A Capoeira

[Explorer]

Capoeira is a Brazilian art form that combines dance, martial art, and traditional music. It was created by African slaves as a means to achieve their liberty during the colonial era.

Those people managed to disguise the Capoeira as a folk dance, in such a way they could train their fighting skills before the eyes of the landlords. Eventually, some of them were able to escape from the plantations and survived forming small villages called Quilombos.

Today this is one of the most recognizable cultural expressions of Brazil.

[Explorer]

Some capoeira songs:

[Explorer]

some of them were able to escape from the plantations and survived forming small villages called Quilombos.

Quilombo comes from Kimbundu, one of the most widely spoken Bantu tongues in Angola. The word kilombo stands for warrior camp in that language.

It's interesting to note that in some parts of Latin America (e.g. Argentina) the term is now commonly used to describe a problematic or chaotic situation. For instance: esto es un quilombo (this is a mess). Or ¿qué es este quilombo? (what the hell is going on?). However, in Portuguese it's not used in that sense. Quilombo can be simply translated as camp or community.

[gmads]

Capoeira is a Brazilian art form that combines dance, martial art, and traditional music. It was created by African slaves as a means to achieve their liberty during the colonial era.

I think I first saw Capoeira in a movie. While flashy, fluid and fun, I have always wondered about its practicality... it may have worked back then, but imagine being in a subway, a crowded street or a in confined space

Another thing that comes into mind has to do with how is it practiced in real life... I mean, how do students actually practice it, do they hit and kick each other during class or it is practiced much as a Karate Kata: just doing and repeating the moves?

[gmads]

some of them were able to escape from the plantations and survived forming small villages called Quilombos.

Quilombo comes from Kimbundu, one of the most widely spoken Bantu tongues in Angola. The word kilombo stands for warrior camp in that language.

It's interesting to note that in some parts of Latin America (e.g. Argentina) the term is now commonly used to describe a problematic or chaotic situation. For instance: esto es un quilombo (this is a mess). Or ¿qué es este quilombo? (what the hell is going on?). However, in Portuguese it's not used in that sense. Quilombo can be simply translated as camp or community.

Interesting! New word/expression.... ¡¿Qué quilombo es este?!

[gmads]

Some capoeira songs:

Five seconds... feet start moving...

[Explorer]

I have always wondered about its practicality... it may have worked back then, but imagine being in a subway, a crowded street or a in confined space

Marcus Aurelio (a MMA fighter, not the Roman emperor) uses capoeira techniques with considerable success. You can check out a few videos of him on YouTube. However, I'm not sure if it's indeed the most effective fighting style. All those jumps, flips, and tricks can be quite a tiring thing. They may also be intimidating for the opponent though.

Another thing that comes into mind has to do with how is it practiced in real life... I mean, how do students actually practice it, do they hit and kick each other during class or it is practiced much as a Karate Kata: just doing and repeating the moves?

There are escolas de capoeira everywhere, but the best capoeristas I've ever seen learned how to dance on the streets (na rua). It looks like they are fighting but it's just an improvised performance. They almost never hit each other.

Five seconds... feet start moving...

If you are going to dance capoeira, be sure you have enough space to do it. You don't want to break lamps and vases all over the house, do you?