Capoeira Baptism

	courtesy of the ABADÁ Capoeira São Paulo official website Capoeira: a game of attack and defense

São Paulo - Capoeira is a game of attack and defense that was introduced to Brazil by members of the Bantu tribe of what is now Angola. It was played in the slave quarters, accompanied by the sound of the berimbau, a single-stringed instrument, and rhythmic hand clapping. In the 19th century it became popular among Brazilian “malandros” (hustlers), especially in Salvador, Recife and Rio de Janeiro. Influenced by the Portuguese, participants began to incorporate knives and sticks, which are no longer used. The most common capoeira “golpes” (blows) are executed with the legs. The principal golpes include: “rapa,” “rasteira,” “tesoura,” and “rabo-de-arraia.” Also common are energetic “cabeçadas” (headbutts), and the hands are used in some “golpes,” such as the “balão,” where the fighter strikes his adversary on the shoulder or over the head.