Capoeira

Capoeira is a Brazilian cultural expression that comprises the elements: martial art, sport, popular culture, dance and music.

It builds sociability and familiarity between teachers and disciples, being disseminated in an oral and gestural way in the streets and academies.

Capoeira was created in the 17th century by the enslaved Bantu people and spread throughout Brazil. Today it is considered one of the greatest symbols of Brazilian culture.

Capoeira Features

• music accompaniment: berimbau, singing and clapping;
• wheel formation: capoeira wheel;
• graduation of capoeirista made by strings of different colors tied at the waist.

A characteristic that distinguishes capoeira from other fights is the fact that it is accompanied by music.

It is the music that decides the rhythm and style of the game, which is practiced throughout the capoeira circle, a circle of people where capoeira is played.

Thus, capoeiristas line up in the capoeira circle, clapping their hands to the rhythm of the berimbau while they sing for the two practitioners to play.

The berimbau is a stringed musical instrument made of wood, bamboo, wire and a gourd.

The game can end at the command of the capoeirista in berimbau (usually a more experienced capoeirista), or with the start of a new fight between a new pair.

Music, in turn, is composed of instruments and songs, where the rhythm varies according to the ‘capoeira touch’, which varies from slow (Angola) to very fast.

In groups of regional capoeira or capoeira angola, the graduation is simulated by the colors of ropes tied around the player’s waist.

Capoeira moves

Capoeira is characterized by strokes and agile and intricate movements. It mainly uses movements made close to the floor or upside down.

The most common scams are:

• kicks;
• creepers;
• head butts;
• knees;
• elbows;
• aerobatics on the ground or in the air.

Therefore, capoeira is a defense and attack fight in which the opponents use, above all, the feet and the head.

Types of Capoeira

The two main types of capoeira are Angola and Regional .

Capoeira Angola

Angola is the original style practiced by slaves. This way of playing capoeira is characterized by being slower, composed of stealthy movements and executed in a low way.

The basic component of this style is malice. This “trickery” consists of simulating movements that serve to deceive the opponent in combat.

Capoeira Regional

Capoeira Regional is the contemporary style of capoeira. She has attributes of other martial arts in her practice.

This style was created by Mestre Bimba and spread quickly throughout the world. This contributed to improving the capoeirista’s image while favoring the increase of his followers.

Differences between Capoeira Angola and Capoeira Regional

Watch a video in which capoeirista Dija Damasceno explains the difference between the two existing capoeira styles.

Origin and History of Capoeira

The word capoeira means “what was mata”, by connecting the terms ka’a (“mata”) and pûer (“que é “). It alludes to the shallow forest areas of the interior of Brazil, where indigenous agriculture was carried out.

It originates with the fugitives of slavery, who frequently used the undergrowth to escape the pursuit of captains of the woods. These were the first capoeiristas.

Later on, even in the colonial period, blacks will disguise capoeira by introducing mimes, dances and music. All of this served to resist the repression of the Imperial Police and the Republican Militia.

Capoeira was a prohibited practice in Brazil until 1930, when it started to be recognized as a symbol of Brazilian identity. In 2014, Roda de Capoeira was declared an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by Unesco.

Curiosities about Capoeira: Did you know?

• An experienced capoeirista who ignores musicality is considered incomplete. He must be able to play the typical instruments, sing and applaud during the capoeira game.
• Other cultural demonstrations, such as maculelê and samba de roda, are very associated with capoeira, although they have different ancestry and meanings.

Capoeira Music

What ship is this
that arrived now
is the slave ship
with the slaves from Angola
people from Cambinda
Benguela and Luanda
came chained
to work in these bands

What ship is this
that arrived now
is the slave ship
with the slaves of Angola
arriving here did not lose their faith
created samba,
capoeira and candomblé

What ship is this
that arrived now
is the slave ship
with the slaves of Angola
chained in the hold of the ship
many died of banzo and cold