Capoeira (Ca-po-era) is a form of martial art that combines self-defense with music and acrobatics. It was developed in Brazil over 400 years ago. The emerging school of thought is that Capoeira developed in the streets of Brazil after the Abolition of 1888 by those who were once slaves. These East and West Africans and native Brazilians could not find work because they were illiterate and only possessed skills related to slavery, so they spent their days loitering on the streets. Love of music united these cultures and it was not long before the roots of Capoeira were planted. Music inspired dancing, comraderie inspired play, aggression inspired self-defense.
At first glance, Capoeira looks like a choreographed dance between two people because it is played to music and the game is a seamless combination of circular movements. To those who train, Capoeira is a game of questions and answers, call and response. It is a dialogue between two players where movements such as kicks, esquivas, and floreios, represent the words of the language. The challenge lies not only in the ability to form fluid sentences with these movements, but to form them in such a way that they respond to the sentences being formed by your opponent.
The basic stance of Capoeira is the ginga. Everything originates from this movement. The ginga is a dynamic stance where one moves from a lunge position on one side, to a lunge position on the other side. The hands are used to maintain balance as well as protect the face from any hand strikes.
Unlike other martial arts, Capoeiristas use movements called esquivas to dodge kicks. Esquiva literally translates as to dodge. The main types of offensive movements are the round kicks and straight kicks. Round kicks are used more in the game of call and response where hard strikes are not necessarily the object of the game. Straight kicks are used as striking kicks when a friendly game of Capoeira evolves into a fight. The most common straight kick is the martelo. The martelo is not always used for hitting. Its effectiveness can also be displayed during a friendly game of Capoeira where the kick is stopped just in front of the target to show that it could have hit.
The game of Capoeira is a dialogue of attacks and counterattacks, punctuated with floreiros. Floreios, or flourishes, are the acrobatic movements of the game. They are not used when the game turns into a fight. The beauty of Capoeira is that it flows from a flurry of kicks to awe-inspiring acrobatics back to a flurry of kicks, without missing a beat. More advanced Capoeiristas often use floreios to challenge each other in a can-you-do-this kind of game where they try to out-do each other with breath-taking acrobatics.
Movements are but one aspect of Capoeira. Music is as equally important to the game as the movements, if not more. The focal point of any game is the orchestra, which usually consists of five instruments: the atabaque (drum), three berimbaus (bow-shaped attached by a string loop to a gourd) and a pandeiro (tambourine). The berimbau dictates the type of game that is to be played through different toques or rhythms. Toque de Angola calls for a slow, strategic type of game whereas Regional de Bimba calls for a fast-paced more aggressive type of game. In order to advance to the higher levels of Capoeira, one must also become adept at playing each of the instruments as well as lead the roda in song. The songs are sung in Portuguese and are a source of energy for the roda. Through singing, the Capoeiristas who form the roda provide energy for the game that is being played within energetic singing fuels the players and helps them to elevate their game. Playing Capoeira without the music would be like playing a hockey game without the fans.
Capoeira is more than a martial art. It is an art form that exercises the mind as well as the body. Capoeira encourages men to be graceful and fluid, and women to be strong, powerful and confident. As for the children, they are not taught the fighting aspects of Capoeira until they have matured and have developed a solid understanding of the cooperative game of call and response. Capoeira is the whole package exercise for the mind, body and soul.
Capoeira Camará
Founder Contra Mestre Bola (Marinaldo DaSilva) was born in Olinda, Pernambuco - a thriving centre of Afro-Brazilian culture with a long-standing Capoeira tradition. He began training with a top Capoeira Master in 1988. Initially, Bola moved to Vancouver in 1995 where he taught Capeoira for some time, but then relocated to Toronto in 2000 to open an academy. In 2005 he found Capoeira Camará, which now includes academies in Toronto, Peterborough, Montreal, and Calgary, Canada, Bermuda, Russia and Brazil.
Beyond his teaching duties in Toronto, Bola participates in numerous Capoeira events all over the world. He is also an accomplished musician and is responsible for producing five successful annual Batizado e Troca da Corda shows. Overall, Bola has been promoting Brazilian culture and Capoeira for 15 years. His travels have taken him to training sessions and performances in St. Croix and to Capoeira workshops as far away as Russia.
Bolas Capoeira expertise and leadership have also earned him international recognition. And, on numerous occasions, major media both in Canada and Brazil exclusively have interviewed him.
Music
The Game
Acrobatics
BACK TO PHOTOS
"New beginner classes starting at may 1st"
Beginners are encouraged to participate in both classes as well as open rodas. This is where all Capoeira Camará classes (beginner, intermediate and advanced) come together to play capoeira.
Uniforms, all students are required to wear white (or white-ish) pants and a white top to be able to participate in class until the uniform can be purchased.
1294 BLOOR STREET WEST, TORONTO-ON, PHONE 647 000 0000
TO BOOK a Capoeira or Afro-Brazilian dance performance at your next event, please contact:
Contra Mestre Bola (Marinaldo DaSilva)
Telephone: (647) 892-BOLA (2652)
cmbola_hotmail.com
1299 Bloor Street West, Tornto - ON
Capoeira Camara Canada
Vancouver:Sapo
Vancouver:Mala
Bermuda:Meio-Quilo
Capoeira Camara Russia
Moscow:Cicatriz
Moscow:Soldado
Capoeira Camara Malasya
Malasya:Soldado
Capoeira Camara Japan
Suzuka:Falcao
