UNESCO: Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity - 2014
Capoeira on the BBC
WHAT IS CAPOEIRA?
Capoeira is an Afro-Brazilian community orientated martial art done to live music and song, it involves many elements of acrobatics, flow, control and creativity.
Developed by African slaves in Brazil, this holistic mind body and soul practice helped the slaves fight against oppression, strengthen themselves and their communities and liberate them from their daily ailments.
Acrobatic, fun, social, inspiring, invigorating, inclusive and of course for everyone all ages and abilities, you can not find a better way to spend your spare time, then playing capoeira, and making music with friends.
Capoeira originated in Brazil in the 1600s. The only indigenous American martial art, it was developed by African slaves in Brazil. Capoeira began to take form amongst the community of slaves that worked on the sugar cane plantations, the docks and various other slave works. It became a strong weapon in the life and death struggle against their oppressors. When the owners of the sugar cane fields realized the power of capoeira, they began to punish those who practiced it, sometimes with death. Capoeiristas learned to camouflage the forbidden fight with singing and clapping as though it were simply entertainment. The fight was disguised behind the dance – a dance that could be as graceful as a panther and as treacherous as a snake.
Mestre Bimba, with his good will and love of the art was able to take capoeira from being forbidden by law and transformed it into Brazil’s national sport. He along with Mestre Pastinha was the first to open schools and the capoeira tree grew, spreading its branches across the world. From these two great Mestres the two distinct capoeira styles of Regional (under Mestre Bimba) and Angola (under Mestre Pastinha) were formed.
Capoeira is an art form and self-defense; with strong aerobic and dance elements. It is a harmony of forces that gives you power, flexibilty, endurance and self-discovery. Capoeira balances the body, soul and mind. It is a graceful, exciting art form that teaches you to be alert. The art keeps its strong traditions and enables you to break through limits, revitalizing you for everyday life.