| The crowd is on their feet chanting loudly as | | | | educated people about Judo. To promote his style |
| music blares. They encircling the two performers | | | | he took on many local fighters who used Capoeira |
| who are striking back and forth with kicks and | | | | and other martial arts and defeated them all in |
| they swirl around and jump before the crowd | | | | hand to hand combat. The Gracie family was so |
| who dance along with the music. The two dancers | | | | impressed they asked to learn Judo and Jujitsu |
| are performing Capoeira the Afro-Brazilian | | | | from Maeda. What they learned would later |
| dance-martial art created in Brazil by African | | | | evolve into Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Though the Gracie |
| slaves and Indians centuries ago. Capoeira looks | | | | family had many dedicated students, Capoeira |
| more like gymnastics or samba then martial arts | | | | remained more popular until the Gracie family |
| styles like boxing and judo. Engrained in the | | | | began competing in mix martial arts events |
| Brazilian culture Capoeira moves to the beat of | | | | around the world. |
| traditional instruments like berimbaus and drums | | | | Like all cultural fighting arts, they are great for |
| and moves at a fast pace. While Capoeira is a fun | | | | conditioning and keeping a culture's heritage alive, |
| cultural martial art, but can it be classified as | | | | but many people confuse them with self defense |
| deadly or even effective form of self defense. | | | | training. Sure slaves used Capoeira to fight with |
| Capoeira is as popular as soccer in Brazil. Believe it | | | | their repressors, but they didn't win their freedom |
| or not, in Brazil more people practice Capoeira | | | | with it. Capoeira is a dance with elements of |
| then Brazilian Jiu-jitsu. Capoeira's exact origins are | | | | martial arts, but it just isn't combat effective. |
| shrouded in mystery, but what is know is that it | | | | During a match fighters strike at each other with |
| was first practiced by slaves who were brought | | | | kicks, but never actually make contact. The |
| from Western Africa to work sugar and tobacco | | | | reason given is that it is to test opponents and if |
| plantations. Like other martial arts forms | | | | they can't dodge a slow blow they can't dodge a |
| Capoeira's moves were hidden within the slave's | | | | fast one and shouldn't be made too until they're |
| dance so their masters would be unaware they | | | | ready. This can hardly be considered conditioning |
| were practicing a fighting style. | | | | for a street fight. |
| There were slave rebellions in Brazil and perhaps | | | | As an instructor you will have many students that |
| Capoeira was used to fight slave owners and | | | | start off slow, but at some point you have to |
| soldiers, but none of the rebellions were organized | | | | bring them up full speed or they won't learn |
| or extremely successful. The slaves that | | | | anything. In a street fight things are fast and |
| managed to escape hid in the mountains with the | | | | brutal and dancing around an opponent will look |
| Indians, but there are no real indications that this | | | | good until they decide to run you over or hit you |
| martial art made a difference beyond keeping | | | | with a chair. Like all cultural martial arts, Capoeira |
| people in shape and entertained. | | | | looks good until you get hit (not to mention any |
| The Portuguese who had colonized Brazil ruled the | | | | type of edged weapon defensive tactics). Those |
| country from 1500 to 1822 and put down every | | | | who practice Capoeira say it is not an aggressive |
| rebellion. In fact while the French occupied Portugal | | | | martial art which goes against the basic martial |
| itself the King lived in Brazil and continued to rule. | | | | arts principals; always keep attacking and always |
| Even after Brazil became independent slavery | | | | take ground. |
| continued until 1888 and ended because of an act | | | | If you watch a performance of Capoeira you will |
| of parliament not because of the effectiveness of | | | | be impressed by the kicks, jumps and the agility |
| the slaves' style of martial arts. | | | | of those who performed them. You must realize |
| On record, the next reference to Capoeira was in | | | | it all comes to an end if you simply charged them |
| 1890 when the art was banned by the | | | | and lay into them with flurry of strikes. The flips |
| government because gangs were using it in street | | | | and jumps and rolls make them extremely |
| fights. Though there is evidence that the Brazilian | | | | vulnerable and off balance. |
| police studied Capoeira they studied it, to better | | | | Make no mistake, if you get it with a kick that |
| understand what the gangs were doing rather | | | | has a lot of velocity behind it, you're going to feel |
| than use it themselves in combat. Because it was | | | | it. But at the end of the day, Capoeira is a great |
| fun and impressive looking people continued to | | | | form of dance, but it's not a combative martial |
| practice. Over time, Capoeira lost its association | | | | art. Anyone practicing Capoeira is a great way to |
| with criminal behavior. | | | | stay in shape and celebrate your culture but add |
| In 1910 martial arts instructor Mitsuyo Maeda | | | | some real self defense training for a little piece of |
| traveled from the Kodokan in Japan to Brazil to | | | | mind. |