Theories of diverse anthropologists indicate that Capoeira obtained its movement copying the actualities and ways of animals like the monkey, the camel, the crocodiles and the fight of the cobras amongst others.

Capoeira Angola is a dance of fighting that originated in Portuguese Brazil during its colonization in the 16th Century. It preserves the aboriginal traditions of slaves- Brazilian and African, mixing dance and rituals. It was used by slaves to fight against their oppressors to obtain in such a way, their freedom.

 

 

 

Capoeira Angola is never taught with the intentions of use for fighting, although this has played a major part in its history and development over the years. The teaching of Capoeira Angola was classified in 1937 by Mestre Pastinha when he set up his first academy in Salvador, Bahia. His teachings came from love and respect for others but with a developed understanding of the human condition- it’s emotions, its personalities; the way’s of the world and its people.

Capoeira is a language - it is a manifestation of corporal, mental and spiritual expression. The teacher or mestre teaches his students the ‘words’ so that they might communicate, and with time and experience they can develop their own ‘phrases’ and ‘sentences’with their own unique style. It is about life and living, the social interactions between people and is a pure expression of our world, incorporating the three fundamental forms of human communication:music, language and movement.

 

It offers great advantages and benefits to its practitioners, from the mental and physical, to understanding Brazilian culture, learning the Portuguese language, developing concentration, intelligence, agility, musical abilities, and many other dexterities.