Martial arts musical classes

These are about capoeira.

Martial arts are nothing new in China, but Brazil's capoeira (ca-po-ei-ra) is a recent introduction. The sport blends music, singing and dance to create an innovative form of self-defence.

Andre Cao, a former fitness instructor in charge of a capoeira program in Beijing, learned capoeira in Canada. Last year, he brought some practitioners to the capital, where they staged a show in Sanlitun.

"It was amazing. After the show, many people inquired about the sport and asked whether we had classes in China. That gave me the idea of starting the program," Cao says.

There are two styles: capoeira Angola and capoeira regional.

The former, a traditional style of capoeira, is performed with slow and smooth motions, close to the ground.

Capoeira regional has more acrobatic moves and is faster and more aggressive. It is often seen during performances because the jumping and spinning are eye-catching.

Cao says many people appreciate capoeira for its beauty, but are intimidated because it looks difficult. People don't have to excel at the sport to benefit, Cao says.

As a martial art, capoeira uses a ranking system that is expressed by the belts that are worn. The rankings are based on the colors of the Brazilian flag. The beginning level is student, followed by graduate, formed, then professor, and the top level is master.

Capoeira is beginning to catch on in China. When he first started the program, Cao had six students, most of whom were his friends. Now there are 35 students. They have only one Brazilian teacher at the moment, but are looking to add another by the end of the year.

What really sets capoeira apart from other martial arts is the use of music.

There are five main percussion instruments: berimbau, pandeiro, atabaque, agogo, and reco-reco. Different styles of capoeira use different instruments.

Classes normally end with a circle, in which the instructor plays instruments and students sing and clap.

Capoeira all in one

Above about Capoeira.

Capoeira, pronounced “cap-o-era,” is a fitness art form from Brazil that is becoming increasingly popular in the United States and the rest of the world, especially Japan. Instructors, called mestre capoeiristas, began teaching in America in the 1970s. Groups can be spotted in parks or on beaches practicing the high kicks and dance-like movements of capoeira. Dustin Hoffman even did it in the movie Meet the Fockers, and Halle Berry practiced capoeira to prepare for her role in Catwoman.

“Capoeira is an Afro-Brazilian cultural art,” said instructor Akinlana Lowman. “It is a martial art, it is also a dance and also a game. It’s a lot of things in one, and it’s very hard to kind of classify it as one thing.”

Lowman has been practicing capoeira since 1995 when his mother signed him up for a class. He is now an instructor at Prophecy School of the Arts.

Capoeira has an extensive and controversial history, dating back to when African slaves were first imported to Brazil in the 16th century. Africans, especially those from Angola, brought their traditional style of fighting with them to Brazil. There, with the influence of Brazilian folk dance, capoeira evolved. The name “capoeira” is derived from Portuguese terms referring to chicken fights.

“In the beginning of slavery, Africans were encouraged to keep practicing the forms of fighting they had in Africa for the purpose of keeping the rivalries between different tribes,” said Lowman. “They wanted to keep these rivalries so that people couldn’t band together against slavery.”

In 1888, capoeira was declared illegal and went underground. Capoeira gangs formed, particularly in Rio de Janeiro. Those caught practicing capoeira received harsh punishments.

“Sometimes if you were found practicing capoeira your feet and hands would be tied to the back of a horse and they would drag you to the jailhouse,” said Lowman.

Despite this, one capoeira master named Mestre Bimba created a new style called “Capoeira Regional” and was able to get it legalized in the 1930s. He is known as the “father of modern capoeira” and started a school to teach the art form in Brazil.

“That started the academy period where capoeira was supposed to be practiced inside,” said Lowman. “It was only supposed to be practiced inside places registered with the government.”

From that time on, instructors started to travel to Europe to teach capoeira. Its style evolved to seem more like a martial art in that cords are awarded to signify ranks. The ranks are student, graduated, formed, teacher and master. The game of capoeira begins with the “roda,” which is the circle of people in which it is played. Those sitting around the circle play instruments or clap and sing along with the music. The two players in the middle of the circle spar, using head butts, acrobatic kicks, feints and sweeps. Their movements are fluid and go along with the beat of the music.

“When you’re playing the game you’re trying to show the person where their openings are and kind of making each other more on guard,” said Lowman. “That kind of translates to life and living your life, being able to have your eyes open and be on guard.”

The object of the game is not to hurt the opponent, but to demonstrate skill. There is minimal bodily contact, and capoeira is more theatrical and meant to teach how to protect oneself and manipulate situations to one’s benefit. It’s all about learning and realizing that there is always something new to learn.

“Capoeira is a liberating art on different levels,” said Lowman. “It liberated people from slavery, but it’s also something that liberates your soul.”

Those who practice this fitness art form learn strength, flexibility and concentration. It is possible to practice the moves of capoeira alone, but it’s a more communal type of fitness.

