Capoeira Centrosul

(L2R: Mestre Deputado, Contramestre Gui, Mestre Onca Negra)What is capoeira?Capoeira is an Afro-Brazilian martial art developed initially by African slaves in the colonial periodthese slaves practiced fighting techniques on the pretense of dance and religious gatherings to increase their chances for liberty and independence.Capoeira is marked by deft, tricky movements often played on the ground or completely inverted and is always played with afro-Brazilian rhythms lead by the berimbau.Roda:The game or “jogo” takes place within a circle of participants referred to as “roda de capoeira” where two of them enter at time and spar at the singing/clapping sound and vigilant eyes of the others.The game is circular and dynamic with high and low movements where players alternate attacking and evasion of striking sequences in a continuous flow of movements.Hits usually aren't made but feigned or just shown. The players often turn away from each other's hits just to throw their own.The roda is a microcosm which reflects the macrocosm of life and the world around us. Most often in the roda, your greatest opponent is yourself.Music: Capoeiristas sing about a wide variety of subjects. Some songs are about history or stories of famous capoeiristas. Some songs attempt to inspire players in the roda while others are about what is going on within the roda.Sometimes the songs are about life, or love lost. Others are lighthearted or even silly things, sung just for fun. Capoeiristas change their playing style significantly as the songs or rhythm from the berimbau commands. In this manner, it is truly the music that drives Capoeira.Philosophy plays a large part in Capoeira and the best teachers strive to teach Respeito (Respect), Responsabilidade (Responsibility), Segurança (Safety/Security), Malícia (Cleverness /Street-smarts), and Liberdade (Liberty/Freedom).In 1937 Mestre Bimba, one of the most renown masters of Capoeira, received an invitation from the president to demonstrate his art in the nation's capital.After a successful performance, he went back to his home state of Bahia and, with the government's permission, opened the first Capoeira academy in Brazil.It was the first step towards a more open development. Years later, the senate passed a bill establishing Capoeira as a national sport.Today, Capoeira can be seen and learned all around the world.