created a new style called Capoeira Regional. He successfully convinced the authorities of Capoeira’s cultural value, and the official ban on Capoeira was lifted in 1930. Mestre Bimba opened the first Capoeira school in 1932 and his second in 1942. These schools are still open today.
Music
Music is an integral part of Capoeira. The music determines the pace and style of the game. The tempo ranges from very slow (Angola) to very fast (São Bento Regional). In addition to the music, people also sing about all sorts of things. Some songs are about history, while others are about famous Capoeira practitioners. Other songs inspire the players to perform better, while some describe what is happening inside the roda at that moment.
Roda
The roda, or roda de Capoeira, is the circle of people within which Capoeira is played. The circular shape is continuously maintained so that the players keep their attention focused on one another. The people in the circle sing and clap along with the music played by the musicians in the bateria. This is a line of musicians who provide the music. The “mouth” of the roda is located in front of the bateria. This is the point where players begin their game and where new players enter.
The minimum size of a roda is a circle 3 meters in diameter, but rodas of 10 meters also occur. The music determines the pace of the game. At a slow tempo, numerous complex ground movements and handstands are performed.
Game
Despite the complex movements, there is no contact. The sport is not intended to hurt the opponent. Everything revolves around skill. Capoeiristas often demonstrate a movement without completing it. In this way, they show their superiority within the roda. If an opponent can evade a slow attack, there is no reason to use a faster one. The ginga is the fundamental movement in Capoeira. The feet are positioned shoulder-width apart, then moved one at a time backward before being returned to the starting position.
In Capoeira, attacks primarily consist of kicks, sweeps, and headbutts. Some schools also train punches and strikes. One possible explanation for the extensive use of the feet is the West African belief that hands are used to create things and feet to destroy them. Another explanation is that slaves were mainly shackled at the wrists, forcing them to use their feet. In addition, striking with the hands was considered inelegant.
Defense primarily consists of evasive movements and rolls. A series of bends is called esquivas. There are different esquivas for each step of the ginga, depending on the kick and the intention. Another defensive movement is the rolê, a rolling movement that combines a dive with a low movement.
