Capoeira

Capoeira is a martial art developed in Brazil.

Capoeira was developed as a way for slaves to defeat their oppressors. The dance-like movements and the musical beat attached to capoeira effectively disguised this style of fighting as a form of dance.

The style has a clear emphasis on kicking attacks and handstands, since the slave would often be manacled and the style had to compensate for that.

The origins of capoeira are debated. Some claim that it descends from African (especially Angolan) martial arts, others that it began primarily as a dance and was later adapted for fighting.

Some people claim that Capoeira was the fighting style developed by street gangs of Brazil in the 1800's. Some stories exist of Capoeistas (practicioners of Capoeira) tieing knives to their berimbau for extra reach.

Music

Music is integral to playing Capoeira. The most experienced Capoeista (sp?) will usually play the gunga (deepest toned) berimbau (a stringed instrument resembling an archery bow with an attached gourd resonator). Others will play berimbau, agogo (two cow bells of different tone) or drums. Everyone sings, even the players. The leader will call a few lines of a song and everyone will reply with the chorus. The music can tell you how to move and when. The leader of the song will sometimes change the song to tell one of the players what to do. Sometimes the songs don't mean anything, they are just a joyful noise.

Roda

The Roda (pronounced Ho'da) is the circle of people within which capoeira is practiced. The roda is the microcosm which reflects the macrocosm of life. You practice in the roda so that you can handle the problems of life.

Everyone gathers in a circle and sits. The leader of the roda calls out "EEEE-AAAAAAAAAA" as loudly as possible to tell everyone around that the roda is starting and if they want in they should get there soon. The leader then starts playing his berimbau and will usually tell a story, in song, of the history of capoeira. After the story is complete, two people get up from the circle and walk around the outside. The music continues with its twange-buzz-twange-pause. The two players wait at both sides of the musicians until it is clear that they are welcome to play. They enter and squat in front of the leader until he lowers his berimbau between them and invites them to begin. The two players cartwheel out of their squat and into the circle. They begin to play capoeira.

The Play

Much like aikido, capoeira doesn't focus on destroying the person you play against. You are both there to become better. If you're opponent can not dodge your slowest attack, there is no reason to use your fastest. Each attack that comes in gives you a chance to practice an avoidance technique. When mastery has been shown the two players take a short break, walking in large circle, loosely holding right hands and walking in the same direction. Two or three gentle laps is all the rest you get, then it's time to play again.

If the leader of the roda finds it is time to stop the players, he will stop strike his berimbau repeatedly. The players should quickly squat before the leader while he explains what he needs to explain.