What is Capoeira?

"Capoeira comes from the customs of Africans which evolved into a struggle in the face of hostility, preserved until today through the spirit of dance and combat. As a consequence there is a game. It's a story that tells of the meeting of European mercantile expansion and African culture in the New World, America."

Mestre Braga

Capoeira Angola

Capoeira is generally divided into two schools: Capoeira Regional, which is a modern and popular form developed in the 1930's, and Capoeira Angola, the original or traditional form of the game which is somewhat less well known today, even in Brazil. In Capoeira Angola, the emphasis lays less on impressive acrobatics and speed, but on simple movements and gestures which can be performed slowly or like an arrow, whatever the situation dictates. There is a basis from which in can be learnt and understood but it also has and unpredictable nature.

Music and Capoeira

Music forms an intregal part of Capoeira, and there is rarely Capoeira without music. During the game the music can be used to change the atmosphere of the game, to raise and calm down a level of expectation. The songs are a form of communication, to comment upon, react to or give instructions to the players, as well as to tell jokes or to talk of the history of Capoeira. The songs generally take the form of a call and reponse, often found in African and Afro-Brasilian culture. Part of the training of Capoeira is to know the songs and learn how to play the instruments, of which the percussive bow-like berimbau is the most important.

 

Advice to beginners

As a beginner you should concentrate on learning the basic moves of Capoeira Angola - like learning the alphabet - and listen to the advice of more experienced players. Also begin to learn the responses to the songs of Capoeira. Remember that the game requires patience and commitment, and that in one way or another the struggle with Capoeira never ends, even for the most advanced players. Even as a beginner, though, you can always 'use what you've got' creatively and to great effect.

Advice to intermediates

You should be familiar with all the basic moves of Capoeira, their variations and how they fit together, you will begin to put words and phrases together, as well as being familiar of how the roda works in practice. You should concentrate on keeping your game flowing, and start to introduce new elements into your game like malicia (slyness, trickery) and malandragem (cunning, double-dealing). It is also time to start learning to lead the singing, to know your voice, and to sing and play the berimbau at the same time.

Advice to advanced

As an advanced player you should be familiar with all aspects of the game, able to play all the instruments, be able to talk about capoeira and its history, and will take on more responsibility for teaching Capoeira and leading the roda. The language of Capoeira is yours to explore, to chat, joke, discuss and argue with in the roda. At this level it becomes natural to learn to speak Portuguese in order to be able to improvise songs and communicate with Masters and other Capoeiristas, to integrate further into the community.

If you have any questions, get in contact with Mestre Braga directly.

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