About Capoeira
What is capoeira?
Capoeira is movement, music and culture. It is a fight, dance and acrobatics - all rolled into one. Capoeira is played within a circle of people against a background of music and songs. It is a complete form of exercise and a combat sport that requires physical, mental and emotional strength and agility!
As a student you will be encouraged to learn all aspects of Capoeira including acrobatics, self-defence techniques, songs and music that are unique to this martial art. A good Capoeirstas (Capoeira practitioner) is able to combine all these elements successfully.
The important thing is not how well you sing, do acrobatics or kick but rather how much energy you commit to trying.
A Short history of capoeira
In 1500 AD the Portuguese colonised Brazil. They found it difficult to capture the indigenous Indians to work for them as slaves so decided to bring African slaves to work predominantly in the sugar cane plantations. They had many slaves from different countries of Africa living in the "Senzalas" or slave quarters.
In their quest for liberation from the Portuguese, the Africans started to develop their knowledge of self-defence. They faced many obstacles - the Portuguese outlawed any practice of fighting and often kept slaves chained.
Despite this, or perhaps because of this - the slaves ingeniously developed a style of fighting that could be
disguised as a dance and celebration, complete with music and songs! They called it - CAPOEIRA.
With a single fluid move, Capoeira could change from a lethal martial art to a graceful acrobatic leap or dance
move, while the music contains messages of freedom and hope to all those still working under the Tyranny of slavery.
CAPOEIRA ANGOLA:
Mestre Pastinha – Vincent Ferreira Pastinha (1889-1981)
Mestre Pastinha is revered as the custodian and father of Capoeira Angola. This is a traditional style of Capoeira
that has many rituals. He was taught Capoeira by a man named Benedito, who saw him get bullied by a group of
boys in the neighbourhood. After a few lessons he was able to stand up for himself during the next encounter with the bullies.
He was renowned as the saviour of traditional Capoeira and was a skillful practitioner. His school was called
"Centro Esportivo de Capoeira Angola (1941)". Both Mestres Pastinha and Bimba are recognised as the founders for the modern Capoeira.
The forefathers of Capoeira
CAPOEIRA REGIONAL:
Mestre Bimba – Manuel Do Reis Machado (1899-1974)
Mestre Bimba found that Capoeira had a stigma due to its history with slavery and its prohibition. He found that it started to lose its efficiency as a combat system as more Capoeira practitioners deviated from the roots to incorporate more of the acrobatics and playful antics to create shows for paying tourist.
He developed a system with Capoeira and added some influences from other martial arts such as Batuque (Africa) and oriental martial arts, incorporating some strikes and defence, grading system and structure. His research and training culminated in the creation of "luta regional Baiana / Capoeira regional". He reinvented Capoeira and made it popular again for its substance.
He was responsible for making Capoeira acceptable in society and helped remove the stigma to the point that the President Getulio Vargas recognised it as a national sport of Brazil in 1953.
