Capoeira is a fight, a dance, a game, and a way of living. Capoeira is a uniquely Afro-Brazil martial art. Unfortunately, very little is known about the origins of capoeira because of the lack of recorded history inside these ancient slave communities. Most of capoeira’s history has been related through its strong musical tradition.

Capoeira exists today in many forms and practices, throughout Brazil and the rest of the world. An intensely public and private undertaking, both theatrical and intimate in nature, capoeira is musically and culturally rich, physically dynamic, spiritually stimulating. It is truly a gift for individuals from all walks of life, with a focus on liberation and freedom, not strife and exclusion.

Movements are utilized in a way uncommon of the asian martial arts; the focus of the art form is not physical domination by force but rather by cunning (malicia) and often theatrical displays of physical prowess and mental agility. Organized competition is largely absent from capoeira, but a competitive attitude between players (capoeiristas) is presumed.

While at first glance capoeira can appear to be a non-contact martial art, physical contact is allowed at any time. Many foot sweeps, takedowns, headbutts and kicks do make contact. However, overt physical aggressiveness is discouraged, while the focus is put on the careful execution of these attacks and escapes. Most capoeiristas understand these guidelines as more like unspoken etiquette than rules. Capoeira really has no rules, just expected behavior. The elements of dance are evident in the art’s aesthetic center.

Capoeira is generally un-choreographed, but knowledge of certain movements and sequences is necessary for a successful game. Some movements (Chamadas, for example) require that the players work in unison briefly before returning to their competitive ways.

The entire roda of capoeira is made up by a ring of participants, as much to focus the energy and establish a playing space as to shield the game from view of outsiders- this hails back to capoeira’s colonial days of abolition. Capoeira was illegal in Brazil until the 1920s, well after the Brazilian abolition of slavery in 1888.