The Capoeira fighter is an athlete who is capable of executing almost gymnastic-like techniques that are reminiscent of a dance. However, like all of the best martial arts systems, it should not be underestimated as it can be a powerful form of combat that has been developed and refined into a deadly fighting style that is unique within martial arts history.
The full details of capoeira history are unknown and have gone largely unstudied by academics. It is known that it was started by African slaves who brought the fighting and dancing techniques of capoeira to Brazil when they were taken there by the Portuguese Conquistadors. However, it is unclear whether these techniques came across as an already formed fighting system, or were put together by slaves wishing to learn martial arts.
Capoeira History in Africa
One possibility is that capoeira history is older than the arrival of the slaves in Brazil and had already been developed in Africa by the time they got there. It could be that it was already a part of the culture from one of a number of possible African regions and was brought over with the slaves that began arriving in around 1500 CE.According to Portuguese scholar Albano de Neves e Souza: "Among the Mucupe in Southern Angola, there is a zebra dance, the n’golo ... The n'golo is capoeira." Brazil as the birthplace for capoeira is also brought into question by African scholar Dr K. Kia Bunseki Fu-Kia, who believes it has its origins in the Congo. He stated in 1993: "Kipura, in the Congo cultural context, is ... an individual whose techniques of fight or struggle are based or developed on the ground of rooster's fighting techniques."
The History of Capoeira - Brazil
The fact that the capoeira fighter sprang up in different parts of Brazil around the time the slaves arrived with apparently no connection between captives in different regions seems to support the African roots theory. However, a more popular view is that the martial art began in Brazil. Professor of Journalism Augusto Ferreira believes capoeira moves were first developed as fighting techniques by runaway slaves in order to defend themselves. Tens of thousands of them escaped forming thousands of hidden societies known as quilombos (settlements) and this, according to Ferreira, was where capoeira was developed.
Alternatively, some believe the history of fighting in the capoeira style came from urban areas of Brazil and was originally a game played by slaves at market. Prominent Brazilian linguist Antenor Nascentes believes that slaves carrying baskets of chickens on their heads formed the game as the word they used for the basket was capoeiras. Nascentes stated, "The slaves ... would enjoy themselves by playing the game of capoeira. As a metonymy res pro persona, the name of the thing was passed on to the person related with it."
Alternatively, some believe the history of fighting in the capoeira style came from urban areas of Brazil and was originally a game played by slaves at market. Prominent Brazilian linguist Antenor Nascentes believes that slaves carrying baskets of chickens on their heads formed the game as the word they used for the basket was capoeiras. Nascentes stated, "The slaves ... would enjoy themselves by playing the game of capoeira. As a metonymy res pro persona, the name of the thing was passed on to the person related with it."
Conclusion
The exact history of the martial arts form known as capoeira may never be known for sure. It may have arrived from Africa with the slaves and be a combination of some of the best martial arts from the continent, or it may have originated as an art form in Brazil. What can be determined is that it is heavily influenced by African cultures. What’s more, it has adapted to the needs of the people who have used it down the centuries and continues to do so. As the great Mestre Pastinha once said, "capoeira is capoeira, is capoeira, is capoeira."
Capoeira History. [Internet]. 2012. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Available from: http://capoeira.union.rpi.edu/history.php [Accessed 13 November, 2012].
What is Capoeira? [Internet]. 2012. Princeton University. Available from: http://www.princeton.edu/~capoeira/ln_abt.html [Accessed 13 November, 2012].
Quotes from Mestre Pastinha. [Internet]. 2011. Capoeira Connection. Available from: http://capoeira-connection.com/capoeira/2011/10/quotes-from-mestre-pastinha-1967/ [Accessed 24 November, 2012].
Written by Andrew Griffiths – Last updated 24/10/2023. If you like
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Further Reading:
Capoeira - An Introductory History. [Internet]. 1996. The Latin American Institute. Available from: http://www.capoeira.bz/mestreacordeon/capoeira/history.html [Accessed 13 November, 2012].Capoeira History. [Internet]. 2012. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Available from: http://capoeira.union.rpi.edu/history.php [Accessed 13 November, 2012].
Maroon People. [Internet]. 2012. National Geographic. Available from: http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2012/04/maroon-people/mann-hecht-text [Accessed 13 November, 2012].
What is Capoeira? [Internet]. 2012. Princeton University. Available from: http://www.princeton.edu/~capoeira/ln_abt.html [Accessed 13 November, 2012].
Quotes from Mestre Pastinha. [Internet]. 2011. Capoeira Connection. Available from: http://capoeira-connection.com/capoeira/2011/10/quotes-from-mestre-pastinha-1967/ [Accessed 24 November, 2012].
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