Grupo Liberdade De Capoeira

Black and white photo of a Capoeira roda

THE ROOTS OF CAPOEIRA

Capoeira (or Capoeiragem, Malandragem or Vadicão) has been traced through slave-quarters (Senzalas) of the plantations, to secret societies (Maltas) in Bahia. It survived under persecution as an oral tradition, living in the streets and open spaces in Brazil. It is now a flourishing cultural form of itself, and hailed as the National Sport.

From 1535 to 1885, millions of Africans were subjugated into slavery, including people from Angola, the Congo and Mozambique. Many of the important documents relating to slavery in Brazil were burned, to cleanse from history the traces of slavery, and this has taken from us valuable insights as to the development of the art.

It is commonly believed that a form of Capoeira arrived in Brazil with the Africans and was developed by their descendants. However, some say Capoeira was created by Africans in Brazil, others rigidly hold that its roots in Africa, but it flourished and blossomed in Brazil. Capoeira is a tradition of fighting with the feet, perhaps directly descended from tribal dervishes of strength and ritual dance.

Capoeira was banned by Penal Decree from 1890 to 1930, and during that time, it was only street hoodlums (Malandros) and members of secret societies who practiced the art. Bandits used the steps of the dance as a weapon; sometimes with straight razors held between their toes.

ZUMBI AND QUILOMBO DOS PALMARES

Zumbi (1645-1695), also known as Zumbi dos Palmares, was the last leader of the Quilombo dos Palmares. Quilombos were settlements in the jungle where fugitive slaves escaped to, Quilombo dos Palmares being the biggest. During its height, it was reportedly having 30,000 people, both escaped and freed slaves as well as those born free. It was a self-sustaining settlement in what is now modern day Algaos. The Portuguese government sought to destroy the Quilombo Dos Palmares and had constant war with them betwen 1680 to 1694. Zumbi was a great warrior and leader, and held off the Portuguese for many years until his betrayal, capture and death.

The significance of Zumbi and the Quilombo dos Palmares to Afro-Brazilian culture and Capoeiristas is enormous. It represented freedom and fighting oppression. The inhabitants of Quilombo dos Palmares were reported to be capoeristas themselves, and many capoeira songs glorify him as well as give tribute to him.

The statue of Zumbi Dos Palmares in Salvador, Bahia

Mestre Bimba

MESTRE BIMBA AND CAPOEIRA REGIONAL

Manuel dos Reis Machado (November 23, 1899 - February 5, 1974), commonly known as Mestre Bimba, is the founder of Capoeira Regional and one of capoeira’s most influential and important figures.

Mestre Bimba took capoeira at a time when it is illegal and looked down upon in Brazilian society. He stripped a lot of the rituals and ties to the relegion Candomble in capoeira. He also added some techniques from Batuque and other movements he created and began to develop Luta Regional Baiana (Regional Fight of Bahia), more commonly known as Capoeira Regional.

The first capoeira academy was founded by Mestre Bimba in 1932 in Salvador, Bahia. He formalized and standardized a set of 8 partner sequences to help teach capoeira. All of his students had to wear white and had a code of conduct and practice. Taking capoeira into an academic and sport setting and outside of the street, he began to garner more interest in capoeira. He began to teach more affluent middle-class Brazilians like doctors, lawyers, etc, which helped to change the image of capoeira.

He also took to the ring to uphold Capoeira’s reputation as a fighting art, and challenged many martial artists in matches with his Capoeira Regional and never lost. In 1937 Mestre Bimba was invited to demonstrate capoeira for the president of Brazil, Getulio Vargas, which led to the legalization of capoeira and recognition of it as a national sport of Brazil. Mestre Bimba’s former students carry his legacy teaching capoeira regional around the world.

Capoeira Regional is often characterized as a fast pace, aggressive and sometimes acrobatic style of capoeira focusing on kicks and takedowns. Regional games typically do not last very long, due to it’s faster pace. The instruments used in Regional are only one berimbau and two pandeiros. It’s three most commonly used berimbau rhythm’s are Sao Bento Grande Regional, Banguela, and Iuna.

MESTRE PASTINHA AND CAPOEIRA ANGOLA

Vicente Ferreira Pastinha (April 5, 1889 - November 13, 1981), commonly known as Mestre Pastinha is the greatest representative of Capoeira Angola, and another one of capoeira’s most important figures.

In the 1940s, at the request of many Mestres of the time, Mestre Pastinha was placed in charge of keeping the traditions of capoeira. Whereas Mestre Bimba took capoeira, changed it and added to it creating Capoeira Regional, Mestre Pastinha was dedicated to preserving the past and maintaining the traditions of the older capoeira style, which became called Capoeira Angola.

He opened a capoeira academy in 1941 in Pelourinho in Salvador, Bahia. His students wore black pants with yellow shirts, the colors of Ypiranga, his favorite soccer team. Mestre Pastinha was known as a philosopher and his wisdom survives in songs and sayings about the art of capoeira and life in general.

Although beloved by his students, Mestre Pastinha’s later years were filled with tragedy. The government confiscated his academy with promise of renovating it, but never gave it back. He died penniless, sick and blind. Despite this, his legacy of preserving Capoeira Angola lives on through his students who continue to teach today, most notably Mestre Joao Grande in New York City, and Mestre Joao Pequeno in Salvador, Bahia.

Capoeira Angola is characterized by its slower, more methodical movements often lower to the floor and longer games in the roda. It allows for more expression and subtlety as well as trickery. It has many ritual movements such as the Chamada or call, with specific call and responses. Angola rodas use a full bateria of three berimbaus, two pandeiros, one reco reco, one agogo, and attabaque. The most common rhythms are Angola, Sao Bento Pequeno and Sao Bento Grande Angola.

Mestre Pastinha

Mestre Cigano plays Mestre Ombrinho (Capoeira Angola Quintal)

CONTEMPORANEA: MODERN CAPOEIRA

Today capoeira can be found all around the world It has thrived and flourished due to the hard work and sacrifice of capoeristas. While there are Angola and Regional specific schools, many modern capoeira groups touch on both styles and simply teach capoeira as an all encompassing artform.

Capoeira is a unique blend of movement, song and music. At first glance one sees a circle of clapping onlookers, singing choruses in Portuguese to traditional call and response songs. In the center of the circle two capoeiristas move in what resembles a competitive dance. There is an acrobatic and beautiful avoidance of physical contact. The players’ movements display ritual, trickery and grace. Many moves involve headstands, handstands, cartwheels and other improvised movements. There are small rituals and gestures that season the games. Everyone’s style of play is very individual, and evolves with their experience in the art.

In training, we often play competitively with our partner. Rather than block an oncoming blow, we evade it with a flight or a flourish, and trip them up as we leave. At its best expression, there is never any actual contact between players. Skill is cultivated to pull blows, and it is enough to show that a kick could have landed, without striking the other person. In class you learn all the physical elements of Capoeira, but this is only one facet of Capoeira. There is much more than physical training involved. You will learn to sing, to play musical instruments, possibly to speak a whole new language!

Capoeira is a living testament to the durability of the human spirit that is practiced in dance academies, cultural centers and universities. The evolution of capoeira continues under the influence of creativity and imagination.