What is Capoeira? Exploring Brazil’s Afro-Brazilian Ritual

What is Capoeira? More Than a Martial Art

The Unique Blend: Fight, Dance, and Game

At its heart, capoeira is a dynamic Afro-Brazilian cultural practice that masterfully combines elements of martial arts, dance, acrobatics, and music. It is an art form born from a history of struggle and a celebration of freedom. To witness capoeira is to see a fluid, rhythmic exchange that is simultaneously beautiful and powerful, a physical expression of a rich and resilient heritage. Understanding this rich heritage is key to appreciating the cultural depth of places like Salvador de Bahia, where such traditions are deeply ingrained.

Central to capoeira is the concept of the jogo, which translates to “the game.” This is not a fight to inflict harm, but a physical dialogue between two players inside a circle of people known as the roda. The players test each other’s skills, reflexes, and creativity through a continuous flow of attacks, escapes, and acrobatic movements. The objective is not to land a blow, but to demonstrate superiority by controlling the space and anticipating the other player’s actions, all while maintaining the rhythm set by the music.

A key element that animates the jogo is malícia. This Portuguese word, often translated as cunning or trickery, is the soul of capoeira strategy. It is the art of deception—using feints, unpredictable movements, and a playful demeanor to mislead an opponent and create openings. Malícia is about mental agility as much as physical prowess; it’s the intelligence that turns a physical exchange into a captivating chess match of the body.

Why It’s Not Just a “Dance-Fight”

The common label “dance-fighting” is a vast oversimplification that misses the art’s profound depth and historical significance. While its movements are graceful and rhythmic, capoeira is a highly effective and legitimate martial art. Its sweeping kicks, deceptive takedowns, and fluid evasions are designed for self-defense. The “dance” is not mere decoration; it is a sophisticated method of movement, disguise, and energy conservation that makes the capoeirista a formidable and unpredictable opponent.

The dance-like quality is a direct legacy of capoeira’s origins. During the era of slavery in Brazil, enslaved Africans were forbidden from practicing any form of combat. To hone their self-defense skills under the watchful eyes of their captors, they disguised their training as a festive dance. The music, singing, and fluid motions were a brilliant camouflage, allowing them to practice kicks, dodges, and takedowns in plain sight. This history is woven into every movement, making capoeira a living testament to resistance and ingenuity.

The core philosophy of capoeira revolves around flow, improvisation, and constant motion. Unlike martial arts with rigid stances and pre-set forms, capoeira emphasizes the ability to move continuously and adapt spontaneously. The foundational movement, the ginga, keeps the body in a constant state of flux, making it impossible for an opponent to predict the next move. This philosophy of non-stop, fluid motion is both a practical combat strategy and a metaphor for life’s challenges—teaching practitioners to be flexible, resilient, and always ready to respond to the unexpected.

The Powerful History of Capoeira: A Story of Resistance

To understand capoeira is to understand a history of survival, resilience, and liberation. It is not merely a set of physical movements; it is an art form forged in the crucible of oppression, carrying the spirit of those who fought for their freedom and cultural identity. Its story is a powerful testament to the human will to endure and create beauty out of suffering.

Origins in Afro-Brazilian Slavery

The roots of capoeira are entwined with the transatlantic slave trade. From the 16th to the 19th century, millions of Africans were forcibly brought to Brazil to labor on sugar plantations. Hailing from diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds, they brought with them a rich tapestry of traditions, music, and combat practices. In the oppressive environment of the plantations, these disparate cultures began to merge, creating new, uniquely Afro-Brazilian forms of expression, such as those found in the vibrant culture of Salvador, Brazil.

Within the slave quarters, known as senzalas, capoeira began to take shape. It was developed as a clandestine tool for self-defense, its lethal potential disguised by dance-like movements, rhythmic music, and playful interactions. This disguise was essential for survival, allowing practitioners to train and hone their combat skills under the unsuspecting eyes of their captors. In the quilombos—sprawling settlements founded by escaped slaves—capoeira became a vital instrument for defending their freedom. The most famous of these, the Quilombo dos Palmares, was led by the legendary warrior Zumbi dos Palmares, a figure who has become a powerful symbol of Black resistance and is forever linked to the defiant spirit of capoeira.

