Capoeira

            Capoeira is an Afro Brazilian Art form and after soccer is the second most popular sport in Brazil.  The actual history of the art itself is shrouded in mystery.  The word “Capoeira” has possible roots in Portuguese as a well as a number of African languages and native Brazilian Indian dialects, all of which would be present in Brazil during the period that the art developed (between the late 1600s through the mid 1800s).  So it is really unclear where the origin of the word came from.  What sets this martial art apart from the rest is the Capoeira Game (Jogo) which can be seen as both a dance and fight.  The dance element is the Capoeiristas’ personal experession and body movement that disguises and emphasizes the attacks and lets the movement flow continuously through the game.  The fight element is the challenge that Capoeiristas place on each other during the game.  Capoeiristas are also required to learn to play the musical instruments, to sing in Portuguese and to be conversant in the history of Capoeira.

            Capoeira is a fight-like dance, a dance-like fight.  Capoeira is poetry and battle.  It is a game, a struggle for survival; it is a voice from the past.  In the rhythm of its music, it is the martial art of Brazil.