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| HISTORY OF CAPOEIRA |
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| Capoeira is the distinctively Afro-Brazilian martial art that began sometime around 1550 A.D.. It was started by African slaves who were brought to Brazil by Portuguese colonialist. No one is quite sure how much of Capoeira was brought from Africa, or how much was developed in Brazil, but the Africans disguised their system of self-defense in an elobarate dance, not unlike many of the tribal dances in their native land. However, the slaves would unleash the real power of Capoeira as they fled for freedom and in the struggle to keep their freedom. Eventually the Portuguese colonialist found out what Capoeira was, and passed laws that both outlawed Capoeira and the public assembly of African in Brazil. For hundreds of years, Capoeira would be passed on from generation to generation in secret, surviving in the shadows of the colonials. It would not be until the 1930's with the rise of two of Capoeira's greatest, Mestre Bimba and Mestre Pastinha, that Capoeira would become legal again. Though slavery was abolished in Brazil in 1898, Capoeira was too feared to be legal. |
| Mestre Bimba, a champion Capoeirista, created a new style of Capoeira, incorporating several moves from his father's martial art called Batuque. With his new style he opened a school, though he had to call it by a different name. It was not until Brazil World Fair, when Brazil was looking for an identity, that Mestre Bimba would become a national hero by defeating the reigned Japanese Jujitsu champ in three moves. Soon after, Mestre Bimba's success would cause Capoeira to be legalized and many schools to spring up around Brazil. Today, Capoeira is enjoyed by students from all over the world, from almost every culture and ethnicity. Capoeira keeps a lot of its roots wherever it is found, the language, the music, the fun. Welcome to Capoeira, a martial art with a history about freedom, about liberty, about being wise in conduct and deed, about friendship, and about working hard everyday to become a better person. |