Capoeira is an Afro-Brazilian martial art, game, and culture created by
enslaved Africans in Brazil during the 17th Century. Participants form a roda
(circle) and take turns playing instruments, singing, and sparring in pairs in
the center of the circle. The game is marked by fluid acrobatic play, feints,
subterfuge, and extensive use of groundwork, as well as sweeps, kicks, and
headbutts. Throughout the game, a player must avoid a sweep, trip, kick, or
head butt that may knock him or her on the floor. Less frequently-used
techniques include elbow-strikes, slaps, punches, and body-throws. Capoeira has
three variations known as "Capoeira Angola", "Capoeira Regional", and the
ever-evolving "Capoeira Contemporânea".
From the 16th to the 19th centuries, Portugal shipped slaves into South America
from western Africa. The South American country of Brazil was the most common
destination for African captives[citation needed] with 42% of all enslaved
peoples shipped across the Atlantic. Most commonly sold into Brazil were Akan,
Igbo, Yoruba, Dahomean, Muslim Guineans, Hausa, and Bantu (among them Kongos,
Kimbundas and Kasanjes) from Angola, Congo and Mozambique.
These Africans brought their cultural traditions and religions with them to the
New World. One theory suggests that capoeira originated from a fern courtship
dance[citation needed] in Angola used by suitors of young women, however, this
is only one of many disputed theories. There is contention as to whether the
game arrived with enslaved Africans or whether Africans refined a preexisting
Brazilian game. One catalyst for capoeira was the homogenization of African
people under the oppression of slavery. Capoeira emerged as a way to resist
oppression, secretly practice 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.
Capoeira was advanced by Brazilian slaves of African descent (presumably
admitted from the Portuguese colony of Angola) some time in the 16th century.
since it was illegal for slaves to practice fighting skills, they varied native
African spiritual dances so that each time they practised their art they might
appear to merely be dancing. Due to the fact these dances included manoeuvres
such as handstands, back flips, and cartwheels, Capoeira is today the most
energetic of all martial arts, with many kicks being executed from a handstand
position. Its offensive techniques are initially kicks, its defensive
techniques are in the beginning body movements which stay away from the enemy's
attack all together. African culture is a large part of studying Capoeira,
above all since training and competition is done to the rhythm of the berimbau,
a single- stringed musical instrument. Only in the 20th century has the
practice of Capoeira become legal in Brazil, and Only in very modern years has
it been taught in other countries.
In 1942, Mestre Pastinha opened the first formal academy for instruction in the
traditional form of the art, known as capoeira Angola. Mestre Pastinha's
efforts prevented capoeira Angola from being lost as newer, modernized forms of
the art gained popularity.
This era was a milestone of a dramatic change in the mode of instruction of the
art of capoeira. Previously, capoeira was passed on in secret, usually from a
relative such as one's father or uncle, or in a small group setting where
several young people in a particular community would receive guidance from
elder practitioners from that community. During this era, the academy system
became the predominant form of participation in the art. Presently, there are
capoeira academies on almost every continent of the world.
Another significant change that occurred due to the proliferation of capoeira
'schools' is the participation of middle and upper class members of the
population. Presently, some Mestres participate in seminars where they discuss
the need to make the art available to poor blacks who can not afford the cost
of training in an academy. This is an issue of concern to practitioners who
recognize the importance of making the art available to people who come from
the culture that invented the art in the first place.
Capoeira training can be done in any city in the world and I encourage you to
visit out martial arts directory of Capoeira to find a school near you!
No comments:
Post a Comment