What is capoeira?

Discover Capoeira: Afro-Brazilian Martial Art, Dance, and Culture.

Capoeira is not as well-known as other martial arts. Some people might know it from a movie or show they've seen, yet there are many misconceptions about what capoeira actually is. Find out more about capoeira and its history below.

Capoeira in a nutshell

Capoeira is an Afro-Brazilian martial art with various elements such as attack and defence techniques, movement, acrobatics, and music. It may not always be well-known and can seem confusing or intimidating if you’re unfamiliar with it. Therefore, we’ll explain what capoeira is, what practicing capoeira entails, and where it’s from.

The best way to described it is as a game in its essence. Not as a fight dance as it is sometimes called. Capoeira’s core elements are:

  • improvisation
  • challenges
  • self-awareness
  • self-confidence
  • both physical and mental development

This makes capoeira a rich way of self-expression which is expressed in the Roda, the circle where capoeira is traditionally practiced. In a Roda, participants form a circle, where some play traditional capoeira instruments: Berimbau, Pandeiro, Atabaque, Agogô. The others in the circle clap and sing, while two people in the center play capoeira by improvising movements and responding to each other. Below you can Read about the different parts of Capoeira: Dance, Martial art, Acrobatics, Music, History, Philosophy and Who can practice it.

Capoeira history painting two people doing capoeira and others watching. What is Capoeira? wat is Capoeira?
Historisch schilderij van Capoeira gemaakt door Augustus Earle

Dance

Capoeira is not a dance, but it may sometimes resemble one because it is always practiced to music. The foundational movement in capoeira is called ‘Ginga‘, which literally means to move back and forth. It is a fluid movement from which all other capoeira movements derive. Being Afro-Brazilian, capoeira is influenced by various Afro-Brazilian dances, music styles, and cultural expressions like Samba, Maculelê, and Frevo.

martial art

Capoeira can be seen as a martial art with a truly unique character. In capoeira, you learn various kicking techniques and attacks, such as takedowns, headbutts, feint moves, and transformations. Defense is also a key aspect, teaching you to evade, block, or counterattack. The improvisational nature of capoeira makes it highly effective as a martial art. Capoeira training focuses on responding and improvising in every situation rather than rigid forms. Popular kicks and attacks include Meia-lua de Frente, Meia-lua de compasso, Armada, Queixada, Martelo, Bênção, Ponteira, Chapa, Gancho, Joelhada, Galopante, Godeme, Cabeçada, Rasteira, Banda, Vingativa en Tesoura.

Acrobatics

If you’ve ever seen a capoeira show, you’ve likely seen impressive acrobatic movements such as flips, cartwheels, handstands, and backflips. While acrobatics are part of capoeira, they are not always mandatory. Capoeira practitioners understand that the essence lies not just in performing flashy moves but in using and deploying movements correctly, whether it’s a flip, kick, or feint move. Acrobatic movements add an extra dimension to capoeira, connecting movements in an impressive and smooth manner. There are diverse acrobatic movements with varying levels of difficulty, making it accessible for everyone to learn the basics of acrobatics, even if you’ve never attempted such movements and are not particularly athletic. Technique is crucial to learning to move safely and injury-free at your own pace.

Music

Capoeira is always played to music, with the Berimbau leading contemporary capoeira practice. Berimbau, an Afro-Brazilian musical instrument popular in Bahia, is a single-stringed bow-shaped instrument with a hollowed-out gourd at the bottom. It is played with a stick and a stone, producing various rhythms. Depending on the rhythm played on the berimbau, a specific style of capoeira gameplay is associated. This can range from slow and technical to fast and explosive, with some rhythms emphasizing for example staying close to the ground or incorporating many acrobatic movements. Besides the berimbau, other instruments integral to capoeira include the Atabaque, Pandeiro, Agogô, and Reco-reco. During Capoeira class you also learn to play the different instruments.

Afro-Brazilian history of capoeira

Capoeira has its roots in the time of slavery in Brazil when millions of slaves were brought from West Africa between the 16th and 19th centuries. Among other countries also many from Angola. Over time, the enslaved increasingly revolted, by running away, practicing their own culture, and fighting against the Portuguese who held power. Since the slaves were not allowed to possess weapons or practice martial arts, they blended fighting techniques with dance and music from their own and indigenous cultures, learning to control and improvise with their bodies. That is how capoeira came to be. Even after the abolition of slavery, those with African roots in Brazil continued to practice capoeira. It remained a form of resistance and was forbidden for a long time. For practitioners, however, it wasn’t just resistance against oppressive rulers; it was also a way to empower and strengthen themselves.

Philosophy

The history of capoeira still plays a significant role in modern capoeira. Through capoeira, you learn to know and challenge yourself. You acquire skills in improvisation, quick response, and self-empowerment. Additionally, you develop an awareness of your surroundings and learn to communicate without words but with your body. These are some of the essential aspects of capoeira’s philosophy. For experienced capoeira players, capoeira becomes a way of life.

Who can learn capoeira?

Capoeira is for everyone and is highly inclusive. It is suitable for the young and old, men and women, fit or not: anyone can learn capoeira. There are no weight classes or distinctions between genders; everyone can learn from each other. Whether your goal is to improve your fitness, lose weight, learn self-defense, become more flexible, learn acrobatics, or simply engage in a social sport, you can train capoeira.

Capoeira presents an extra enjoyable challenge and a unique experience, especially if you have a background in another martial art such as Karate, Taekwondo, BJJ, MMA, or in dance forms like modern dance, hip-hop, or breakdance, and Afro-dance. Those with gymnastics training may recognize some movements, although they are applied differently in capoeira. Furthermore, capoeira has a much freer approach to how a movement may be used.
Many sports have evolved by incorporating capoeira movements, A few examples are:

  • Breakdance
  • Modern dance
  • Freerunning
  • MMA
  • Brazilian jujitsu

Capoeira is playful and challenging, but it’s not about winning or knockouts, and it’s not an Olympic sport. Therefore, in class, you can stay close to the fundamentals of the sport and focus on your personal development.
Capoeira is truly a unique sport with a broad range of elements. It is often said: 

You can only understand it if you’ve tried it yourself!

Handy links