The Underground Years: Prohibition and Persecution

When slavery was formally abolished in Brazil in 1888, the struggle for capoeiristas was far from over. The newly freed Afro-Brazilian population was largely marginalized, lacking land, employment, and social standing. Capoeira, associated with this disenfranchised class, was feared by the ruling elite and officially outlawed by the Brazilian Penal Code in 1890. The simple act of practicing capoeira could lead to imprisonment and brutal punishment. For travelers planning a visit, understanding safety in Brazil is crucial, especially when exploring areas with complex histories.

During this period, capoeiristas were often associated with street gangs, or maltas, who used their skills in territorial disputes and as bodyguards for hire. This reinforced the art’s negative reputation and led to intense police persecution. To protect themselves from the authorities, practitioners adopted apelidos (nicknames). This tradition served a crucial purpose: it concealed their true identities, making it difficult for police to track and prosecute them. Today, the tradition of the apelido continues, not as a necessity for hiding, but as a rite of passage and a mark of respect within the capoeira community.

The Rise of the Masters: Legitimization and Preservation

The 20th century saw the emergence of two legendary figures who would not only ensure capoeira’s survival but also shape its future. These two masters, with their distinct philosophies, are responsible for the two main styles we know today.

Mestre Bimba and the Creation of Capoeira Regional

Manoel dos Reis Machado, known as Mestre Bimba, was a visionary who sought to legitimize capoeira and rescue it from the criminal underworld. He believed that by structuring the art and emphasizing its effectiveness as a fighting method, he could gain social acceptance. In 1932, he opened the first formal capoeira academy, presenting his style as a “regional fight from Bahia” — Luta Regional Baiana. This was a pivotal moment, as it led to official recognition by the government.

Mestre Bimba’s style, Capoeira Regional, is characterized by a more structured teaching method, including a series of teaching sequences (sequências de ensino) and a formal graduation system. The game is typically faster, more upright, and objective, with a clear emphasis on martial application, efficiency, and acrobatic prowess.

Mestre Pastinha and the Preservation of Capoeira Angola

In contrast to Bimba’s innovations, Vicente Ferreira Pastinha, or Mestre Pastinha, dedicated his life to preserving the traditional, ritualistic, and ancestral roots of capoeira. He is considered the “philosopher of the art” and the guardian of what he termed Capoeira Angola, in honor of its African heritage. He opened his academy in 1941, establishing a cultural center for the practice and study of capoeira in its most traditional form.

Capoeira Angola is defined by its slower, more grounded movements. The game is played low to the floor and is highly strategic, emphasizing deception, theatricality, and the element of malícia (cunning). For Pastinha, capoeira was not just a fight but a complete cultural expression, a game of intellect and intuition where the dialogue between the players was paramount.

The Core Elements of the Capoeira Game

The Foundation: The Ginga

At the very heart of capoeira is the ginga (pronounced *zheen-ga*). It is not a static stance but a constant, flowing, rhythmic motion—a triangular, back-and-forth footwork that is the heartbeat of the game. From the ginga, every attack, escape, and acrobatic flourish is born. Its purpose is threefold: it keeps the body in a state of perpetual motion, making the capoeirista an unpredictable target; it serves to disguise intentions, feint attacks, and set up more complex movements; and it conserves energy, allowing the player to relax within the rhythm before exploding into action.

The Language of Movement: Golpes, Esquivas, and Floreios

The physical dialogue of capoeira is spoken through a vocabulary of movements. These are broadly categorized into attacks (golpes), escapes (esquivas), and acrobatic movements (floreios). A skilled player seamlessly blends these three elements, creating a fluid and unpredictable conversation of motion.

Golpes: The Attacks

While capoeira emphasizes flow, it is rooted in a history of self-defense, and its attacks are both effective and deceptive. The primary weapons are the legs, used to deliver powerful and surprising kicks, sweeps, and takedowns.

