Talk:Capoeira/More info

This content was put into the article by User:Lottiotta as a comment (see http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Capoeira&diff=128639880&oldid=128373783) and then has been moved here. Visor 23:08, 7 May 2007 (UTC)

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This information was merged from Brazilian martial arts. I don't have time to merge it properly, but hopefully someone who knows about the subject can pick out the info not already covered and put it into the main text.

History

From of Guarani language, CAÁ means weeds, plant, virgin forest or grass wild. The adjective PUÊRA makes reference to "something that was" “something that doesn’t exist anymore”. Therefore, capoeira is “ a small area inside of the wild forest which was worked by the man and it is now an extinct weeds. When the black slaves practice capoeira, they must do it in a secret way, so it was necessary do it inside a wild florets, distant of villages; but they need clean a small area inside the forest. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 132.208.30.179 (talk) 01:54, 14 June 2010 (UTC)

There are many different beliefs regarding the origin of Capoeira. This is primarily due to the lack of history in Brazil during and prior to the 16th century. “The beginnings of Capoeira are deeply buried in the poorly-documented first 200 years of the slavery epoch in Brazil” (Almeida, Bira). Brazil is of importance to Capoeira because it is here that the art is believed to have originated. “From the 16th to the 19th centuries, Portugal shipped slaves into South America from Western Africa” (Capoeira). “These slaves were Igbo, Yoruba, Danomean, Muslim Guineans, Hausa, and Bantu; from Angola, Congo, and Mozambique” (Capoeira). “In the Colony they were mixed on the same plantations, making organized rebellions against captivity difficult” (Almeida, Bira). “In spite of the oppression, the Africans and their descendants developed an extraordinary cultural, social, and political universe parallel to the social system imposed on them, keeping alive many expressions of African culture, some of them traditionally preserved, other gradually assuming new forms”( Almeida, Bira). As these people were brought over to South America they brought with them their culture. “It was originated by Nigerian or Angolan ethnic groups where members fought with music and the winner won a partner, usually female” (Capoeira). “Batuque and Maculele are other fight-dances also developed by African- descended populations that are closely connected to Capoeira” (Capoeira). This strengthens the tie between Africans and the development of Capoeira in Brazil. It was these slaves that developed the current art form of Capoeira. It is believed that Capoeira was developed as a way for slaves to fight back against their oppressors, enable them to practice their traditions and art, and also as a way to lift the spirits of the enslaved. Slavery was abolished in 1888. This caused Capoeira became associated with criminal gangs. This was due to the fact that there was not enough work to support the now bigger population. Due to this lack of work many of the freed slaves joined or formed criminal gangs. “The now freed slaves continues to practice Capoeira, and it became associated with anti-government or criminal activities” (Capoeira). Even though the police tried mercifully to stop the practice of Capoeira; slashing Achilles’ tendons, knees, and even throats, it continued but moved further underground. “Persecution of the art faded eventually, and was entirely gone by 1918" (Capoeira).

Music

Music plays an important part in Capoeira; it sets the tempo and style of the game to be played. The music is made up of both song and instruments. “Many of the songs are sung in a call and response format while others are in the form of a narrative” (Capoeira). Songs are written about anything from love to less serious and more light hearted subjects. There is no real limit to what a Capoeira song can be about. “There are three basic kinds of songs in Capoeira. A ladainha (litany) is a narrative solo usually sung at the beginning of a roda. A ladainha is usually followed by a chula or louvacao, following a call and response pattern that usually thanks God and one’s teacher, among other things. Finally, corridos are songs that are sung while a game is being played, again following the call and response pattern” (Capoeira). An example of how music can play a part in the game is as follows. During the time that Capoeira was still outlawed in Brazil; “A special rhythm called cavalaria was added to the music to warn players that the police were coming” (Capoeira). Because of the African influence of Capoeira everyone is expect to participate in the music aspect of the art. This is either playing an instrument, clapping along, or singing.

Instruments

The most important musical element of Capoeira is the Berimbau. “The Berimbau is a symbol of authority and only one should be played” (Almeida, Bira). “Since there is no evidence of the use of monochordic instruments such as the Berimbau among Brazilian natives or the Portuguese people, it is concluded the Africans introduced it to Brazil” (Almeida, Bira). This helps to support the belief that Africans brought their cultural traditions with them as they were taken as slaves. Other instruments that are used in the practice of Capoeira include but are not limited to a Pandeiro, a Reco-reco, a Atabaque, and a Agogo. While these instruments are not used to direct the game, they are used to add color and enrich the music.

