BRASIL CAPOEIRA - CAPOEIRA REGIONAL

Capoeira is sport, fight, dance, acrobatics, culture and a life's philosophy, Capoeira is very rich in movements and everyday that passes it gains in territory all over the world. It is of greater importance to mantain the fundaments of this culture alive.

In Capoeira Regional, the "chamada" (call) is not used, only the "volta ao mundo" (round around the world - to make a round turn around the roda), very carefully.

Only the higher belt can beginn the "volta ao mundo".

In Capoeira Regional, the Capoeirista "buys" the game or goes in with a partner. Lower belts can't interrupt the game of two higher belts, it is consider unrespectfull to give your back to a superior.

One can only sing "quadras", "chulas" or "corridos".

FIGHTS THAT CONTRIBUTED TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF CAPOEIRA

Luta do Bode
(cattle fight)

In the old times there was a fight that look much like two buffalos attacking each other, because the adversaries used only there heads to hit each other. There were always bad injuriesan even deaths, since they hit head to head. That's probably why this fight dissappeared with the 19th century.

Bate coxa

This fight was mostly practiced by tall black men, the goal was to throw down the adversary hitting him on the thighs or buttocks. Only the strongest one could stay standing, if one stopped or fell down, was atomatically the looser. They bet on money, booth and even women.

Batuque

This fight was practiced in two different ways: the strongest black would stay in the middle of the roda and another would try to throw him down taking him out of balance, the other way was thru knock-out. Mestre Bimba's Capoeira Regional has was influenced by this fight, since Bimba's father was a champion of Batuque.

Bassula

An african fight which main goal was to throw down the adversary and immobilize him on the floor. It was mostly practiced on the coasts where the sand could damp the falls and protect form bad accidents. The Bassula was not practiced much in Brazil, it probably disappeared with the first slaves who arrived from Luanda, Angola's Capital.

Kamangula

A kind of box with open hands. Used only the arms.

N’Golo

Also called the dance of the zebras, was a ritual fight of the Bantus and Mucupis people. When a young girl reached the age of "marriage" between 12 and 15 years, her father chose the wealthiest men of the tribe to prove their bravery in protecting the future wife. They fought with their heads, hands and feet, trying to throw the others to the floor, the first one to fell or give up would be considered a shame for the tribe. The champion of course won the bride.

Quarupe

An indian fight of the Xingu tribe. In the feast of Quarupe (death celebration), two indian fighter of two different tribes would confront. Using a point system one shouldl throw the other to the floor or try to hit the back of his knees to gain more points.