Sports Martial Arts

Capoeira is an unique Brazilian martial art that traditionally unites elements of martial arts, dance, music and acrobatics. 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".

Initially this form of art was practiced by slaves in captivity as a means of protection and continued to thrive afterward as a method of street survival for ex-slaves, later evolving into a ritual art form of self-expression and freedom of the mind in Bahia, Brazil. 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. 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.

A little bit of history.
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 plays a very vital role in Capoeira martial 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 louvação: 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 has different styles:
Two main classifications 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 Contemporânea (contemporary) was developmed by other people from Bimba's regional. It is characterized by high jumps, acrobatics, and spinning kicks.

In popular culture capoeira is expressed through films, music, video and PC 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 pop, 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. It is tempting to refer to capoeira as simply a martial art. Indeed, the movements and manner of teaching are very much reminiscent of martial arts, and the techniques were originally developed for the purposes of self defense. The music and the rhythms create a unique visual impact, however, leading many to call it a dance. Then there's the performance side, which has caused many to think of it as simply an art form.

So what is capoeira? For some it is a way of life, performing and expressing themselves in such creative style. For the idealist, it is a symbol of the spirit of freedom, and a unique piece of Brazilian culture, for others it is a martial art, performed with a dance-like flavor.

First of all, let's talk about the general principles and try to understand what this kind of sport stand for. Martial arts are systems of codified practices and traditions of training for combat. Whereas they may be studied for different reasons, martial arts share a single objective: to defeat one or more people physically and to defend oneself or others from physical threat. Furthermore, some martial arts are linked to spiritual or religious beliefs/philosophies such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Daoism or Shinto, Confucianism while others have their own spiritual or non-spiritual code of honour. Various arts are also practised competitively generally as combat sports, but may also be in the form of dance.

In common culture, the term "Martial Arts" often particularly refers to the combat systems that originated in Asian cultures. However, the term actually refers to any sort of codified combat systems, regardless of origin. Europe is home to many extensive systems of martial arts, both living traditions (e.g. Jogo do Pau and other stick and sword fencing and Savate, a French kicking style developed by sailors and street fighters) and older systems collectively referred to as Historical European martial arts that existed until modern times and are now being reconstructed by several organizations. In the Americas, Native Americans have a tradition of open-handed martial arts, which includes wrestling, and Hawaiians have historically practiced arts featuring small and large joint manipulation. A mix of origins occur in the athletic movements of Capoeira, a practice that was created in Brazil by slaves and was based on skills brought with them from Africa.

Whereas each style has unique facets that make it distinct from other martial arts, a common characteristic is the systemization of fighting techniques. Methods of training vary and may include sparring or forms (kata), which are sets or routines of techniques that are performed alone, or sometimes with a partner, and which are notably widespread in the Asian and Asian-derived martial arts.

Interestingly, the word "martial" derives from the name of Mars, the Roman god of war. The term "Martial Arts" literally means arts of war. Moreover, this term comes from 15th century Europeans who were referring to their own fighting arts that are today known as Historical European martial arts. One who is practicing martial arts is denoted to as a martial artist.