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 abundant use of kicks, headbutts, and sweeps. Less commonly used techniques include elbow strikes, punches, and throws. The origin and purpose of the sport have sparked much debate over the 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 are divided. The best 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 is derived from cockfighting. It is also said that Capoeira may come from the word kipura, which describes the movements of a rooster in a fight. The Afro-Brazilian Carlos Eugenio suggested that the sport got its name from the round basket, called capa, carried by the slaves.
Others believe that Capoeira was created and developed by slaves brought from Congo and Angola to Brazil. They pretended to be dancing while actually practicing their fighting techniques. Finally, there is a group that says Capoeira was used by slaves in Palmares, a colony of escaped slaves, to defend themselves against attacks from slave catchers.
Status in Brazil
Capoeira was banned for some time in Brazil. In 1890, Brazilian president Deodoro da Fonseca signed a law prohibiting the practice of this martial art throughout Brazil. Nevertheless, the sport was practiced openly on the streets by the poor, especially during holidays. Despite the ban, Mestre Bimba created a new style, Capoeira Regional. He successfully convinced the authorities of Capoeira’s cultural value, leading to the official ban being 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 tempo and style of the match. The tempo ranges from very slow (Angola) to very fast (São Bento Regional). Besides the music, there is always singing about various topics. Some songs tell stories about history, others about famous Capoeira practitioners. Some songs inspire players to perform better, while others narrate 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 round shape is continuously maintained so players keep their focus on each other. The people forming the circle sing and clap along with the music played by the musicians in the bateria. This is a row of musicians providing the music. The “mouth” of the roda is in front of the bateria. This is the point where players start their match and where new players enter.
The minimum size of a roda is a circle of 3 meters, but they can also be as large as 10 meters. The music sets the tempo of the game. At a slow tempo, numerous complex ground movements and handstands are performed.
Match
Despite the complex movements, there is no contact. The sport is not aimed at hurting the opponent. Everything revolves around skill. Capoeiristas often show a movement but do not complete it. This demonstrates 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 placed shoulder-width apart, then one foot is moved backward and brought back to the starting position.
In Capoeira, attacks mainly consist of kicks, sweeps, and headbutts. Some schools also train punches and strikes. One possible explanation for the frequent use of feet is the West African belief that hands are used to create things and feet to destroy. Another explanation is that slaves were often shackled at the wrists, so they had to use their feet. Additionally, striking with the hands is considered inelegant.
Defense mainly 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 intention. Another defense is the rolê, a rolling movement combining a dive and a low motion.
