In this article I will present more and more popular Brazilian martial art, called Capoeira, an unique Brazilian art form that combines elements of martial arts, dance, music and acrobatics. I will demonstare its history, Capoeira styles, music and its role in today's modern culture.
What is Capoeira?
Capoeira is an unique Brazilian art form that combines elements of martial arts, dance, music and acrobatics. When learning Capoeira one develops physically, emotionally, and mentally. Capoeira was developed in Brazil, but its history extends to Africa and tribes from Angola, thus Capoeira has two main styles, known as 'regional' and 'Angola'.
Capoeira was developed by slaves, living on Brazilian plantations. They weren't allowed to openly practice traditional forms of self-defense, so they developed dance-like movements, which were combined by singing and the rhythms of simple instruments.
Capoeira was developed: a game of fluid movements, spinning kicks, headbutts and acrobatics, followed by clapping and singing of spectators. Participants form a roda (circle) took turns playing instruments, singing, and sparring in pairs in the centre of the circle, where technique and strategy are the key elements to playing a good game. The winner won a partner, usually female.
Capoeira does not focus on injuring the opponent.
Capoeiristas show the movement without completing: emphasizing their skill in the roda.
History of Capoeira
Capoeira is a 400-year-old martial art that combines music, dance, singing, and acrobatics to create a holistic approach to teaching self-defense.
Capoeira orginates in Africa and was brought to Brazil by captured slaves from Angola. Slaves used this practice in order to defend themselves against their violent overlords. But only that: capoeira was developed to secretly practice art, transmit culture, and lift spirits.
When in 1888 slavery was abolished, the free people moved to the cities of Brazil and since they had no employment, many of them joined or even formed criminal gangs. This is where they practiced capoeira and were actually linked to criminal and anti-government activities. Consequently, capoeira was outlawed in Brazil in 1890 and the punishment for practicing was cutting the tendons on the backs of the practitioner's feet. However, capoeira continues to be practiced, but was moved underground: in places with plenty of escape routes. Even a special rhythm was added to the music to warn players that the police were coming. Practitioners even adopted nicknames or as they said apelidos, which made it more difficult for the police to discover the true identity of capoeiristas. Even today, when person is baptized into capoeira at the batizado ceremony, he or she may be given an apelido. Prosecution of capoeira ended 28 years later, in 1918.
In 1937 first formal instruction where capoeira was taught was open. It was a contribution of Mestre Bimba, a person who contributed to the preservation of the art and most of all its popularity. He and his students demonstrated capoeira at an event at which Getulio Vargas, the president of Brazil at that time, was present, and he was so impressed that with the discipline and devotion of Mestre Bimba's students he declared capoeira the national sport of Brazil.
Since prior to the legalization of the art, capoeira was associated with the criminal activity and the poor underclass Mestre Bimba removed many of the rituals and traditions. 'His' capoeira is called Capoeira Regional, or simply Regional.
Although regional capoeira gained popularity, in 1942 an effort was made to prevent the art from losing its traditions and rituals. Mestre Pastinha opened the first formal academy for instruction in the traditional form of the art, known as Capoeira Angola.
Music and Capoeira
Music is an important part of this art: it sets the style and the tempo of the game. Typical for angola capoeira is slow tempo, while typical Regional is faster. The music is composed of instruments and song. It is sang about many things: about history and stories of slaves or famous capoeiristas, about what is going on within the roda (cycle), about life, about lost love. Some songs attempt to inspire players to play better.
There are three basic kinds of songs in capoeira:
The instruments are played in the row called the bateria:
Bateria is consisted of three berimbaus, two pandeiros (tambourines), Reco-Reco (rasp), and an Agogo (double gong bell), Atabaque (conga-like drum). The later is considered an optional instrument.
Berimbaus look like an archer's bow using a steel string and a gourd. Berimbaus is played by striking the string with a stick, while the pitch is regulated by a stone. Legend even says that in the old times knives were attached to the top of the berimbaus in case a large fight broke out.
Capoeira styles
Two main classifications of capoeira are traditional and modern.
Capoeira and modern culture
In popular culture capoeira is expressed through films, music and video/ computes games. One of the recent films from 2004 Meet the Fockers features capoeira in several short, but memorable scenes, also Carowoman displayed some capoeira moves during some fights scenes.
In music, some of the po, rock and metal artists, such as Soulfly, Sepultura etc. have published albums that contain few tunes featuring the berimbau.
In dancing capoeira is expressed in breakdancing, although there we can mostly see some elements of kung fu styles. However, capoeira is well expressed in slamming, style of dancing expressed among Southern Californian hardcore metal scene.
What is Capoeira?
