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Instruments

Berimbau: of African origin, the berimbau is used extensively in capoeira. It has an unusual timbre produced by striking a rod and a ring or coin on a metal string attached to a bow with a resonating dried gourd. It is played together with a caxixi which is shaken while striking the string. (more…)

MESTRE PASTINHA

In 1942, Mestre Pastinha opened the first capoeira Angola school, the Centro Esportivo de Capoeira Angola, located in Bahia. He had his students wear black pants and yellow t-shirts, the same color of the “Ypiranga Futebol Clube,” his favorite soccer team. Most Angola schools since then follow in this tradition, having their students wear yellow capoeira t-shirts, although more recently each club has begun to adopt more personalised uniforms.

Together, Mestre Bimba and Mestre Pastinha are generally seen as the fathers of modern capoeira regional and capoeira Angola respectively. (credits: Wikipedia)

MESTRE BIMBA

In 1937, Mestre Bimba was invited to demonstrate his art in front of president Getúlio Vargas. After this performance, he was given permission to open the first capoeira school in Brazil. Since that time, capoeira has been officially recognized as a national sport, and has spread around the world. Mestre Bimba’s systematization and teaching of capoeira made a tremendous contribution to the capoeira community.

Capoeira Glossary

academia – capoeira school

aluno – student of a capoeira master; same as discipulo

Angola – a traditional style of capoeira

Angoleiro – a practitioner of the Angola style

arame – metal string on the berimbau

arrastao – capoeira takedown, pulling both legs from under an opponent

ataque – attacking move or movement initiative

aú – cartwheel

aviso – a berimbau rythmn, formerly used to warn players of a police raid (more…)

Capoeira merupakan sebuah olah raga bela diri yang dikembangkan oleh para budak Afrika di Brasil pada sekitar tahun 1500-an. Gerakan dalam capoeira menyerupai tarian dan bertitik berat pada tendangan. Pertarungan dalam capoeira biasanya diiringi oleh musik dan disebut Jogo. Capoeira sering dikritik karena banyak orang meragukan keampuhannya dalam pertarungan sungguhan, dibanding seni bela diri lainnya seperti Karate atau Taekwondo. (more…)