Capoeira: African Martial Art from Brazil

Capoeira is a unique martial art, African in its origin and Brazilian in its evolution. An art form of liberation, a symbol of strength and a sign of the struggle for black BrazilÕs independence from slavery, capoeira originated anywhere from 400 to 500 years ago. Capoeira is a graceful martial art and a rhythmic, beautiful, dance form that employs every part of the body. Under the subterfuge of Òplay,Ó capoeiristas use swift , sneaky blows to achieve self-defense without weapons.

CapoeiraÕs traditions have been sustained for centuries through word of mouth, through music and songs, and through dedicated practice of the jogo, or game. Although its origins are most likely in Africa, capoeira has been practiced and perfected in Brazil. Although Capoeira developed out of a need for enslaved Africans and free blacks to defend themselves from plantation owners and even the Portuguese army, today capoeiristas may include players of all skin colors and even genders.

As a martial art that blends music, dance, graceful movement, and singing about the philosophy and the history of Afro-Brazilian survival despite slavery and racism, capoeira is played in a circle and the two players often look at the world upside down. A ring of people surround two players who walk on their hands and strike with their feet. A chorus in the circle sings and plays music, so that capoeira resembes a dance. This martial art disguises its polished moves as an attractive dance, which effectively permits black Brazilians to engage in martial arts and physical training under the noses of the slaveowners or the European-dominated elite without raising suspicion or repression. Through a structure of call and response, the music teaches the roots of this art form. The songs recount the bravery and tenacity of capoeira maestres (masters and teachers) and other fighters on behalf of black liberation. The mesmerizing music of the instruments governs the rhythm of the game. The music controls the rhythm of the match, forces opponents to try certain moves, and can escalate the intensity of the play inside the ring. The berimbau (a bow shaped instrument with a single metal string) is the principal instrument. It consists of the caxixi (half of a hollow dried gourd) that is attached to the bottom of the berimbau in order to generate the sound, a stone, and another piece of metal, which causes a resonating sound. The atabaque (a large drum), a-go-go(a percussive instrument of two metal bells struck by a stick), and the pandeiro (a tambourine) accompany the berimbau.

Capoeira first began attracted students outside of Brazil in the mid 1970s. Beginning with Joao GrandeÕs historic workshop on 14th street in New York City, capoeira began gathering students around the globe. Capoeira is currently practiced in about 50 countries by thousands of students. In Newark, Maestre Cigano teaches capoeira in order Òto teach urban youth and disadvantaged children to foster self-worth and create commitment to the community in which they develop,Ó and to Òencourage people to maintain a playful spirit, to foster preparedness and mental agility, and to use the body and its actions as an extension of such versatility and vitality.Ó