Violence, or at least the potential for violence, is within the human DNA and within the DNA of most, if not all, species within animalia. In the bible, it is the first generation of Adam and Eve which displays the first act of violence, when Cain commits fratricide against Abel due to the trap of envy and jealousy which all people may fall prey to in their lives.
Whether a person is a believer of the story or not is irrelevant to the point being made, it is clear that violence is a part of human nature, it dates back throughout human history from before the written word as there are even cave paintings found showing human combat.
The Innate Nature of Violence and Combat in Humans
Violence can be just and unjust, it can be controlled, it can be wild, and it can be skilled and unskilled. Capoeira (Ka-poei-ruh) is an example of the innate human desire to have the ability to fight skilfully, much like boxing or Muay Thai.
Declared an ‘intangible cultural heritage’ of Brazil by the Brazilian Institute of Historical and Artistical Heritage in 2008, as well as being inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2014, it is a fighting style which was birthed from the Afro-Portuguese people of Brazil, and is known for its rhythmic, fluid, and sometimes extravagant movements.
The movements create power via kinetic chains created from muscles being activated in an order, accompanied by the spinning creating centripetal force to load the end of the limb with built up energy to cause major damage to the receiver.
While the power generated is great, it does not come without its drawbacks as swinging strikes may generate more power than their straight counterparts like a jab or a cross, they are much slower to complete, and often trained individuals will know how to avoid the strikes when they notice its initiation. However, capoeira has deception innate to its core and as Sun Tzu said in the book The Art of War, “all warfare is based on deception”, deception is an excellent way to land a strike on an opponent.
Capoeira: A Martial Art Rooted in Afro-Brazilian Culture
However, it’s not only a method of combat, it’s also something individuals do with each other as a form of cultural dance.
Capoeira can be performed in a circular formation called a “roda,” with participants taking turns playing instruments, singing, and engaging in the martial art itself.
The most iconic instrument in Capoeira is the berimbau, a single-string percussion instrument that sets the rhythm for the movements. Other instruments commonly used include the pandeiro (tambourine), atabaque (drum), and agogô (double bell).
The movements of Capoeira are characterised by their fluidity and acrobatic nature. Basic movements include the ginga, a constant, swaying motion that serves as the foundation for more complex techniques. Capoeiristas use a variety of kicks, spins, and evasive manoeuvres, often incorporating flips and other acrobatic elements.
Capoeira captures the passion the nationalistic Brazilians feel over their country. If a person has been to a Brazilian national football team game, or to an Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) fight in Brazil, or some other type of sporting event where Brazil is being represented, they can attest to the unified patriotic support the athletes get from the crowd as well as their fellow athletes.
Capoeira’s Impact on Modern Combat Sports
Capoeira techniques have been adopted by many fighters in MMA, like former Feather and Lightweight Champion the ‘Notorious’ Conor McGregor, the former Middleweight Champion Israel ‘The Last Style Bender’ Adesanya, and, most famously, one of the best mixed martial artists of all time, Anderson ‘The Spider’ Silva.
But the development of this martial art comes from a rather unique source and from a fascinating mixture of cultures.
The Evolution of Capoeira from Slavery to Cultural Heritage
The martial art developed from slaves under the Portuguese Empire in the 17th,18th, and 19th centuries, where a mixture of the African heritage they inherited was mixed with the Portuguese culture they were born into and adopted.
Slavers controlled the ability of their slaves to train in martial art forms so that their ability in fighting their slavers and each other were depressed. In response to this, the enslaved disguised their martial arts training by adding acrobatic dance-like movements and music, so their slavers were deceived and the slaves could continue in creating very powerful striking techniques.
In 1822 Brazil gained independence from the Portuguese, in 1888 Brazil abolished slavery, followed by rejecting their monarchy and transitioned into a republic in 1889 via military coup. The country was, and even today, was rich of poverty-stricken free people, and it is from these people that capoeira was able to stay alive as a cultural activity, specifically within the afro-Brazilian community but also with the European descended Brazilians who also adopted the martial art as a Brazilian cultural activity.
In 1890, shortly after the abolition of slavery in Brazil, the government banned Capoeira. This prohibition was an attempt to suppress any form of social unrest and control the activities of the Afro-Brazilian population. Capoeiristas were persecuted, and many were imprisoned or forced to practice in secret. Despite this, Capoeira survived through clandestine practice and the dedication of its practitioners.
Cultural Preservation: The Legacy of Mestre’s Bimba and Pastinha
The early 20th century marked a period of significant change for Capoeira. One of the pivotal figures in this transformation was Mestre Bimba (Manuel dos Reis Machado).
Recognizing the need to legitimize Capoeira, Mestre Bimba developed a structured system of teaching known as Capoeira Regional.
He incorporated elements of traditional Capoeira with aspects of other martial arts, creating a more formalized and less clandestine version of the art.
In 1937, Mestre Bimba’s efforts were recognized by the Brazilian government, and he was granted permission to open the first Capoeira school in Salvador, Bahia.
This official recognition marked the beginning of Capoeira’s transition from a persecuted practice to a respected cultural martial art form.
Around the same time, another influential figure, Mestre Pastinha (Vicente Ferreira Pastinha), played a crucial role in preserving the traditional aspects of Capoeira.
Mestre Pastinha founded the first formal school for Capoeira Angola, emphasizing the historical and cultural roots of the practice. His work ensured that the more traditional form of Capoeira continued to thrive alongside the newer regional style.
