Background

Capoeira is an Afro-Brazilian art that contains martial art techniques, acrobatic movements, traditional music and dance. It is a game that is played out by two people, following rituals, and using skills that combine fighting techniques, ground movements and quick wit. Capoeira is more than just a martial art, nor just a series of kicks and hits. The attack and defence movements, the ground movements, the acrobatics, the music and singing are all exercises to prepare the student for the game of capoeira ("jogo de capoeira") that is played inside a circle ("roda de capoeria") of people, which is unique to this art.

In Capoeira, the art itself heavily emphasises and focuses on elegance and delivery of techniques, fluidity and continuation of movements. Rather than impact or blocking movements (though this exists in advance levels), students are usually taught to go with the flow, making the capoeira game seem like a conversation of movements.

A student or participant needs to acquire the proper skills to play the game, but to learn how to play the game well, the participant needs to play a lot! So the challenge begins!!