From: "Del Padilla" <[u--a--t] at [earthlink.net]>
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.super-heroes
Subject: Re: Capoeira
Message-ID: <B8zi6.1751$[sn 5 165105] at [newsread2.prod.itd.earthlink.net]>
Date: Wed, 14 Feb 2001 17:21:37 GMT

> > Yes ye might want to look it up Capoira was developed from a
> > Dance/combat style used by Slaves in Brazil, it's one of the "non-
> > eastern" styles that still exists (of course it's basis is probably
> > got a lot of Indo-Eurasion influences)

I am a Capoeria Practicioner and Gamer. Most of the treatments of Capoeira
in games have been passable, but there are some important details that never
seem to make it in.

The origins of Capoeira are a matter of some debate. Some believe that it
came to the new world from Africa, specifically Angola. Not co-incidentally,
most of the people who believe that are decended from slaves, and have dark
skin. The other theory is that it evolved in Brazil, a belief which seems to
be popular with Lighter Skinned Brazilians who are more Portuguese in their
ancestry.

There are two main styles of Capoeria, a fact which most games seem unaware
of. The first is Capoiera Angola. Angola is the older of the two forms, and
has it's genesis in the Brazillian state of Bahia. It's been practiced there
for at least 400 years. The residents of Bahia are for the most part
Afro-Brazilians. Angola is a ground based art, and lacks a the flashy aerial
manuvers of other martial arts. It is, however, a distinctly Brazillian
phenomenon.

Capoiera Regional (pronounced heh-JO-NOW) is a modern form of the art,
created by a Angola master who wanted to spread Capoeira in to the greater
population of Brazil. Regional does include influences from other martial
arts, and is very distinct from Angola in it's high flying kicks and
acrobatics. When Americans think of Capoeira, it's Regional they are
thinking of. In this country, Regional has become quite popular, and most
major US cities have a school or two.

If anybody, cares to here it, I will be glad to go in depth into the music
and culture of Capoeira.

-Alejandro Padilla