• Kicks: The most iconic attacks are often powerful, spinning kicks that generate immense torque. Key examples include the Meia Lua de Compasso (a low, spinning, inverted kick), the Armada (a spinning kick that turns the back to the opponent), and the Queixada (an outside-to-inside crescent kick).
• Takedowns: Rather than grappling, capoeira focuses on unbalancing an opponent. Takedowns like the Rasteira (a low leg sweep), the Banda (a hooking trip targeting the foot or ankle), and the Tesoura (a “scissors” movement with the legs to trap and fell an opponent) are fundamental.
• Headbutts and Hand Strikes: While less frequent, direct strikes are part of the arsenal. The Cabeçada (headbutt) is a powerful close-range attack, and various hand strikes like the Galopante (an open-handed strike to the face or ear) exist, though they are often simulated in the friendly roda.

Esquivas: The Escapes

The philosophy of capoeira defense is not to block, but to evade. An esquiva is more than a dodge; it is a fluid movement that avoids an attack while simultaneously preparing a counter-attack. This principle of “esquivar” (to escape) ensures the game never stops. Instead of a rigid defense, the player melts away from an attack, staying low and maintaining the flow.

• Cocorinha: A low squat, dropping the body’s center of gravity below a horizontal kick while keeping the hands up to protect the face.
• Esquiva Lateral: A “side escape” where the player steps to the side and leans their torso away from a kick, with one hand planted on the floor for support.
• Negativa: A low, grounded movement where one leg is extended and the other is tucked, allowing the player to drop under a kick and transition into another move, like a rasteira or a role.

Floreios: The Acrobatics

Floreios are the beautiful, acrobatic movements that often captivate spectators. However, they are not just for show. These flourishes serve a dual purpose: they demonstrate a player’s skill, balance, and control, while also acting as tactical maneuvers to change position, create space, or launch a surprise attack. A well-placed floreio can be as effective as it is beautiful.

• Aú: The capoeira cartwheel. Unlike a gymnastic cartwheel, it is often done slowly and low to the ground, with bent arms and legs, keeping an eye on the opponent throughout. It can be used to escape, transition, or even kick.
• Macaco: The “monkey” flip, a low, one-handed back handspring used to move from a low position (like negativa) to a standing one.
• Pião de Cabeça: A “head spin,” where the player balances on their head and spins their body, often used to transition between other grounded movements.

The Soul of Capoeira: Music and the Roda

If the movements are the language of capoeira, then music is its soul. A capoeira game, or jogo, cannot exist without the vibrant, driving energy of its music and the sacred circle in which it is played. This combination of sound, song, and space transforms a simple physical exchange into a rich cultural and spiritual experience. Experiencing this in Salvador de Bahia, the birthplace of many Afro-Brazilian traditions, is unforgettable.

The Roda: The Circle of Energy

Imagine a circle of people, clapping in unison to a pulsating rhythm. In the center, two players flow and weave around each other in a dynamic physical conversation. The air is thick with energy, or axé, a palpable force generated by the music, the singing, and the focused intent of every person present. This is the roda (pronounced ‘ho-da’), the circle where capoeira comes to life. It is not an audience watching a performance, but a community of active participants who collectively shape the game.

The roda is formed by the capoeiristas themselves, with the orchestra, known as the bateria, positioned at the “head” of the circle. To enter the game, two players crouch at the “foot” of the circle, directly in front of the main instrument, the berimbau. They wait for a break in the music, make eye contact, shake hands, and then enter the circle, often with a cartwheel or a similar acrobatic movement. The circle acts as a container, focusing the energy and creating an intimate arena for the players. It is both a physical boundary and a spiritual vessel, holding the history, traditions, and collective energy of the group.

The Orchestra: The Bateria

The bateria is the heartbeat of the roda. It is a small orchestra of unique Afro-Brazilian instruments that provides the rhythm, melody, and tempo for the game. The specific instruments used can vary by style and group, but they are always led by the commanding presence of the berimbau.

