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Capoeira
(Contributors: Daniel C. Sobral - e8917523@linf.unb.br,
"Lagartixa" (Gecko) - nworthin@rohan.sdsu.edu
)
Intro:
This is a very acrobatic, very energetic Brazilian martial art.
Origin: Angola and Brazil
History:
Capoeira is the common name for the group of African martial
arts that came out of west Africa and were modifed and mixed in
Brazil. These orginal stlyes inculded weapons, grappling and striking
as well as animal forms that became incorpated into different
components and sub styles of the popular art.
In the 1500's, black slaves from Africa were used in Brazil to
build the empire of the sugar cane. These slaves lacked a form
of self-defense, and in a way quite parallel to Karate, they developed
a martial-art with the things they had in hand, namely, sugar
cane knives and 3/4 staffs. Being slaves, they had to disguise
the study of the art, and that is how the dance came into it.
In the early 1800's Capoeira was outlawed in Brazil, especially
in its "home state" of Bahia, where gangs utilized it as their
personal fighting style against police.
Capoeira was born in the "senzalas", the places where the slaves
were kept, and developed in the "quilombos", the places where
they used to run to when they fled from their enslavers.
Description:
Capoeira consists of a stylized dance, practiced in a circle
called the "roda", with sound background provided by percussion
instruments, like the "agogo", the "atabaqui", etc. The "Berimbau"
is a percussion instrument that is always used on rodas.
Capoeira relies heavily on kicks and leg sweeps for attacks and
dodges for defenses. Is not uncommon to not be taught any kind
of hand strike of parry, though arm positioning for blocks is
taught.
The "ginga" (meaning "swing"_, the footwork of Capoeira, consists
in changing the basic stance (body facing the adversary, front
leg flexed with body weight over it, the other leg strechted back)
from the right leg to the left leg again and again.
Capoeira also puts a heavy emphasis on ground fighting, but not
grappling and locks. Instead, it uses a ground stance (from the
basic stance, you just fall over your leg stretched back, flexing
it, and leaving the front leg stretched ahead), from which you
make feints, dodges, kicks, leg sweeps, acrobatics, etc.
Hand positioning is important but it's used only to block attacks
and ensure balance, though street fighting "capoeiristas" use
the hands for punches.
When fighting, it is rare to stop in one stance, and in this
case, you just "follow" your opponent with your legs, preventing
him from getting close, or preparing a fast acrobatic move to
take advantage when he attacks. The rest of the time, you just
keep changing stances, feinting, and doing the equivalent of boxing
"jabs".
Training:
After a through warm-up, standing exercises are done, with emphasis
on the "ginga", the footwork characteristic of the art, and on
the basic kicks: "bencao", a front-stomping kick, "martelo", a
roundhouse kick, "chapa", a side-kick, "meia-lua de frente", a
low turning kick, "armada", a high turning kick, "queixada", an
outside-inside crescent kick. Then walking sequences are done,
with the introduction of sommersaults, backflips and headstands,
in couples and individual. Some more technical training follows,
with couples beginning a basic and slow "jogo", and then the whole
class forms and goes for "roda" game for at least 30 minutes.
Capoeira conditions and develops the muscles, especially the
abdominal muscles.
Sub-Styles:
Regional: Capoeira in a more artistic, open form, giving more
way to athletic prowess and training. The newer, faster, more
popular style created by mestre Bimba (the guy who was responsible
for the legalization of capoeira and the founder of the first
academy). Breakdancing evolved from this style, and 90% of all
breakdancing moves come directly from capoeira. This is a faster
game, less a fight and more of a showing off. Flourishes, high
kicks, and aerial, acrobatic maneuvers are the hallmark of the
regional game, which is usually played to the beat of the berimbau
known as Sao Bento Grande.
Angola: a more closed, harder style that is closest to the original
African systems that came to Brazil. The "traditional" capoeira,
the game is accompanied by a specific beat of the berimbau by
the same name. Angola games are generally slow and low to the
ground, and incorporate a lot of trickery, sweeps and takedowns,
and physically grueling movements that require great strength
and balance.
Iuna: Iuna is not really a style of capoeira. Rather, it refers
to a rhythm of the berimbau that is played when somebody dies
or when mestres (masters) play alone. There is no singing when
iuna is played, and only masters are allowed to play during iuna.
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