We explain what Capoeira is, its origin, history, and characteristics. We also tell you about the musical instruments it uses. Please read other MTV articles for more information. If you share it, it will be of little help to us.
What is capoeira?
Capoeira is a form of Brazilian cultural expression with African roots, combining different disciplines such as dance, martial arts, music, and acrobatics. It is usually practiced in groups, organized in rodas or circles, to the beat of drums and other traditional instruments such as the birimbao, accompanied by singing. Since 2014, UNESCO has considered the capoeira circle as part of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
The practice of capoeira is colorful and part of the Afro-Brazilian cultural heritage, especially in the northeast region of the country. The capoeira session is called jogo (“game”) and most often consists of a symbolic fight with little or no physical contact between the participants, who simulate blows. Other times, it is limited to a choreography that demonstrates talent or mandinga (magical or spiritual power derived from nature). There may also be actual, fairly intense fighting sessions. In all cases, the tone of the confrontation is determined by the rhythm of the music and singing.
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There are different variations of capoeira. The main ones are regional capoeira, which is more modern and acrobatic; Angolan capoeira, which is more traditional and places greater emphasis on body language; and contemporary capoeira, a fusion of the two previous ones.
As with other martial arts, capoeira teaching is usually accompanied by the transmission of values such as respect, responsibility, trust, shrewdness, and freedom.
Currently, capoeira is practiced not only in Brazil but throughout the world, through specialized academies or groups. Countries such as Germany, Italy, the United States, Argentina, Mexico, New Zealand, and even China have communities and/or practice centers in their major cities.
Origin of the term: The term capoeira has an uncertain origin. Some scholars claim that the word may come from the Tupi-Guarani language, while others associate it with African terms used by slaves brought to the Americas or attribute it to a spontaneous form that may have emerged among them.
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Origin and history of capoeira
The exact origins of capoeira are unknown. It is presumed to have been invented by enslaved African settlers in 16th-century Brazil, many of whom belonged to the Bantu (Kongo, Kimbunda, and Kasanje), Hausa, Akan, Igbo, Yoruba, Dahomey, and Guinean ethnic groups, originating from Angola, Congo, and Mozambique. Disguised as a ritual dance, capoeira allowed slaves to train for combat and, at the same time, bond with one another and strengthen ties between people of different origins.
After slavery was abolished, capoeira continued to be practiced among the descendants of African slaves. Due to the racist considerations of the time, it was associated with criminality and witchcraft, leading to its ban throughout Brazil in 1890. Systematic efforts to eradicate the practice reached extremes of cruelty, including torture and physical punishment, yet even then it continued to be practiced clandestinely.
In this sense, the so-called quilombos, self-sufficient settlements of fugitive slaves that had been organized to confront the European threat, were fundamental. In the quilombos, capoeira could be practiced freely.
After a long period of persecution, capoeira resurfaced in the first decades of the 20th century thanks to the interest of martial arts researchers, such as Mario Alexo and Aníbal “Zuma” Burlamaqui. The latter published the first manual for the practice of capoeira and the first formal rules of competition around 1920, many of which were inspired by boxing.
Another particularly important practitioner was Agenor Moreira Sampaio, better known as Mestre Sinhozinho, who developed the Carioca style (now extinct) and is considered one of the great masters of capoeira, along with Mestre Bimba (Manoel dos Reis Machado) and Mestre Pastinha (Vicente Ferreira Pastinha). These great masters were the first to open academies for teaching capoeira towards the middle of the 20th century.
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Characteristics of Capoeira
Broadly speaking, capoeira is characterized by the following:
- It combines martial arts, dance, music, and acrobatics. Capoeira is a discipline that uniquely fuses the characteristics of martial arts (physical, mental, and philosophical training) with dance.
- It is an African heritage. The movements, musical rhythms, and instruments of capoeira reflect the cultural legacy of the Congo, Mozambique, and Angola, the countries from which the African settlers of Brazil originated.
- It is practiced in circles or rodas. Capoeira is practiced in circles made up of capoeiristas, in the center of which a duel between two dancers takes place. The rest accompany them with clapping, singing, and the sound of traditional musical instruments, such as drums and birimbao.
- Its purpose is to showcase skills. The goal of this art is not to injure the opponent, but rather to compare the talents of the participants through a dialogue of movements guided by principles of respect, responsibility, trust, shrewdness, and freedom. It also seeks to honor a centuries-old cultural heritage. Therefore, strikes are often not executed, but simply demonstrated.
Capoeira movements are divided into three types:
- The ginga or swing: This is a continuous, basic step from which the other movements are performed.
- Attacks: These can consist of kicks, sweeps, open-hand strikes, or head strikes.
- Defenses: These are evasive movements and blocks.
Capoeira Styles
Capoeira is not practiced the same way everywhere, but rather has distinct styles, each with its own particularities and preferences. Some capoeiristas, for example, do not use hand strikes, others focus on the acrobatic aspect, and others tend toward the more traditional. The main known styles are the following:
Capoeira Angola
Capoeira Angola is considered the original style of capoeira, that is, the most traditional. It is characterized by a dance with greater proximity between the campoeirantes, little acrobatics, and many low movements, that is, at ground level. This style depends heavily on the skill of the dancer. The music usually starts slowly and increases as the fight progresses. The creator of the Angola capoeira academies in Brazil was Mestre Pastinha, who institutionalized the yellow, black, or white (ceremonial) uniform.
Regional Capoeira
Regional capoeira was an innovative style, with greater emphasis on acrobatics and more showy dances. Originally, it was called “Regional Wrestling of Bahia” (Uma luta regional de Bahia). Its creator and disseminator in Brazil was Mestre Bimba, who advocated a more athletic and competitive style with quick, sharp blows. The regional capoeira uniform includes a belt that reflects the capoeirista’s level of training, similar to that of Eastern martial arts.
Contemporary Capoeira
Contemporary capoeiristas are those who practice both the traditional and regional styles and freely merge their elements. These practitioners can take what they like from the styles of Mestre Bimba or Mestre Pastinha without fully committing to either, but rather using them in a complementary way.
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Music in Capoeira
Music is a central element in the practice of capoeira. Through its traditional instruments, it sets the rhythm, intensity, and atmosphere of combat and dance. The main instruments used in capoeira are:
- Birimbao: This is a bow-shaped string instrument made with a flexible wooden stick and metal wire, with a dry, hollow gourd serving as a resonator. Depending on the tension of the bow, the sound produced can be low, medium, or high.
- Pandeiro: It is a percussion instrument very similar to the tambourine, but larger.
- Querequete or querequexe: It is a scraping instrument, also called reco-reco or caracaxá. It is usually made of materials such as bamboo or other woods, metal, or calabash. It can have different shapes or motifs and is scraped with a short wooden stick.
- Agogô: It is a percussion instrument made of metal, similar to a bell or gong, which is struck with a short wooden baton.
- Atabaque: It is a percussion instrument very similar to the hand drum, tall and made of wood, and played with the hands.
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References
All the information we provide is supported by authoritative and up-to-date bibliographic sources, ensuring reliable content in line with our editorial principles.
- Almeida, B. (1986). Capoeira, a Brazilian Art Form. History, Philosophy, and Practice. North Atlantic.
- Torres Negro, L. (2000). Capoeira, a martial art from Brazil. Alas.
- UNESCO. (2020). The Capoeira Circle. ich.unesco.org/es
- What is Capoeira? definition, Concept, History, and Characteristics – concepto.de
