CAPOEIRA

Afro-Brazilian Martial Art

Capoeira Resistencia Batizado Event 2007

We are having our next capoeira convention on Nov.2 3 4 special guests, workshops  and prices will be announced at a later time 

What is Capoeira

Capoeira is a brazilian martial art that is rapidly growing all over the world. Capoeira has been described as a amrtial art disguised as a dance. In reality it encompasses much more. It is a unique and uplifting cultural experience that brings together beauty and power. Capoeira develops mental balance and physical conditioning,and is a combination of dance,theatre,music,art and self defense.

Capoeira is approximately 400 years old with it's roots in Africa.It ccame to Brazil by way of the slave trade in the 16th century.
In the slave quarters on plantations in Brazil, various cultures were forced together. As a result of this fusion many  Afro-Brazilian folkloric arts and traditions were created.

One of these traditions was Capoeira. This form of martial art was used by the slave to free themselves and to flee from the plantations into the Quilombos (free African Societies), in the neighboring jungle that existed on the fringes of the cities, towns, and plantations.

During slavery, in order to be practiced, Capoeira had to be disguised and completly kept secret for fear of persecution or penalty of death. Capoeira ws prohibited in Brazil until 1930. At that time the goverment eased up on the repression of popular cultural expression,including Capoeira.

In 1932, Mestre Bimba (the creator of modern Capoeira) opened the first formal school of Capoeira.In doing so, he took Capoeira off the streets ,where it was looked down upon by the upper class Brazilian society,who considered it a pastime for cutthroats, theives and con men. Mestre Bimba began teaching doctors, lawyers, and business men In time, the art of Capoeira gained great respect in Brazil.

Today, Capoeira is taught in schools and various academies all over Brazil and throughtout the world. It has been recognized as a Brazilian national sport since 1972, and it is second in popularity only to soccer.