The Berimbau: The Lead Instrument

The berimbau is a single-stringed musical bow, and it is the undisputed conductor of the capoeira game. Its distinct, twanging sound dictates the pace and style of play. A slow, mournful rhythm calls for a strategic, low-to-the-ground game, while a fast, sharp rhythm will inspire quick, acrobatic exchanges. The person playing the lead berimbau is typically the leader of the roda. There are three main types of berimbau, each with a specific role:

• Gunga: The lowest-pitched berimbau, which holds the primary rhythm and bass line.
• Médio: The middle-pitched berimbau, which plays a complementary rhythm to the Gunga.
• Viola: The highest-pitched berimbau, which improvises, adds flair, and plays variations over the main rhythm.

The different rhythms played on the berimbau are called toques. Each toque has a name and a meaning, often signaling a specific type of game to be played, such as the slow and ritualistic Angola toque or the fast-paced São Bento Grande de Regional.

Supporting Instruments

While the berimbau leads, a full bateria includes several other instruments that create a rich, layered soundscape:

• Pandeiro: A Brazilian tambourine that provides a steady, driving rhythm, like the snare drum of the orchestra.
• Atabaque: A tall, Afro-Brazilian hand drum that provides the deep, foundational bass beat, anchoring the entire orchestra.
• Agogô: A double-headed cowbell struck with a stick, adding a high-pitched, melodic pattern that cuts through the other sounds.
• Reco-reco: A scraped gourd or bamboo instrument that adds a percussive, textured scratching sound to the rhythm section.

The Voice of the Roda: The Cantigas

The final layer of the capoeira soundscape is the human voice. The songs, or cantigas, are sung in a call-and-response format. A lead singer, usually the mestre playing the Gunga, sings a verse, and the rest of the roda responds in a powerful chorus. This collective singing builds axé and connects everyone in the circle to the history and spirit of the art. Learning about the spiritual side of capoeira is key to understanding its roots, similar to learning about Candomblé in Salvador.

The lyrics of the cantigas are a living library of capoeira’s history. They tell stories of legendary masters, of life during slavery, of heroic acts of resistance, and of the philosophies that guide the game. The songs serve as oral history, passing down knowledge and values from one generation to the next. There are several types of songs, each with a specific function:

• Ladaínhas: A litany or solo narrative sung by the lead singer at the beginning of a roda, often telling a historical story or offering a piece of wisdom before the game begins.
• Corridos: The most common type of song, these are fast-paced call-and-response songs sung during the game to energize the players.
• Chulas: A form of call-and-response chant that follows the ladaínha, praising capoeira, the masters, and God.

The Major Styles of Capoeira

As capoeira evolved from the clandestine circles of resistance to the respected global art form it is today, it branched into distinct philosophical and methodological styles. While countless variations exist under different masters, the art is primarily understood through three major branches: Angola, Regional, and the modern fusion known as Contemporânea.

Capoeira Angola

Capoeira Angola is considered the most traditional and oldest style, deeply connected to the art’s African roots. Championed and preserved by Mestre Pastinha, Angola is less about overt combat and more about a strategic, ritualistic conversation. It is a game of immense cunning (malícia) and theatricality, where players move with deliberate slowness, staying low to the ground. The game is a physical chess match, filled with trickery, feints, and unexpected movements designed to lure an opponent into a trap. The music is typically slower, setting a contemplative yet tense atmosphere for the game unfolding in the roda.

• Focus: Tradition, ritual, and strategy.
• Movement: Slower, lower-to-the-ground, and fluid.
• Philosophy: Emphasizes cunning (malícia), deception, and theatrical expression.

Capoeira Regional

In the 1930s, seeking to legitimize capoeira and shed its association with criminality, Mestre Bimba developed Capoeira Regional. He created a structured teaching method, complete with sequences of movements (sequências) and a belt system, making it more accessible and palatable to the Brazilian middle and upper classes. The Regional style is faster, more objective, and more overtly martial. The movements are more upright and acrobatic, with a clear emphasis on effective attacks and takedowns. Mestre Bimba’s work was revolutionary, transforming capoeira’s public perception and paving the way for its legal acceptance.

