Posts Tagged ‘capoeira’

Capoeira: A Fight Or A Game?

Monday, March 21st, 2011

Dance, art, martial art and acrobatic are blended smoothly in a kind of movements in capoeira. It is seen by various people in different ways depending on their environment and outlook in life. Though there are individuals who claims capoeira as part of their culture, custom and religion, there are also some who think of it as a form of violence or self defense.

With the beautiful balance and martial art movements of the capoeira, it is way too far from the thought of being violent. The entire acrobatic stunts can only be performed perfectly with proper concentration, presence of mind and regular practice. Although it is performed with kicks, flips and punches, observing the entirecomplete play of capoeira, the impression of art is quite dominant. With various actions, stunts and strikes of capoeira, it is without a doubt very difficult to learn. Training for a couple of weeks may not be possible to master all aerobatic moves performed in the play.

Capoeira is an art that came from from the Brazilian slaves who developed it as a symbol of hope and survival. Slavery is very common in the past, and only dances, music, poems and any various kind of art are the outlet of slaves to escape from the world of misery. A lot of people who have been enslaved did not have the guts to raise rebellion, so they came up with different aerobatics which look to be a form of martial art. Capoeira is usually played inside a circle, wherein two opponents are battling and dancing in a graceful way. Attacks and counterattacks are performed which show an impression of violence, but how can beautiful actions which is done with music be a form of assault? It might be confusing, but the whole matter is clear – it is a kind of art and tradition for Brazilians.

Percussion instruments are usually utilized in capoeira. Performers jived in the musical background as they are dping a pseudo fight. Despite the reality that physical power is utilized, it is not typically used to mar the opponent, rather it helps stimulate the reflex and rapid way of the opponent to combat the assault of the enemy. With the patterned claps given by the audience, the entire practice of capoeira is really memorable and fascinating. It entails a whole lot about the past, and every single movement of the hands and feet is somewhat like a symbol of hope and braveness to fight.

Capoeira is a really good form of art, and it is seen in different aspects based on the persona and perspectives of an individual. Witnessing the refined movements of capoeira behind the music played, various notions are generated, and many individuals recognize the whole game of capoeira.

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Capoeira: Things You Need to Know

Monday, February 14th, 2011

Capoeira is definitely not your usual form of art. This Afro- Brazilian kind of art is a beautiful ensemble of music and dance in the form of martial arts. In  order to be able to participate in this activity, one must have utterly good  power and balance. This kind of art started almost 400 years ago in Brazil by African  slaves from Angola and remains rising in popularity till now.

Just like any kind of activity, there also is a very precise way in  performing capoeira. Participants have to come together in a circle while singing  and dancing with music instruments. Eventually, one person or a couple moves  to the centre to dance or spar, and this is when all the action happens. No contact shall be made between  the two as each sweep and kick must be carried out in  an acrobatic play. It is important that the two individuals in the centre must each be  able to come up with improvised moves and be observant of each other’s every action to maintain the fluidity and beauty of the dance. Any mistake or awkward move can have the power to  ruin the whole act.

What once was simply an activity between slaves in Brazil has now become a worldwide hit.  Masters in capoeira have travelled to various parts of the world and shared this great art to any culture and race. Because of that , it is no longer a mystery why schools teaching  it can now be found in any part of the world, and individuals who engage to this great activity knows no race, no gender, and even no age.

It is just such a fantastic site watching experts dance capoeira.  With all grace and fluidity, they can do everything such as walk on their hands, make  cartwheels and flips without any sign of difficulty. To accompany the dancing is a bateria  that is what a row of musical devices is called. A kind of percussion instrument that  looks like a slim harp or bow named berimbaus is one. You may also find tambourines being  played along with tambourines, rasp and gongs. Sometiems, conga drums are also used. Once people  gather up to form a circle, it can be referred to as Roda. What this circle represents is the spirit of the fight that is believed to be retained of power with the players and musicians  gathered around.

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An Introduction To Capoeira

Sunday, December 14th, 2008

The martial art of Capoeira was originally created over 400 years ago in Brazil by the African slaves.  This martial art is unlike any of the other martial arts there anywhere in the world, and possesses a blend of power, beauty, mental balance, physical power, music, and an overwhelming sense of art and finesse.

Upon it’s creation, Capoeira proved to the world that it can be practiced by anyone, regardless of size, weight, or age.  The style is more than a martial art, but also a social event that is rich in tradition and history.  Capoeira is a truly powerful martial art, resembling a collaboration of music, dance, and exotic movements – and even a game.

Those who witness Capoeira games will note the music.  Both the music and the lyrics play a big part in the way that the game (known as jogo) is conducted.  For the players, there are several different rhythms that call for different speeds.  When watching the game played, spectators are normally in awe from the movements.  The jogo consists of a circle, with the players in the middle and the musicians at the foot of the circle.

Players that enter the game will enter into the circle, with a spring, cartwheel, or other type of visually stunning movement.  Upon entering the circle, players will complete back and forth with various combinations of poetic movements and breathtaking aerial displays.  It takes years of practice and hard work to become great at the jogo, as it requires precision, fast movement, and flawless application of the Capoeira techniques.

From a defensive standpoint, Capoeira is flashy, very creative, and also very useful, as the techniques seem to come out of nowhere and can be very hard to defend against.  The opponent or attacker has no clue what to expect from the student.  The Capoeira student defends himself through the use of dancing movements and acrobatic techniques, executing perfect movements that up until Capoeira were only dreamt of.

Capoeira and the jogo game are really big in Brazil, with hundreds of students learning the martial art.  It isn’t one of the most popular in the United States, although it is offered.  In South America it is more of a lifestyle, with jogo games being played on a daily basis.  A lot of martial arts students don’t want to learn Capoeira for the simple fact that the movements can be a bit of a risk.  Once you see how the style is performed, it can make you cringe at any second.

Over the last couple of decades, the art has grown a lot.  In 1974, the art of Capoeira became the national sport of Brazil, proving that just about everyone in Brazil had accepted it.  As time continues to pass, you can count on more and more competitions and dojo’s to surface – introducing this truly excellent martial art to newer generations.

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