Why Is Capoeira Important In Brazil Traditions

Capoeira: A Timeless Brazilian Tradition Capoeira was selected as the topic of this assignment as it is an extremely complex tradition, with fascinating beginnings and an extremely powerful cultural impact. It is a very interesting art form with a goal to bring together mental stability, physical flexibility, knowledge of self-defense, musical coordination and artistic inspiration to those who practice it. It has had a great impact on shaping and defining not only Brazilian culture but also modern-day dance and fitness. Capoeira still remains the second most practiced sport in Brazil after football, and its popularity has reached the whole world as it continues throughout the years to accumulate a growing number of followers globally.
Capoeira did not start as a dance, as many may assume, but instead as a self-defense fighting technique that developed as a result of the institution of slavery. The martial art came to life as a survival tool, and then, it developed into a cultural identity. Midway through the 16th century began the importation of African slaves to Brazil. Approximately four million slaves, which is more than any other country, were brought to Brazil from various parts of the African continent. The importations originated in the Northeast of Brazil where sugar grew well. Over time, the sugar industry expanded so much that they were entirely dependent on African slaves for their work. As a result, many African traditions were passed on to
Those who practice Capoeira choose the path of resistance, persistence, and learning. It is about dedication, humility, union and respect. It is like a school for life. In order to understand that philosophy, one must point at the “fundamento”, in other words, the fundament of Capoeria, which is “Malicia”. They first of all acknowledge that there is hardship in life, that the world is not always a fair place, and that humans can be evil. “Malicia”, in fact, means “maliciousness” in Portuguese, and it is considered the essence of the game of Capoeira. For Capoeristas, Capoeira represents a way to deal with the inevitable challenges that life brings to us and makes us overcome. This dealing with “Malicia” is combined with a dose of good humor, a love for life and everything that it brings to us while we are alive. The good humor that Capoeira addresses does not just consist of laughter and smiles just because one feels obligated to. Instead, it is the true feeling of carelessness and happiness that someone feels when they are free, like a child who runs around, not caring about who is looking and not feeling any judgement. Capoeira believes we are all born with that “good humor” but we unfortunately allow it to get lost in our journey