Capoeira In American Culture

Ancient Martial art of capoeira dates back to the beginning of the 17th century or the beginning of African Slavery and is still an active exporter of Brazilian culture all over the world. How did the creation and globalization of Capoeira affect Brazilian culture, economy and tourism since the 20th century?

INTRODUCTION: Capoeira is a Brazilian battle dance, a national sport, a system of physical discipline and movement originating among Brazilian slaves. The origin of Capoeira, whether African or Brazilian, has stimulated many controversies up until the current day. There are no doubts that the Capoeira proper was developed in Brazil, however no one denies that Capoeira was created by African slaves based on African Traditions. Even the most important mestres such as Bimba and Pastinha, had varying ideas of its “beginning”. Muniz Sodré, a credible journalist, sociologist, and professor at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro explains, “The question about the “beginning” is in a certain sense a meaningless problem. What matters most is not the “beginning” (the date and so forth do not matter so much), but the “principle”: the conditions that created and kept the thing alive” (Capoeira 108). The most significant matters were the historical and cultural issues that for a long

Learning how to Jogar, or play capoeira includes a series of techniques for movements of attack and defense mechanisms. Two Capoeiristas t face off using movements and techniques such as Ginga, negativa, tripping, kicking , and head-butting each other to the ground during any moment of vulnerability (Downey ix). Capoeira’s meaning is far deeper than just a game, and in-fact was illegal in 1892. In order to truly understand Capoeira’s effect on Brazilian culture, tourism and economy, one must reflect on the history of Capoeira, dating back to slavery in the early 16th