Capoeira - Afro-Brazilian culture
Today I’m writing about Capoeira, but, what is Capoeira? Capoeira is a combination of dance, ritual and martial arts that it was developed by an African slaves in Brazil the 16th century and nowadays represent an Afro-Brazilian culture. Because of this, Capueira is taught in Brazil by Physical Education classes in the universities.
Capoeira was brought to Brazil by captured slaves from Angola. In this foreign land the Angolan people developed their practice into a method of defending themselves against their violent overlords and emerged as a way to resist oppression, secretly practice art, transmit culture, and lift spirits.
The slaves practiced to fight, concealing it with a apparently happy dance routine. This explains why today's Capoeira appears to be a mix of both fighting techniques and artful dance.
The ritual game begins with two players squatting in a circle, or roda, of spectators take turns playing instruments, singing while the players sparring in the center of the circle. The players feints, and extensive use of groundwork, as well as sweeps, kicks, and headbutts and both players must avoid those attacks.
The music is composed of instruments, berimbau and atabaque, and song and it sets the style of game that fast is to be played within the circle (in Portuguese roda).
Some songs are about history or stories of famous capoeiristas. Other songs attempt to inspire players to play better. Some songs are about what is going on within the roda. Sometimes the songs are about life, or love lost. Capoeiristas (Person who practise Capueira) change their playing style significantly as the songs or rhythm from the berimbau commands.
The musician at the berimbau then picks up the song as the players move to the center of the circle. The lead berimbauist is the Mestre, or master of the capoeira game. The roda chants, sings, and drums under the direction of the Mestre.
A player may also improvise his movements according to the musical commentary the Mestre gives to his performance. The Mestre in turn may play music that reflects the players' attitudes, reactions and strategies.
The goal of the game (in Portuguese jogo), is to catch the opponent off-guard using guile, technique and gymnastics. Players can fake each other out using rapid kicks, cartwheels, handstands, leg sweeps, flips, jabs, dodges, and turns. The base movement, and the one most often used by beginners, is a side-to-side motion in a semi squat down stance called ginga.
I’ve practiced a long time ago for 6 months and is very good sport and exited during the game. It’s impossible not incorporate soul of the game because the player want to do more and more ginga, kicks and make the fluid acrobatic.
In the you tube the readers can put key search “Capoeira ( Cara Bom )” to see a good “roda de capoeira” another key search is “Capoeira Malandragem - Ass Kickers” this a Capoeirista give some explain in english about Capoeira and show the typical Roda de Capoeira.
There is a famous Mestre (Master) de Capoeira in Rio de Janeiro called Mestre Camisa Branca and the readers can use this to see good videos at You Tube.
I want to say thanks for all readers left comments in special Thiago Magalhães to complete my blog about Carnival with his comments
Yumiko, my name is Russian name and I wear short and t-shirt during the carnival. In this time all people relax and want to have fun.
Hi Tanya your name is very commom in Brazil. I thing you can put your comments again about carnival.
Pary, you all right about Brazil there are a lot things to say and some time it’s difficult to choose the next subject. Thanks.
Kuldeep, The Carnival days start is references 47 days before the Easter.
Rodrigo said that on his comments. In this year was in febreary
Ricardo Ribeiro, Adriana, Ana Paula, It’s glad to see you at my Blog. Thanks.
Best Regards
Yanko
Comments
Hi everybody I am searching a way to improve my English knowledge and I found this blog. It is very interesting and I believed that I could improve my writing by this way communication. Also could learn more vocabulary. I can see some of my colleague write a formal letter and email very easy. I hope by this way, I can improve writing skill. Thanks
Hello Yanko: I'm under the impression that you don't read your teacher blogger blogs. Please do it because they are written especially for you. Trudi makes a lot of useful comment about your grammar mistakes and how to improve them. You are lucky to have possibility to blog to a native speaker who is a proffesional teacher. Take advantage of it.
