Capoeira
Capoeira
Capoeira is a Brazilian martial art or game in which dancing, music, ?playfulness? and athleticism, are major components. Those who take part form a circle called roda and engage in sparring as pairs in the middle of it. They also play musical instruments and sing.
Origin of the word ?Capoeira? is disputed, with variety of theories for its meaning, ranging from various attributes of roosters to slavery related words.
Historically the roots of Capoeira can be traced to Africa. It is believed that it originated from tribal customs and religions of slaves who were shipped to Brazil starting in sixteenth century from Congo, Angola, Mozambique, and especially Nigeria. During the years of slavery it was used as an expression of resistance and was influenced by the native Brazilian population. Other Brazilian martial dances like Maculele and Batuque are closely related to Capoeira.
Even after the slavery was abolished, Capoeira was banned and violently suppressed till early part of twentieth century due to its subversive nature and due to its associations with criminality. Some traditions like giving nicknames or ?apelidos? to the players date from this period; it was done to conceal the true identity of practitioners.
Two teachers and demonstrators namely Mestre Bimba and Mestre Pastinha were instrumental in reviving the Capoeira as a national sport at about 1940. Two main styles of modern Capoeira called ?regional? and ?Angola? are considered to be their respective styles.
Capoeira also have a unique philosophy concentrating on qualities like respect, safety and security, resourcefulness and street-smarts, responsibility, and freedom.
Techniques The roda can range from 3 to 10 meters in diameter. Aaround it people sing and clap in rhythm to the music called samba de roda , which forms an integral part of Capoeira. In fact the rhythm of the music determines the speed and character of the game or ?jogo? of the pair in the middle of the circle. Slow music resulting in finessed complex games while faster rhythm results in greater momentum.
Capoeira players or Capoeiristas try to demonstrate their superiority over their opponent through skill in both attack and evasive techniques. Attacks are mostly shown and feigned rather than actually delivered. Injuries are avoided as far as possible.
Both the main modern styles of Capoeira have distinctive swinging movements called ?ginga?, balancing and coordinating the movement of feet, arms, torso, in order to both avoid and deliver attacks.
Attacks are made with kicks, head butts, punches, elbow strikes, knee strikes, and sweeps. Most schools of Capoeira avoid punches and hand strikes stressing the use of feet.
Complex, difficult to master, acrobatic techniques including cartwheels, handstands, hand-spins, head-spins, hand-springs, squatting movements, turnarounds, jumps, flips, rolls, and others, are used to get into advantages positions in relation to opponent for both attack and defense. Sometime some of these movements are deliberately and cunningly faked to mislead and trick the opponent into traps. More skillful the players, greater the improvisation and ?trickery? employed. Combined with music all this gives Capoeira a dance like beauty and fluidity
Regional Capoeira style ranks players by skill and ability using a colored belt or corda. Angola Capoeira does not have a ranking system.