About Group Capoeira Brasil in New Zealand

Capoeira Brasil New Zealand was established in 2006 by Instructor Tulio Costa (Mercurio) under the supervision of Mestre Paulinho Sabia, Group Capoeira Brasil, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

 

What is Capoeira?

It is a game, a sport, an art and a life philosophy.

Originating in Brazil, but now practiced around the world, Capoeira is a martial art that incorporates attack and defence movements, physical and mental agility, music and song.

The game of Capoeira is played between two players at a time, those waiting to play form a circle – the roda, from which they provide the accompanying music and songs. The roda is where the game of Capoeira is played and the players test their skill against that of the other players.

Capoeira develops the mastery of your body and mind – there are no boundaries in Capoeira, you are limited only by the energy you commit to trying and your creativity.

Suitable for everyone no matter what their age or physical ability, Capoeira is a game, a sport, an art and a life philosophy.

 

History of Capoeira

Although the origins of Capoeira are still disputed today, the conclusion that many people have reached is that it was born in Brazil and based on African rituals and dances which disguised the self defence movements which gave birth to the art form of Capoeira.

Brazil was discovered by the Portuguese in 1500 and during the years that followed, slaves arrived from Africa to work on the sugar cane and coffee plantations. These slaves, once free men found themselves in an unknown land, unable to communicate amongst themselves and far from their families. Held captive and often beaten and whipped by the Portuguese plantation owners, many slaves died of sadness. The survivors, faced with a violence that revolted them and driven by a thirst for freedom and self preservation, came to use their bodies as defensive weapons.

Disguised in dance-like movements and accompanied by music and song, the slaves began to practice attack and defence movements, conditioning their bodies so that they could protect themselves from the violent plantation owners. The dance-like game of Capoeira, helped the slaves to develop mental agility and cunning – enabling them to anticipate and respond to an attack from an opponent, as well as physical agility and strength.

In an attempt to defend themselves and escape from their masters, the slaves utilised the defence and attack movements, those successful in escaping often hiding in the Capoeira – the name given to the stumps of plants left in the fields after the harvest.

Capoeira continued to be practiced and developed even after the slaves gained their freedom. In the 1800s the practice of Capoeira was associated with the troublemakers and rebels of society, often Capoeiristas were poor, street wise men and the street games of Capoeira could be dangerous and utlimately deadly.

In 1890, Capoeira was prohibited by law in Brazil. Capoeiristas were forced to train in secret, keeping a close eye out for the police. Capoeiristas began giving each other nicknames and only referring to each other by these nicknames rather than their legal names to make it difficult for the police to  accurately identify those that practiced Capoeira. Although for the most part, Capoeiristas were forced to play Capoeira in private and secret, the Capoeiristas usually made an appearance at local festivals, playing games and displaying their agility to the crowds

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 In the 1920’s, a Capoeirista in Bahia, Manoel Dos Reis Machado, known as Mestre Bimba, began to formally teach a combination of traditional Capoeira and Batuque (which came to be known as Capoeira Regional) to a small group of students.  Prior to this Capoeira was learned by watching and playing in the street rodas or secret games, rather than being formally taught the movements.

Mestre Bimba played a pivotal part in the legalising of Capoeira, after he was invited to demonstrate his new Capoeira Regional style for the President of Brazil. In 1932, Mestre Bimba founded the first Capoeira Academy in Brazil.