Capoeira is an unique Brazilian art form that combines elements of martial arts, dance, music and acrobatics. When learning Capoeira one develops physically, emotionally, and mentally. Capoeira was developed in Brazil, but its history extends to Africa and tribes from Angola, thus Capoeira has two main styles, known as 'regional' and 'Angola'. Capoeira was developed by slaves, living on Brazilian plantations. They weren't allowed to openly practice traditional forms of self-defense, so they developed dance-like movements, which were combined by singing and the rhythms of simple instruments.
Capoeira was developed: a game of fluid movements, spinning kicks, headbutts and acrobatics, followed by clapping and singing of spectators. Participants form a roda (circle) took turns playing instruments, singing, and sparring in pairs in the centre of the circle, where technique and strategy are the key elements to playing a good game. The winner won a partner, usually female.
Capoeira does not focus on injuring the opponent.
Capoeiristas show the movement without completing: emphasizing their skill in the roda.
History of Capoeira
Capoeira is a 400-year-old martial art that combines music, dance, singing, and acrobatics to create a holistic approach to teaching self-defense.
Capoeira orginates in Africa and was brought to Brazil by captured slaves from Angola. Slaves used this practice in order to defend themselves against their violent overlords. But only that: capoeira was developed to secretly practice art, transmit culture, and lift spirits.
When in 1888 slavery was abolished, the free people moved to the cities of Brazil and since they had no employment, many of them joined or even formed criminal gangs. This is where they practiced capoeira and were actually linked to criminal and anti-government activities. Consequently, capoeira was outlawed in Brazil in 1890 and the punishment for practicing was cutting the tendons on the backs of the practitioner's feet. However, capoeira continues to be practiced, but was moved underground: in places with plenty of escape routes. Even a special rhythm was added to the music to warn players that the police were coming. Practitioners even adopted nicknames or as they said apelidos, which made it more difficult for the police to discover the true identity of capoeiristas. Even today, when person is baptized into capoeira at the batizado ceremony, he or she may be given an apelido. Prosecution of capoeira ended 28 years later, in 1918.
In 1937 first formal instruction where capoeira was taught was open. It was a contribution of Mestre Bimba, a person who contributed to the preservation of the art and most of all its popularity. He and his students demonstrated capoeira at an event at which Getulio Vargas, the president of Brazil at that time, was present, and he was so impressed that with the discipline and devotion of Mestre Bimba's students he declared capoeira the national sport of Brazil.
Since prior to the legalization of the art, capoeira was associated with the criminal activity and the poor underclass Mestre Bimba removed many of the rituals and traditions. 'His' capoeira is called Capoeira Regional, or simply Regional.
Although regional capoeira gained popularity, in 1942 an effort was made to prevent the art from losing its traditions and rituals. Mestre Pastinha opened the first formal academy for instruction in the traditional form of the art, known as Capoeira Angola.
Music and Capoeira
Music is an important part of this art: it sets the style and the tempo of the game. Typical for angola capoeira is slow tempo, while typical Regional is faster. The music is composed of instruments and song. It is sang about many things: about history and stories of slaves or famous capoeiristas, about what is going on within the roda (cycle), about life, about lost love. Some songs attempt to inspire players to play better.
There are three basic kinds of songs in capoeira:
- ladainha (litany): narrative solo usually sung at the beginning of a roda, often by the Mestre (Master)
- chula or louva%26ccedil;%26atilde;o: ladainha is followed by a chula, its a call and response pattern that usually thanks God and the teacher
- corrido: song that is sung while a game is being played, corrido also follows the call and response pattern.
The instruments are played in the row called the bateria:
Bateria is consisted of three berimbaus, two pandeiros (tambourines), Reco-Reco (rasp), and an Agogo (double gong bell), Atabaque (conga-like drum). The later is considered an optional instrument.
Berimbaus look like an archer's bow using a steel string and a gourd. Berimbaus is played by striking the string with a stick, while the pitch is regulated by a stone. Legend even says that in the old times knives were attached to the top of the berimbaus in case a large fight broke out.
Capoeira styles
Two main classifications of capoeira are traditional and modern.
- Angola is considered a traditional since it is the oldest form with roots in African tradition. It is characterized by slower and sneakier movements closer to the ground, where players also play closer to each other.
- Capoeira Regional is considered a modern style and was developed as said before by Mestre Bimba: it is faster and emphasizes more athletic play.
- Capoeira Contempor%26acirc;nea (contemporary) was developmed by other people from Bimba's regional. It is characterized by high jumps, acrobatics, and spinning kicks.
Capoeira and modern culture
In popular culture capoeira is expressed through films, music and video/ computes games. One of the recent films from 2004 Meet the Fockers features capoeira in several short, but memorable scenes, also Carowoman displayed some capoeira moves during some fights scenes.
In music, some of the po, rock and metal artists, such as Soulfly, Sepultura etc. have published albums that contain few tunes featuring the berimbau.
In dancing capoeira is expressed in breakdancing, although there we can mostly see some elements of kung fu styles. However, capoeira is well expressed in slamming, style of dancing expressed among Southern Californian hardcore metal scene.
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