An african martial art.

[Liqaye]

Capoeira

 

ANGOLANS KARATE:

 

Some 400 years ago in Angola, on the west coast of Africa, a form of combat practiced by the natives was beginning to take shape in what we would today call a martial art.

Four centuries later, thanks to a mutual tie with Portugal which Angola shares with Brazil, Capoeira is practiced in that South American nation. It is no longer the savage method of self-defense which originated in the dark continent, however. And thereby hangs a tale.

In the days of the great plantations, the owners took a dim view of the capability for mayhem which the natives possessed. Practitioners of Capoeira suffered great persecution at the hands of the owner-dominated police.

In order to avoid this persecution, the Capoeristas began to camouflage their "sport" by turning it into a weird dance, consisting of pantomime, music, and dances. Capoeira ceased to be a matter of violence and death, and became an amusement. It became the custom to remark that "the natives are playing Angola style."

Even the plantation foremen would applaud the "performances" as the "players" would jump, weave, gambol, trip, and kick their opponents, then avoid retaliation by slithering on the ground like serpents.

So in spite of early difficulties, Capoeira caught on. Legendary names appeared—invincible fighters, men with flesh impenetrable by knife or bullet; men under contract to the devil; men with charms against the most powerful of enemies; men who could liberate themselves from any kind of a trap.

 

INSTRUMENTS OF CAPOEIRA

The Berimbau (a kind of jews harp) can be divided into two types: The Berimbau de boca, and the Berimbau de barriga. The Berimbau de boca was used by the old Angolians, hence, it used to be said that it came originally from Angola. This, however, is contested by some students of the subject. It consists of a bow that tightens a cord of "limbo" (a kind of vine). The resonating chamber is the mouth of the player. The cord is made to vibrate by striking it with a knife.

The Berimbau de barriga is the most usual type. It is formed by a piece of wood called "the pigeon" which maintains tension in a steel wire.

 

 

[QUANTUM LEAP]

Interesting ..first time I hear about this artform...but I believe it has some kinda connection with the Brazilian type of martial arts.

[Gabbal]

It is actually the very Brazilian martial arts you heard Shaqsii. I had the pleasure of taking a capoeira class last summer and it was very beelo. I remember movements such as shinga, haba nashkeera, and others. You gotta be very flexible. :eek:

[N.O.R.F]

If any of u have played the game Tekken, the guy called Eddie uses those karate skills, i saw one guy practicing the art in Shephards Bush park one evening, he was awesome :eek: