KEEP CAPOEIRA FREE!!!
Capoeira is an Afro- Brazilian martial art developed by African slaves in Brazil, starting in the colonial period. The slaves disguised the fight form as a dance with the intention to potentionally defend themselves against the tyranny of the slaveowners.Capoeira is marked by deft, tricky movements often played on the ground or completely inverted. It also has a strong acrobatic component in some versions and is always played with authentic music.
There are two main styles of capoeira that are clearly distinct. One is called Angola, which is characterized by slow, low play with particular attention to the rituals and tradition of capoeira, in particular the disguise as some type of dance. The other style is Regional (pronounced 'heh-jeeh-oh-nahl'), known for its fluid acrobatic play, where technique and strategy are the key points. Both styles are marked by the use of attacks and counter-attacks, and use groundwork extensively, as well as sweeps, kicks, and headbutts.