• Focus: Efficiency, structure, and martial application.
• Movement: Faster, more acrobatic, and direct.
• Philosophy: Based on a formal teaching methodology developed for practicality and objective skill-building.

Capoeira Contemporânea (Contemporary)

Capoeira Contemporânea is not a single, rigid style but rather a modern umbrella term for the many groups that fuse elements of both Angola and Regional. This is the style most commonly practiced in academies around the world today. It embraces the strategic depth and ground game of Angola while incorporating the speed, acrobatics, and structured training of Regional. A Contemporânea roda might feature a slow, tricky Angola-style game one moment and an explosive, high-flying Regional-style exchange the next. This hybrid approach allows for a vast and diverse vocabulary of movement, incorporating everything from intricate floorwork to spectacular aerial kicks and floreios.

• Focus: A synthesis of tradition and modern innovation.
• Movement: Highly versatile, blending the low, strategic play of Angola with the fast, acrobatic techniques of Regional.
• Philosophy: An inclusive approach that values techniques from both parent styles, often resulting in a dynamic and physically demanding game.

How to Get Started with Capoeira

Stepping into the world of capoeira is an invitation to join a global community rich with history, music, and movement. The journey begins with finding a group and taking that first class. Here is some guidance on how to start your practice.

Finding the Right Academy or Group

The group you join will shape your entire capoeira experience. A good academia (school) is more than just a place to train; it’s a community. The quality of teaching and the atmosphere are paramount.

• Research Local Schools: Begin with an online search for “capoeira” in your area. Look for groups with a clear lineage and connection to a recognized master. Read reviews and check their social media to get a feel for their community and style.
• The Importance of the Teacher: Your instructor, whether a Mestre (Master), Contramestre (Sub-master), or Professor (Teacher), is your guide. A good teacher is not only skilled in movement but is also a guardian of capoeira’s history, music, and philosophy. They should foster an environment of respect and mutual growth.
• What to Look for in a Trial Class: Most schools offer a trial class. Pay attention to more than just the physical movements. Is the atmosphere welcoming and inclusive? Does the instructor prioritize safety and provide clear, patient instruction for beginners? Observe the interactions between senior and junior students. A healthy group feels like a supportive family.

Your First Class: What to Expect

Your first capoeira class can feel like a whirlwind of new movements, Portuguese words, and music. Embrace the experience with an open mind. The primary goal is not to be perfect, but to participate and learn.

A typical class begins with a thorough warm-up, followed by drills of fundamental movements like the Ginga, basic kicks (golpes), and evasions (esquivas). You will likely be introduced to the music, perhaps learning to clap in rhythm or sing the chorus of a simple song. The class often culminates in a roda, where students can practice the game. As a beginner, you will likely observe at first, or be guided through a slow, simple game with an instructor or senior student.

For attire, comfort and freedom of movement are key. Wear loose-fitting athletic pants and a t-shirt. Most schools train barefoot. Above all, the most important part of your first class is to listen, observe, and show respect for the space, the teacher, and the traditions of the art form.

The Benefits of Practicing Capoeira

Capoeira offers a holistic set of benefits that develop the practitioner’s body, mind, and social connections. It is a practice that nurtures well-being from multiple angles.

Physical Benefits

As a physical discipline, capoeira is exceptionally comprehensive. It is a full-body workout that simultaneously builds cardiovascular endurance, functional strength, and explosive power. The constant, fluid movements of the Ginga and the dynamic nature of the attacks and escapes dramatically improve flexibility, coordination, agility, and balance.

Mental and Social Benefits

Beyond the physical, capoeira is a powerful tool for mental development. The improvisational nature of the game hones strategic thinking and problem-solving skills under pressure. It builds confidence and provides a healthy outlet for stress relief. Joining a capoeira group means becoming part of a vibrant, supportive global community. This connection fosters social bonds while offering a deep, immersive education in Brazilian culture and the Portuguese language through its songs and traditions.