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CAPOEIRA
HEALTHY | INSPIRING | TRANSFORMATIVE
A Brazilian martial art , that combines elements of dance,
acrobatics and music.
It was developed in Brazil mainly by Africans, at the
beginning in the 16th century.
It is known for quick and complex moves, using mainly power,
speed, and leverage for a wide variety of kicks, spins, and highly mobile
techniques.
Capoeira is a fast and versatile martial art which is
historically focused on fighting out numbered or in technological disadvantage.
The style emphasizes using the lower body to kick, sweep and take down and the
upper body to assist those movements and occasionally attack as well. It
features a series of complex positions and body postures which are meant to get
chained in an uninterrupted flow, in order to strike, dodge and move without
breaking motion, conferring the style with a characteristic unpredictability
and versatility.
The ginga (literally: rocking back and forth; to swing) is
the fundamental movement in capoeira, important both for attack and defense
purposes. It has two main objectives. One is to keep the capoeirista in a state
of constant motion, preventing him or her from being a still and easy target.
The other, using also fakes and feints, is to mislead, fool, trick the
opponent, leaving them open for an attack or a counter-attack.
The defense is based on the principle of non-resistance,
meaning avoiding an attack using evasive moves instead of blocking it.
Avoids
are called esquivas, which depend on the direction of the attack and intention
of the defender, and can be done standing or with a hand leaning on the floor.
A block should only be made when the esquiva is completely non-viable. This
fighting strategy allows quick and unpredictable counterattacks, the ability to
focus on more than one adversary and to face empty-handed an armed adversary.
A series of rolls and acrobatics (like the cartwheels called
aú or the transitional position called negativa) allows the capoeirista to
quickly overcome a takedown or a loss of balance, and to position themselves
around the aggressor in order to lay up for an attack. It is this combination
of attacks, defense and mobility which gives capoeira its perceived 'fluidity'
and choreography-like style.
Playing capoeira is both a game and a method of practicing
the application of capoeira movements in simulated combat. It can be played
anywhere, but it's usually done in a roda. During the game most capoeira moves
are used, but capoeiristas usually avoid using punches or elbow strikes. The
game usually does not focus on knocking down or destroying the opponent, rather
it emphasizes skill.
The Roda is a circle formed by capoeiristas and capoeira
musical instruments, where every participant sings the typical songs and claps
their hands following the music.
Two capoeiristas enter the roda and play the
game according to the style required by the musical instruments rhythm. The
game finishes when one of the musicians holding a berimbau determine it, when
one of the capoeiristas decide to leave or call the end of the game or when
another capoeirista interrupts the game to start playing, either with one of
the current players or with another capoeirista.
The batizado (Baptism) is a ceremonial roda where new
students will get recognized as capoeiristas and earn their first graduation.
Also more experienced students may go up in rank, depending on their skills and
capoeira culture.
Students enter the roda against a high-ranked capoeirista
(such as a teacher or Mestre) and normally the game ends with the student being
taken down. In some cases the more experienced capoeirista can judge the
takedown unnecessary. Following the batizado the new graduation, generally in
the form of a cord, is given.
APELIDO - The new capoeira practitioners get or formalizes
his or her apelido (nickname) when starting to practice Capoeira. *** This
tradition was created back when capoeira practice was considered a crime. To
avoid having problems with the law, capoeiristas would present themselves in
the capoeira community only by their nicknames. So if a capoeirista was
captured by the police, he would be unable to identify his fellow capoeiristas,
even when tortured.
The ginga (literally: rocking back and forth; to swing) is
the fundamental movement in capoeira, important both for attack and defense
purposes. It has two main objectives. One is to keep the capoeirista in a state
of constant motion, preventing him or her from being a still and easy target.
The other, using also fakes and feints, is to mislead, fool, trick the
opponent, leaving them open for an attack or a counter-attack.
The defense is based on the principle of non-resistance,
meaning avoiding an attack using evasive moves instead of blocking it. 
Playing capoeira is both a game and a method of practicing
the application of capoeira movements in simulated combat. It can be played
anywhere, but it's usually done in a roda. During the game most capoeira moves
are used, but capoeiristas usually avoid using punches or elbow strikes. The
game usually does not focus on knocking down or destroying the opponent, rather
it emphasizes skill.
Students enter the roda against a high-ranked capoeirista
(such as a teacher or Mestre) and normally the game ends with the student being
taken down. In some cases the more experienced capoeirista can judge the
takedown unnecessary. Following the batizado the new graduation, generally in
the form of a cord, is given.
A practitioner of the art is called a capoeirista.
On November 2014 capoeira was granted a special protected
status as "intangible cultural heritage" by UNESCO.
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Nowadays is not only considered a martial art, but an active
exporter of Brazilian culture all over the world. Since the 1970s, capoeira
mestres began to emigrate and teach it in other countries.
Capoeira is widely used as a tool in sports development (the
use of sport to create positive social change) to promote psychosocial
wellbeing in various youth projects around the world.
Capoeira provides everything you need to get fit to explore your body's acrobats and flexibility and to stay tuned with your mind, heart and soul through the music.
This is the only modality that provides
such a complete and perfect mix which includes work out, martial
art, stretching, self-defense and explore your musical abilities or you can just
listen to it and enjoy!
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