• Berimbau- “African origin, the Berimbau is used extensively in Capoeira. It has an unusual timbre produced by striking a rod and a ring or coin on a metal string attached to a bow with a resonating dried gourd. It is played together with a caxixi which is shaken while striking the string. Berimbau music is almost synonymous with Capoeira. Said to "command the circle", the Berimbau determines the kind of game (angola, regional, etc.) by playing the appropriate rhythm or toque” (Capoeira Sul).

• Pandeiro- “Originally from East Africa, the pandeiro (tambourine) is considered the complete percussion instrument because it has low, medium, and high timbres. Made of wood, goatskin, and five sets of jingles, the conventional pandeiro from Rio de Janerio was introduced into samba and chorinho as a rhythmic base. Later it spread all over Brazil in different ways, and rhythms. It is played in folkloric, pop, and erudite music, among other styles” (Capoeira Sul).

• Reco-reco- “The Reco-reco is made from a section of bamboo about a foot and a half long, with several notches carved on the side, over which a thin stick is rubbed” (Almeida, Bira).

• Atabaque- “The Atabaque is a large drum used in most of Capoeira rodas. The skin is made from cow hide, and tightened through a system of metal rings, rope and wooden wedges” (Capoeira Sul).

• Agogo- “Made of iron and steel, they are used in samba and its offshoots. The sound is made by striking a stick against the instrument’s two bells” (Capoeira Sul).

Styles of Capoeira

There are two main styles of Capoeira Angola and Regional. The major difference between the two is that Angola is the more traditional style, while Regional is a modified version of the art. Angola- “Angola is considered to be the mother form of Capoeira and is often characterized by deeply held traditions, slower, sneakier movements played closer to the ground and with players playing their games in closer proximity to each other than in regional” (Capoeira). “In 1942, Mestre Pastinha opened the first formal academy for instruction in the traditional form of the art, known as Capoeira Angola” (Capoeira). This was a major turning point for the preservation of the art. Prior to the opening of this school the only way that Capoeira was passed on was through family; a father or uncle teaching a son or nephew, or by older members of the community teaching small groups of boys. “Another significant change that occurred due to the proliferation of Capoeira ‘schools’ is the participation of middle and upper class members of the population” (Capoeira). This has led to a concern of poor black people not being able to afford to attend the schools. “This is an issue of concern to practitioners who recognize the importance of making the art available to people who come from the culture that invented the art in the first place” (Capoeira). Regional- “The importance of Mestre Bimba in the history of Capoeira was definitely established when he became the first mestre to open a formal school of Capoeira in 1932" (Almeida, Bira). “He developed the style called Capoeira regional, improving the technical quality of movements taught-creating sequences of training, and enriching his contemporary Capoeira with sweeps from batuque, a rough kind of dance-fight that he learned from his father” (Almeida, Bira). Thanks to Mestre Bimba’s efforts Capoeira was finally legalized in Brazil allowing it grow in popularity. “A notable example of the influence of Mestre Bimba’s system of formal instruction took place in 1937, when he was invited to perform with his students at an event at which Getulio Vargas, the president of Brazil at that time, was present. Vargas was so impressed with the discipline and devotion of Mestre’s students he declared capoeira the nation sport of Brazil” (Capoeira). “Another notable change that Mestre Bimba had was that he transformed the way people viewed Capoeira. Prior to legalization of the art, the public associated the art of Capoeira with the poor underclass, criminal activity, and negative stereotypical elements of the afro-Brazilian population” (Capoeira). To change the way that people looked at the art Mestre Bimba removed many of the rituals and traditions of the art.

The Game of Capoeira

Capoeira is played within a circle called a Roda. The game played within the Roda is called a Jogo. “The minimum Roda size is usually a circle where the radius is about 3 meters (10 feet) in diameter; can be up to 10 meters in diameter (30 feet)” (Capoeira). Inside the circle the rhythm of the Berimbau sets the speed and style of the game. There are two opponents that compete against one another. The never actually hit each other but rather test their own skills. “Most often in the Roda, the capoeirista’s greatest opponent is himself” (Capoeira). “Capoeira primarily attacks with kicks, sweeps, and head strikes” (Capoeira). “Some scholars have speculated that this is because the art was originally developed by handcuffed slaves fighting against their guards” (Capoeira). “Another possible explanation for the primary use of feet is the common West Africa belief that hands are for creation and feet for destruction” (Capoeira). In addition to kicks, sweeps, and head strikes are cartwheels, handstands, head spins, hand spins, and numerous other acrobatic moves. Capoeira is as much about offensive moves as it is about defensive moves.

References

• Almeida, Bira. Capoeira a Brazilian art form: history, philosophy, and practice. Berkeley, Calif.: North Atlantic Books. 1986.
• Capoeira Sul da Bahia capoeirasantabarbara.com January 23, 2007.