May 2, 2009

Roots of Capoeira

Capoeira is a Brazilian martial art created by enslaved Africans during the 16th Century. Participants form a roda (circle) and take turns playing instruments, singing, and sparring in pairs in the centre of the circle.

The art of capoeira is in the fluid acrobatic play, feints, subterfuge, and extensive use of groundwork, as well as sweeps, kicks, and headbutts. Technique and strategy are the key elements to playing a good game. Capoeira has two main styles, known as "regional" and "Angola."

The homogenization of African people under the oppression of slavery was the catalyst for capoeira. It was developed as a way to resist oppression, secretly practice the art, transmit culture, and lift spirits. Some historians believe that the indigenous peoples of Brazil also played an important role in the development of capoeira.