This is a fascinating martial art created by black african slaves from Angola in Brazil. The history of oppression of the african slaves is similar to that of the Okinawan's who created Okinawan-Te or karate when they disguised it as a dance. So did the african slaves. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z8xxgFpK-NM
Salvador de Bahia, where you can find a lot of Capoeira, is definitely one of the places I have to visit one day. Love the rich history that blacks in that part of Brazil preserved. Very fascinating place.
Aside from a couple of trees needing to be trimmed and leaves being swept up, it was all good here. No power outage, no flooding, nothing. Not a single disruption outside of the citywide mass transit issues, but the roads and everything was fine. Looks like the waterfront folks out on Long Island, Manhattan and other parts got hammered. One of my aunt's house in Queens lost half the power, they are on two different lines, and shingles fell off the side of her house. All in all I have no complaints in my part of Brooklyn.
Brazil will be one of the places I intend to visit in the future. Capoeira is an example of the fact that every culture had some form of martial arts, whether it was the European cultures which I'm studying right now, the native americans, or the asians, particularly in China,Japan, Korean which are highly organized systems. I find Capoeira fascinating from the standpoint it has come from black africans. Many years ago I visited the natural history museam in Washington D. C. and was astounded by an exhibit which showed numerous weapons that the africans developed on the african continent. Capoeira gives a key bit of knowledge of fighting arts of africa that is little understood, like the fighting techniques of the Zulus for instance. Imagine, my friend how different american history would have been if the art of Capoeira was introduced into the american south during the slavery period. I cannot get african americans interested in this for research for the benefit of the next generation to have a greater appreciation of their contributions to the world. Did you know that the ground techniques of "break dancing" (for the dancing artists) has it's roots in Capoeira that came out of Bahia (the home of Capoeira) in the 1980's?
I love that technique of "Meia Lua De Compasso". It has great power. Imagine being able to take a man's head off by shattering the skull, the jaw or by breaking the neck with it. A beautiful technique for the street.
I will incorporate Capoeira techniques into my martial arts program under "Combat Reality Fighting" along with such segments as mixed martial arts with grappling, boxing fistics, and Muay Thai-Boxing techniques for the street. I also like to concentrate on Marine Close Combat techniques for self defense for the street. I have ten guys who are with me. Running into resistence to offer my program into the school system.
I hear you what you are saying man. Love history so these things naturally fascinate me and makes me expand and inquire about the origins. Which is one of the reasons I have to see Salvador in Bahia. So much of black history is overlooked or unknown to blacks in Western cultures and instead shown through the prism of a Eurocentric historical perspective, even when talking about black subject matters. It shouldn't need to be stated but blacks existed long before the slave ships arrived at the ports of Bahia, Virginia, the Caribbean Islands, etc.
Bro, I have some information to post for you later on references that a friend of mine has given me on the history of Capoeria. You seem to be more informed and open minded than many here on history. My next post will list out some information for you. Take care brother.
I just started capoeria class recently. The only other martial art I have practiced prior is Aikido, but this was totally different and the reason I chose it is because I used to love break dance back in the day. So far it's going well, good Brazilian instructors and surprise, surprise - even some fit white chics attend. Definitely recommend it. I think any brotha got the rhythm to get the basics pretty quick, but acrobatics and flexibility might be a worry
1. Capoeria Beyond Brazil: From a Slave Tradition to an International Way of Life by Aniefre Essien 2. Capoeria Conditioning: How to Build Strength, Agility; and Cardiovascular Fitness Using Capoeria Movements by Gerard Taylor 3. The Little Capoeria Book by Nestor Capoeria Books on the Brazilian Martial Art of Capoeira for those who want to expand their horizon.
I'm learning more about this art form everyday. To perform the movements with any degree of competence would require great strength and flexibility. I'm reading an account of a capoerist who was to be taken in to custody by police of about ten men. They could not apprenhend him because of his resistence to being arrested. They had to either shoot him or let him go. They let him go. The capoerist was drunk during the incident.
Definitely from what I have seen it looks like you have to have great core strength and fitness to execute the moves.
Just got this one, thanks for the heads up. Will let you know what I think when I've gone through a few chapters.
More references that were recommended to me on Capoeria: - Essential Capoeria: The Guide to Mastering the Art by Mestre Poncianinho - Capoeria 100: An Illustrated Guide to the Essential Movements and Techniques by Gerard Taylor - Capoeria, A Brazilian Art Form: History, Philosophy, and Practice by Bira Almeida - Capoeria: The History of an Afro-Brazilian Martial Art by Matthias Rohrig Assuncao
You are welcome. There is a local black owned dance studio here in my area that is very interested in Capoeira. The director of the studio want more information on the fitness and movement study to implement into his studio. He was totally unaware of Capoeria. He teaches many forms of dancing and was blown out of his mind when he saw Capoeria. He want to get a demonstration team of this martial arts for next years black history month for demonstrations in local schools and to educate the public on the history of this unique form of dance/fighting art.
