Capoeira: Brazil's martial art dance
Overview of capoeira.
Contunico © ZDF Studios GmbH, Mainz
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Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.Media Editor: Lauren Sims
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Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.Learn more about the life and career of Kobe Bryant.
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Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.Positioned about an arm's length from the net and ready to jump, the defender follows the flight of the ball with hands raised. The defender moves toward the net and into a blocking position in front of the presumed attacker. The defender then jumps, with both hands breaking the plane above the net.
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Wesleyan Virtual Instrument Museum 2.0 (https://wesomeka.wesleyan.edu/vim2)The berimbau, the leading instrument in the ensemble that accompanies the Brazilian martial art known as capoeira.
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© Susan V. CashionDancers from the Dominican Republic performing the baile de palo, an open-couple dance of African heritage.
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Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.Gini Gorlinski, associate editor of music and dance of Encyclopædia Britannica, discussing the berimbau.
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© Susan V. CashionDancers in Jalisco, Mex., performing the son de la negra, an open-couple dance. The man at times performs zapateado (rapid foot tapping), and the woman demonstrates characteristic skirt flourishes.
Transcript
NARRATOR: Pure Brazilian joie du vivre - drumming, singing, fighting and dancing all put together makes - capoeira. A group of capoeiristas from Frankfurt, Germany put on a show at a pool. This martial art was originally practiced by Brazilian slaves who disguised their battles as dances. To prepare for the battle, they train in the gym, a bit of acrobatics and some strength training. But capoeira is more than just a sport, it is a way of life. Max Caruse has been dancing and teaching capoeira for years.
MAX CARUSE: "A capoeira dancer should be an upstanding member of society. You try to train your body, improve your reflexes, gain fitness, learn how to do combat and to accept other people, no matter where they are from. We have to be careful when we perform very quick movements. You have to make sure you use your head and think before you move. The same is true in life. You think first and then you act."
NARRATOR: As so often in life, you have to react quickly and be flexible. It is a martial art, but without physical contact. It just looks as though there is.
CARUSE: "The idea is that you attack from the defensive, so your opponent is surprised. But you stop the movement at the last second knowing you would have got them."
NARRATOR: It is a simulated battle that requires a great deal of body control. There are barely any rules, just some basic moves, like the half moon, or the cobra. But not everyone can do it as well as Daniel.
DANIEL: "If both partners are good, nothing can go wrong. If one partner isn't as skilled there might be a mishap."
NARRATOR: The rhythm of the dance is given by instruments. Drums, berimbaus and old slave songs are all part of the training. No one is born a capoeira champion. It takes years of training to reach a top level. They say it takes half a lifetime to become a master. One thing is certain, you're guaranteed to have fun getting there. And it's even more fun to actually do battle than it is just watching. Capoeira - a traditional martial art rediscovered.
MAX CARUSE: "A capoeira dancer should be an upstanding member of society. You try to train your body, improve your reflexes, gain fitness, learn how to do combat and to accept other people, no matter where they are from. We have to be careful when we perform very quick movements. You have to make sure you use your head and think before you move. The same is true in life. You think first and then you act."
NARRATOR: As so often in life, you have to react quickly and be flexible. It is a martial art, but without physical contact. It just looks as though there is.
CARUSE: "The idea is that you attack from the defensive, so your opponent is surprised. But you stop the movement at the last second knowing you would have got them."
NARRATOR: It is a simulated battle that requires a great deal of body control. There are barely any rules, just some basic moves, like the half moon, or the cobra. But not everyone can do it as well as Daniel.
DANIEL: "If both partners are good, nothing can go wrong. If one partner isn't as skilled there might be a mishap."
NARRATOR: The rhythm of the dance is given by instruments. Drums, berimbaus and old slave songs are all part of the training. No one is born a capoeira champion. It takes years of training to reach a top level. They say it takes half a lifetime to become a master. One thing is certain, you're guaranteed to have fun getting there. And it's even more fun to actually do battle than it is just watching. Capoeira - a traditional martial art rediscovered.