Two players are needed for the game. Currently there are five to seven students that regularly attend Lowman’s class at Prophecy School of the Arts. People at any skill level are encouraged to come and can join at any point. The classes have no “beginning,” so even coming a month before the classes end is acceptable.

“It’s a way to stay fit and practice a martial art and at the same time be involved in something that is functional and cultural,” said Lowman.

In the class, students are taught about the history and philosophy of capoeira as well as the moves. Also, traditional instruments are provided for people to learn the music that goes along with capoeira. The songs are sung in Portuguese, so it’s an opportunity to learn a bit of a foreign language.

“(Capoeira) is a very physical art,” said Lowman. “It keeps you very physically fit, and you gain strength from it, but it’s also something you can use to learn about life. There’s a lot of life-learning and philosophy to capoeira.”

Capoeira is an art form

Here’s about Capoeira art form.

Capoeira is an Afro-Brazilian art form that combines elements of martial arts, games, music, and dance. It was created in Brazil by slaves brought from Africa, especially from present day Angola some time after the 16th century. It was developed in the regions known as Bahia, Pernambuco and Rio de Janeiro. Participants form a roda, or circle, and take turns either playing musical instruments (such as the Berimbau), singing, or ritually sparring in pairs in the center of the circle. The sparring is marked by fluid acrobatic play, feints, and extensive use of sweeps, kicks, and headbutts. Less frequently used techniques include elbow strikes, slaps, punches, and body throws. Its origins and purpose are a matter of debate, with theories ranging from views of Capoeira as a uniquely Brazilian folk dance with improvised fighting movements to claims that it is a battle-ready fighting form directly descended from ancient African techniques.
Historians are divided between those who believe it is a direct descendant of African fighting styles and those who believe it is a uniquely Brazilian dance form distilled from various African and Brazilian influences. One popular explanation holds that it is an African fighting style that was developed in Brazil, as expressed by a proponent named Salvano, who said, "Capoeira cannot exist without black men but its birthplace is Brazil".
Even the etymology of the word capoeira is debated. The Portuguese word capão means "capon", or a castrated rooster, and could mean that the style appears similar to two roosters fighting. Kongo scholar K. Kia Bunseki Fu-Kiau also suggested capoeira could be derived from the Kikongo word kipura, which describes a rooster's movements in a fight.[citation needed]Afro-Brazilian scholar Carlos Eugenio has suggested that the sport took its name from a large round basket called a "capa" commonly worn on the head by urban slaves. Others claim the term derives from the Tupi-Guarani words kaá ("leaf", "plant") and puéra (past aspect marker), meaning "formerly a forest". Another claim is that given that capoeira in Portuguese literally means "chicken coop", it could simply be a derisive term used by slave owners to refer to the displays as chicken fights.

Facts about Capoeira

Above about what is Capoeira mean.

Capoeira was created because the slaves wanted freedom, but they didn´t have weapons to fight. So, based on animals movements and games from Africa born the Capoeira. We can say that Capoeira is The Brazilian child of African parents. But Capoeira is not just a fight, is a dance, is culture, is a way of life.
When you train Capoeira, you don´t learn only body movements, you learn music too. The capoeira´s music brings energy and you can do things that you never thought.

Music of Capoeira

Above about music of Capoeira.

Music is integral to capoeira. It sets the tempo and style of game that is to be played within the roda. The music is composed of instruments and song. The tempos differ from very slow (Angola) to very fast (são bento regional). Many of the songs are sung in a call and response format while others are in the form of a narrative. Capoeiristas sing about a wide variety of subjects. Some songs are about history or stories of famous capoeiristas. Other songs attempt to inspire players to play better. Some songs are about what is going on within the roda. Sometimes the songs are about life or love lost. Others have lighthearted and playful lyrics. Capoeiristas change their playing style significantly as the songs or rhythm from the berimbau commands. In this manner, it is truly the music that drives capoeira.

There are three basic kinds of songs in capoeira^{[citation needed]}. A ladainha (litany) is a narrative solo usually sung at the beginning of a roda, often by the mestre (master). These ladainhas will often be famous songs previously written by a mestre, or they may be improvised on the spot. A ladainha is usually followed by a chula or louvação, following a call and response pattern that usually thanks God and one's teacher, among other things. Each call is usually repeated word-for-word by the responders. The ladainha and chula are often omitted in regional games. Finally, corridos are songs that are sung while a game is being played, again following the call and response pattern. The responses to each call do not simply repeat what was said, however, but change depending on the song.

The instruments are played in a row called the bateria. The rhythm of the bateria is set by the berimbaus (stringed percussion instruments that look like muscial bows). Other instruments in the bateria are: two pandeiros (tambourines), a reco-reco (rasp), and an agogô (double gong bell). The atabaque (conga-like drum), a common feature in most capoeira baterias, is considered an optional instrument, and is not required for a full bateria in some groups.