Capoeira
Capoeira (Portuguese pronunciation: [kapuˈe(j)ɾɐ]) is an Afro-Brazilian martial art and game that includes elements of dance, acrobatics, music and spirituality.
Also known as
jogo de angola
jogo de capoeira
capoeiragem
kicks, evasions, takedowns, handstands, acrobatics
unknown, first mention in 1789.
(see notable practitioners)
It is known for its acrobatic and complex maneuvers, often involving hands on the ground and inverted kicks. It emphasizes flowing movements rather than fixed stances; the ginga, a rocking step, is usually the focal point of the technique. Though often said to be a martial art disguised as a dance,[5] capoeira served not only as a form of self defense, but also as a way to maintain spirituality and culture.[6]
Capoeira has been practiced among Afro-Brazilians for centuries. The date of its creation is unknown, but it was first mentioned in a judicial document under the name Capoeiragem in 1789, as "the gravest of crimes".[7] In the 19th century, a street fighting style called capoeira carioca was developed. It was repeatedly outlawed and its performers persecuted,[7] and it was declared totally illegal and banned in 1890.[8] In the early 1930s, Mestre Bimba reformed traditional capoeira and incorporated elements of jiujitsu, gymnastics and sports.[9] As a result, the government viewed capoeira as a socially acceptable sport. In 1941, Mestre Pastinha later founded his school where he cultivated the traditional capoeira Angola, distinguishing it from reformed capoeira as the Brazilians' national sport.[10]
In the late 1970s, trailblazers such as Mestre Acordeon started bringing capoeira to the US and Europe, helping the art become internationally recognized and practiced. On 26 November 2014, capoeira was granted a special protected status as intangible cultural heritage by UNESCO.[11]
Martial arts from the African diaspora similar to capoeira include knocking and kicking from the Sea Islands, and ladya from Martinique, both of which likely originate from Engolo.[12]
Name[edit]
In the past, many participants used the name angola or the term brincar de angola ("playing angola") for this art.[13] In police documents, capoeira was known as capoeiragem, with a practitioner being called capoeira.[14] Gradually, the art became known as capoeira with a practitioner being called a capoeirista.[15] In a narrower sense, capoeiragem meant a set of fighting skills. The term jogo de capoeira (capoeira game) is used to describe the art in the performative context.[14]
Although debated, the most widely accepted origin of the word capoeira comes from the Tupi words ka'a ("forest") paũ ("round"),[16] referring to the areas of low vegetation in the Brazilian interior where fugitive slaves would hide.