Capoeira is an Afro-Brazilian martial art form that combines dance, music and combat. Capoeira focuses on skill and does not require injury to the opponent. Instead, movements are made to show the form and agility of the capoeiristas. During a game, two capoeiristas make attack and defense moves in a dance-like flow of movement set to music and singing.
History
No one is certain when capoeira first began, but it was after the 1600s when African slaves were shipped to Brazil. It is possible that capoeira had been practiced in Africa before that, but there is no written history and little oral history on the subject. Some scholars believe that the originators and early participants used the dance-like art to hide their combat-training methods.
Jogo
The game, called the jogo or jogo de capoeira -- "game of capoeira" -- takes place when two players perform the movements within a circle of witnesses who sing and play instruments. The word roda refers to the ring of people who form the boundaries of the combat space. The tone and speed of the match is set by the music. There are a variety of movements in capoeira such as ginga, which is a back-and-forth rocking movement; attacks using head strikes, takedowns, sweeps and kicks; and defensive ducks and rolls.
Music
Music and song are central parts of capoeira. They not only set the style and tempo of the match, but also allow everyone present to be a participant. The players who form the ring, or roda, around the fighters may play berimbaus, tambourines, rasps, gong bells or drums. The berimbaus are bow-like percussion instruments that set the rhythm for the rest of the instruments.
Pop Culture
Television and movies have brought capoeira to the masses. Actors such as Wesley Snipes, Charlize Theron in "Æon Flux" and Halle Berry in "Catwoman" perform capoeira in their films. The movie "Only the Strong" in 1993 featured capoeira all the way through. In "Transformers," Jazz does some capoeira moves when he is first introduced to Sam. The character Abe Sapien does capoeira moves to evade a cave troll in "Hellboy II: The Golden Army."
References
- "Capoeira: The History of an Afro-Brazilian Martial Art"; Matthias Röhrig Assunção; 2005
- Princeton: Capoeira
Member Comments