What’s Capoeira?

Well, it’s a sort of martial art that originally came out of slave communities on the east coast of Brazil. They weren’t allowed to practice martial arts, so they used this as a form of physical training and disguised it as a dance. It was also part of a much larger communication system though. Small changes in rhythm, for example, could mean that danger was coming.

Wow, that’s quite the history.

Yeah, but of course it’s much different now. Over the last 20 years or so, its popularity has really exploded internationally.

Has it retained its physical nature? Or is it more of a dance form now?

I think it’s equal parts dance and martial art. It’s not just about fighting technique; we’re also interested in the beauty and aesthetic of it. But you still try to trip people up.

Trip people up? Physically or just to break their flow?

A bit of both–it’s a game. You imply a kick to the face, but you don’t actually follow through. And then they have to respond. It goes back and forth. It’s not a game with clear winners and losers, but it’s obvious who’s better than who. You don’t have to say who won, but everyone knows.

And how does everyone know you?

Well, they actually call me Trombada. Everyone gets a Brazilian nickname when they start. But in terms of my style, I like to keep it loose and easy.

Is that what Trombada means?

Haha, no, it means “car crash”. But that’s nothing to do with how I play Capoeira–it’s because I make seat belts and air bags for a living.

Shanghai Capoeira Club
Email: capoeirashanghai@yahoo.com
Web: http://www.capoeirashanghai.com/