An Introduction To Capoeira
The martial art of Capoeira was originally developed over 400 years ago in Brazil with the African slaves. This style is unlike from any of the other martial arts there around the globe, and possesses a blend of power, beauty, mental balance, physical power, music, and a massive sense of art and finesse.
Upon it’s creation, Capoeira proved around the globe that it may be practiced by anyone, no matter what size, weight, or age. The style is more than a martial art, but also a social event that is full of tradition and history. Capoeira is a truly powerful martial art, resembling a collaboration of music, dance, and exotic movements – and also a game.
People that witness Capoeira games will note the music. Both music as well as the lyrics play a big part in the way that the game (known as jogo) is conducted. For the players, there are numerous different rhythms that call for different speeds. When watching the game played, spectators are typically in awe from the movements. The jogo is made of a circle, with the players in the middle and the musicians at the foot from the circle.
Players that enter the sport will enter into the circle, with a spring, cartwheel, or different kind of visually stunning movement. Upon entering the circle, players will complete back and forth with numerous combinations of poetic movements and breathtaking aerial displays. It will take years of practice and hard work to become great at the jogo, as it requires precision, fast movement, and flawless application of the Capoeira techniques.
From a defensive standpoint, Capoeira is flashy, very creative, as well as very helpful, as the techniques seem to recover from nowhere and may be very hard to defend against. The opponent or attacker has no clue what to expect from the student. The Capoeira student defends himself through the usage of dancing movements and acrobatic techniques, executing perfect movements that up until Capoeira were only dreamt of.
Capoeira and the jogo game are really big in Brazil, with a huge selection of students learning the martial art. It isn’t probably the most popular in the United States, eventhough it is offered. In South America it is more of a lifestyle, with jogo games being played on a daily basis. A lot of martial arts students don’t need to learn Capoeira for the simple fact that the movements can be a bit of a risk. Once you see how the style is performed, it can make you cringe at any second.
Over the last couple of decades, the art has grown a lot. In 1974, the art of Capoeira became the national sport of Brazil, proving that just about everyone in Brazil had accepted it. As time continues to pass, you can rely on a growing number of competitions and dojo’s to come to light – introducing this truly excellent martial art to newer generations.