Although Capoeira is known to be a Brazilian martial art, its history actually begins in Africa.
It was 500 years ago when the lives of many African tribes changed for good. The colonial ambitions of the Portuguese to settle in South America brought a need for cheap work force to handle the tough conditions of the new land. Whole tribes were taken from their home land of Africa, put on ships and taken to Brazil, where they were to become slaves. Those who survived the trip were scattered through the land, where they worked under the whip of their lord (Senior).
This was the reality of life in Brazil: Living in Chicken coops (Senzala), working in the fields all day long, those who tried to rise or rebel got whipped; those who were injured or too weak to work were executed. The only thing that kept the slaves going was their hope of freedom and their longing for home. By nightfall the slaves would go out onto the fields and practice their tribal ceremonies with music, dancing and singing songs of freedom.
The slaves were not allowed to practice any kind of martial art; the lords did not want them to have tools for escape. Instead of openly practicing martial arts, the slaves used their nightly rituals to masquerade their training. The fighting moves were hidden in the dance; cries of war were hidden in the songs; weapons were crafted in the shape of musical instruments. They practiced their speed, strength and accuracy, but never had they actually hit each other, for there is no use having an injured slave. And so a new martial art was created: Capoeira. Eventually the African slaves used Capoeira to fight their way to freedom, living in the Jungles of Brazil in barricaded cities called ‘Quilombus’.
Slavery ended in the year of 1898. Even though free, Capoeira’s way to freedom was not over. Capoeira has been outlawed; those who practiced Capoeira or were caught teaching the forbidden art were jailed without trial. The freed slaves had become criminals; Capoeiristas (people who practiced Capoeira) were hunted down by the police, and had to used nicknames and aliases to hide from the authorities. Once again Capoeira was only to be practiced in hiding.
All this changed with the coming of Mestre Bimba. Bimba, who was knowledgeable in eastern martial arts as well as with Capoeira, decided to take the Capoeira out of the streets. Mestre Bimba and his students demonstrated the efficiency of Capoeira to the Brazilian police in a series of exhibitions, which changed the government’s mind about the forbidden art. Bimba was granted with a chance to teach the Brazilian forces, and Capoeiristas were once again free.
With slavery abolished and crime under control, Brazil became a great attraction for western tourists. Capoeira, which until then was the property of Brazilians alone, became known to people from Europe, Asia, North America and more. People from all corners of the globe traveled to Brazil, wishing to learn the art of the slaves. The Capoeira has grown out of the borders of Brazil, and is taught today all around the world, from Los Angeles to Jerusalem, from Sidney to Marrakech. |
