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 artform that incorporates attack and defence movements, physical and mental agility, music and song.
It can be said that Capoeira defies description, that one must witness its magic firsthand to comprehend its energy, beauty, and skill. To understand the movement, music, and magnetism of Capoeira, we must explore the art's fascinating tradition and mysterious history. Capoeira is a story of triumph and freedom.
Rooted in the rich African cultures brought to Brazil by slaves, Capoeira's history, mostly oral, is a subject of much debate. It is the teachings of old masters and a few surviving documents that tell the story of this singular art. Capoeira's origin dates back 500 years to the beginnings of Brazil's slave trade period. Throughout the 488 year slave trade the Congo, Bantu, and Angolan tribes met and intermingled in the senzalas (slave quarters) and in the quilombos (escape slave nations). From this intermingling of cultures came a melding of traditions and rituals, and Capoeira was born
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 ultimately 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.
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.
