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 Sao Paulo. Participants form a roda or a circle and music is made on instruments such as on the Berimbau. The game is characterized by fluid acrobatic movements and excessive use of kicks, headbutts and sweeps. Less commonly used techniques include elbow strikes, punches and throws. The origins and purpose of the sport have been the subject of considerable debate for years. Some people consider Capoeira to be a unique Brazilian dance with improvised fighting techniques while others see it as a direct derivative of ancient African techniques.
History of Capoeira
The origins of Capoeira are not entirely clear. It is a combination of African and Brazilian martial arts, but there are divided camps. The best theory today is that it is an African fighting style that was developed in Brazil. Even the etymology of Capoeira is disputed. The Portuguese word capão means castrated cock and that could mean that the style is derived from cockfighting. It is also said that Capoeira may be derived from the word kipura which describes the movements of a rooster in a fight. Afro-Brazilian Carlos Eugenio has suggested that the sport got its name from the round basket, called capa, that was carried by the slaves.
Others believe that Capoeira was created and developed by the slaves brought to Brazil from Congo and Angola. They pretended to be dancing when they were actually practicing their fighting techniques. Finally, there is a group that says that Capoeira was used by slaves in Palmares, a colony of escaped slaves, to defend themselves against attacks by slavers.
Status in Brazil
Capoeira was banned in Brazil for some time. In 1890, Brazilian President Deodoro da Fonseca signed a law banning the practice of this martial art throughout Brazil. Nevertheless, the martial arts were practiced on the streets by the poor section of the population, especially during holidays. Despite the ban, Mestre Bimba created a new style, the Capoeira Regional. He was successful in convincing the authorities of the cultural value of Capoeira so that in 1930 the official ban on Capoeira was lifted. Mestre Bimba opened the first Caspoeira 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 match. The pace varies from very slow (Angola) to very fast (são bento regional). In addition to the music, there is always singing about anything and everything. For example, some songs are about history and others are about famous practitioners of Capoeira. Other songs inspire the players to perform better, while there are also songs that tell 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 kept intact at all times so that the players keep their attention focused on each other. The people who are part of the circle sing and clap along to the music played by the musicians in the bateria. This is a row of musicians who provide the music. The “mouth” of the roda is located in front of the bateria. This is the point where players start their matches and where new players enter.
The minimum size of a roda is a circle of 3 meters, but they are also available in sizes of 10 meters. The music sets the pace of the game. Numerous complex ground movements and handstands are performed at a slow pace.
Contest
Despite the complex movements, no contact is made. The sport is not aimed at hurting the opponent. It's all about skill. Capoeiristas often show a move but do not complete it. This shows their superiority within the roda. If an opponent can avoid a slow attack, then there is no reason to use a faster one. The ginga is the fundamental movement in Capoeira. The feet are placed under the shoulders and the feet are brought back one by one and then returned to the starting position.
Capoeira mainly attacks with kicks, sweeps and headbutts. There are schools where punches and blows are trained. A possible explanation for the extensive use of feet is the West African belief that hands are used to make things and feet to destroy. Another explanation is that the slaves mainly had shackles on their wrists so that they had to work with their feet. In addition, hitting with the hands is not considered elegant.
Defense consists mainly of evasive movements and rolls. A series of bows are called esquivas. There are different esquivas for each step of the ginga, depending on the step and the intention. Another defense is the rolê, a rolling movement that combines a dive and a low movement.
