Capoeira

Capoeira is a martial art developed by African slaves in Brazil around the year 1500's. Dance-like movements in capoeira and dotted heavily on kicks. The fight in capoeira is usually accompanied by music and called Jogo. Capoeira is often criticized because many people doubted its worth in real combat, compared to other martial arts such as karate or taekwondo.

Capoeira is a traditional martial system founded in Brazil by African slaves brought by the Portuguese to Brazil to work on large plantations. In ancient times they were put through exercises to the accompaniment of traditional musical instruments, such as the berimbau (a wooden arch with strings that has been hit with a small timber for menggetarkannya) and atabaque (large drum), and is also easier for them to hide the practice them in various activities such as pleasure in the feast made by the slaves at their residence named senzala. When an escaped slave he will be chased by a "hunter" named professional armed capitães-do-Mato (captain forest). Usually capoeira is the only martial arts used by slaves to defend themselves. The fight they usually occur in the field in the forest in Tupi-Guarani language (one of the indigenous languages in Brazil), called CAA-puêra - some historians argue that this is the origin of the name of the martial arts. Those who had fled villages gather in the fenced named quilombo, in places difficult to reach. Quilombo Palmares of the most important thing is that where the population never reached totaling ten thousand and last until approximately sixty years against the powers that want to invade them. 

 Chairman of the their most popular named Zumbi. When the law to eliminate slavery emerged and Brazil began to import workers white workers from countries such as Portugal, Spain and Italy to work in agriculture, many negroes had to migrate to cities to live, and because many of those who do not have a job started to become criminals. Capoeira, which had become an urban and began to learn by white people, in cities like Rio de Janeiro, Salvador da Bahia and Recife, began to be viewed by the public as a game of criminals and street people, the law appears to prohibit Capoeira. It seems at this time that they start using a razor in a fight, this is the influence of capoeira player who comes from Portugal and sing the Fado (traditional Portuguese music that is similar to keroncong). At that time also some sectors of the elite Brazilian racist shouting against the influence of African culture in the country, and wanted to "whiten" their country. After about half a century in a clandestine, and people mepelajarinya hidden in the streets and in the pages behind the house, Manuel dos Reis Machado, the Master (Mestre) Bimba, held a show for the Getúlio Vargas, president of Brazil at the time it, and this is a new beginning for capoeira. Starting established academies, that the public can learn capoeira game. The names of the most important at that time was Vicente Ferreira Pastinha (The Teacher Pastinha), who teaches the school of "Angola", a very traditional, and Mestre Bimba, who founded the flow with some innovations that he called the "Regional".

Since that time until the present capoeira through a long journey. Today capoeira studied almost all over the world, from Portugal to Norway, the United States to Australia, from Indonesia to Japan. In Indonesia capoeira already known to many people, in addition to an existing group in Yogyakarta, also there are some groups in Jakarta. Many players who are interested in learning capoeira because the environment is so relaxed and happy, is not the same harsh discipline that is usually contained in the system of martial arts from the East. As once said by a great writer Jorge Amado of Brazil, this "battle of the most beautiful in the whole world, because this is also a dance." In capoeira basic movement techniques starting from "Ginga" and not from the stop position which is characteristic of karate, taekwondo, martial arts, wushu kung fu, etc ...; Ginga body movements are ongoing and aims to find the right time to attack or defend themselves, who are often shy away from attacks. In the wheel of capoeira players to test themselves, pass the game match, in the middle of the circle made by the players of music with African musical instruments and sing various songs, and other players clapped and sang the chorus. Lyrics to the songs of the history of arts, professor at the time of past and present, about life during slavery, and resistance to achieve independence. Style of playing music have different rhythms for a variety of games capoeira, there is a slow and some are fast.

Capoeira is not just become a culture, but also a national sport in Brazil, and the teachers from that country to make capoeira becomes continuously more international, teaching in student groups, a variety of fitness centers, small organizations, etc.. Their students learn to sing the songs of Capoeira with Portuguese language - "Capoeira é pre Homi, / mininu e mulhé ..." (Capoeira for men, / the children and women).
In Indonesia, the same as in other countries, the possibility of Capoeira will be growing.

Some movement in Capoeira:

   1. Ginga
   2. Handstand
   3. Backflip
   4. Headspin
   5. Whirling Handstand