Hello Yanko, thank you for the exciting description of capoeira and good luck with your capoeira practice in case you are going to resume it at any point in the future!
Hi Yanko! Capoeira is a great martial art indeed. Moreover, I do BodyCombat and last year the BodySystems introduced some Capoeira´s blows in this class. It´s wonderful :-). Best wishes, Ana Paula.
Hello Yanko, I feel happy when I see people that are proud of their culture and traditions. How can you accept others if you don't accept yourself? Fabulous description of capoeira, Yanko. I've loved it. Enjoy your weekend Adriana
Hi Yanko , What are you up to ? How are your nice family ? Capoeira dance sounds interesting . I took a look at it in the youtube . It 's absolutely fantastic ! Once my husband have watched it in the TV and he showed it to me too .At that time we didn't know what on earth it is ? But i think it's a bit difficult and sb can learn it that is in a good physical situation . Oh my god , doing that acrobatic movement is really hard for me ! have a nice weekend and be busy with your homework ;-)
Hi there , it 's the second bit of cherry as i think my first comment wont be show up , never mind . i came here just to thanks for your interesting entry about Capoeira . It 's fantastic . I saw some of the in Youtube . Once me and my husband watched it in the Tv and we didn't know what on earth are they . have a nice weekend and byyyye
Yanko, good description of capoeira, I have seen some groups that practice it here in Uruguay, perhaps not in the traditional way. I was waiting for your post. Did you work very much this week? Good advice from Adek. Try to take advantage of this opportunity to improve your english
Hello Yanko. I am from Venezuela and I love your stories abut your country and your culture. I found this blog and I will start my participation on it because I want (and I need) improve my english. Thus, If anyone see a mistake in my writting, please let me know. About Capoeira, Capoeira is very known in my country, you can see in all the universities a group of Capoeira and people singing songs in Portuguese. I can see this dance but I think I will never practice it because its movements are very, very difficult.... I am waiting for your next post. Bye
Hi Yanko. I loved your description of capoeira. It's a combination really important to the brazilian culture. It was the spiritual liberty for the slaves in the past
Hi, Yanko! Thank you for your blog. The information is very interesting to me. Have the rest. Bye.
Hi, Yanko! Hello, everybody! I can play capoeira a little and you, Yanko, put me happy when you say you too, inspite it's happened six year ago. But... me too!! I would like to tell you there is two kinds of Capoeira: "Angola" and "Regional". The frist one is the original, developed in Brazil by "Mestre Pastinha"; the second, by "Mestre Bimba". The´re really different, because the Regional has moviments imported from others martial arts, like boxing and karate fighting. I have a son who teaches Capoeira. His "Mestre" was Eziquiel, died in 1997. If you can, take a look in: http://www.capoeirista.com.br/index.php?option=com_ponygallery&func=detail&id=57 Or this one, about the group he's created (Luanda): http://www.grupo-luanda.com/portal/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=12&Itemid=28 There are some Exiquiel's puppils teaching capoeira in Brazil, especially in Bahia, and abroad. See you!
Hello, my dearest,first of all i would like to thank Ana Paula from Brazil for her tremendous comment on Capoeira, you make me so happy indeed, because nothing great than your own culture you were raise in, in fact you had used very strong words "culture and tradition" you have wrote wonderful statement.those who were proud of their culture have high pride everywhere they go, because culture is the symbol of mankind rather than race. thank you for your impressive point and have nice day where you're. and also, thank you to Yanko you are genius you have done the best description of capoeira. on the other hand, please don't be hesitated to write more, thinking that you are not good at english. that how non-native english learned to become a good english writer. so i have encourage you to do more you could. i myself, I'm still have trouble with write, but I'll never give up. English is all about the struggle. it's like a child who has begins his/her first step to walk, you know how difficult it is for infants for several time they fall and get up. just take it like that and some days you will be surprise. thank you all so much and i wish everyone best for your study. Posted by Lual Lual
Thanks for all your contributions. This blog has now closed and can no longer accept new comments.
