For the first time I met capoeira on a summer beach near Moscow.
A group of cheerfully frolicking young people suddenly made a circle, from which two tall, flexible, dynamic young men stood out: a brown-eyed brunette and a long-haired blonde. They stood opposite each other, smiled and, to the rhythmic music that sounded from invisible speakers, began to perform incredible dance steps, amazing pirouettes and acrobatic somersaults.
Everything further looked like a mysterious dance, or maybe like a magic ritual. The guys either converged in a clinch, representing themselves as one whole, then dispersed, then froze for a moment, then began to spin furiously again, and then suddenly soared into the air like cheetahs, striking with flexibility and feline grace, carried out incredible blows, but each time a strong male foot passed a millimeter from the opponent's temple. Although it seemed that another second - and the opponent would be defeated by a powerful lethal thrust.
Gradually the rhythm of the fight increased, and it was impossible to keep track of the flickering of arms, legs, trained torsos, which gave rise to an amazing sense of harmony.
The tired guys, meanwhile, stood in a circle and began to clap their hands together with everyone to the music, and two slender girls fluttered into the middle. And again a fascinating duel began, accompanied by unprecedented jumps, stands on one hand, imitation of blows. The rivals seemed to slide over each other, but did not allow direct contact.
All over, it was felt that the participants in the performance get sincere pleasure in what they are doing. Their mood was involuntarily transmitted to the viewer and onlookers, so that it was impossible to take your eyes off the flexible rivals.
The girls dispersed to the applause of the audience, and I asked the brunet from the first couple what kind of performance I had seen.
"This is capoeira!" - the handsome man flashed a smile.
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Seeing my bewildered look, he explained: “Capoeira has come to us from time immemorial. The birthplace of capoeira is sunny Brazil. As a strange and bizarre world of ancient African myths, magic rituals, rhythmic bewitching songs that tell about the past of slave Brazil, about the ordeals and wild humiliations of slaves, about the heroes of liberation, about mysterious spirits who help to get out alive from the duel, capoeira gives a wonderful opportunity to learn the world and yourself through music, movement, dance. But this is not only dynamics, rhythm, acrobatics, but also a deep emotional experience, spiritual improvement, the art of going through difficult times, a way to find hope!"
While the fighter was telling me about capoeira, a crowd of curious citizens formed around us, who also watched the unusual action. They pelted the brunet with questions, and he kindly and thoroughly satisfied everyone's curiosity. In conclusion he said: “Capoeira is both a fiery sport and an exciting game, it is a celebration of a harmonious spirit and a trained body. She also gives an excellent opportunity to communicate with people from different countries in the capoeira language.
Anyone can enter it, regardless of physical form and religious affiliation! Capoeira is the universal language of the future."
Subsequently, I began to collect information about capoeirista, watched films, trying to understand the essence and secret meaning of the Brazilian game.
Performed by masters from Rio, capoeira appeared as a vivid duel of two individuals, held to the accompaniment of changing rhythms, to the singing of ritual songs, to the sounds of national Brazilian instruments with mysterious, unusual names for the ear: berimbau, pandeiro, atabac. The ancient percussion gave the spectacle a mystical entourage, which charges with bright light energy any of those who watch capoeira.
The first mentions of it in ancient manuscripts date back to the beginning of the 17th century. In the beginning, capoeira was a kind of means of struggle for freedom of slaves brought from Africa by cruel Portuguese. There is a version that the word "capoeira" came from Indian languages and means "tall grass". It was in it that fugitive slaves hid from the planters who were pursuing them.
Historically, capoeira was part of two African religions - Umbanda and Condomble. Two hundred years ago, capoeira was rather a religious ritual, with the help of which the slaves entered a trance, communicated with the gods and prayed to them for the desired freedom. Just for a short time. Moreover, their movements were not standard, memorized, improvisation reigned in them. It was a cocktail of mystical African rites, witchcraft dances, imitation of the movements of birds and animals.
As the peoples of Brazil mixed, capoeira changed and eventually turned either into a new religion, or into a philosophy that asserted the primacy of the spiritual over the material. After all, the slaves had nothing. In addition to his own body, elementary home-made musical instruments, a fierce thirst to live a free life and quickly return to their homeland, where there are no ferocious planters and evil overseers.
Gradually, some amulets in the form of figures of ancient gods began to be added to the simple clothes of the slaves. The slaves believed that they would bring them luck and good fortune. Portuguese planters treated capoeira with a touch of disdain and some condescension. She seemed to them barbaric fun, a way to relieve tension and get relief after hard slave labor.
Over the years, capoeira has improved and evolved. It became more and more democratic and allowed a very broad interpretation of all its types. The style of capoeira changed, but the spiritual content remained strictly individual. It is safe to say that each fighter has his own capoeira, his own style. Your image.
Someone with its help is looking for the highest meaning, someone for God. For some, it is an exciting game and pleasant entertainment. For some, it is high art and a way of self-improvement.
Capoeira has absorbed many elements and movements from other martial arts. Mostly oriental. The blows are delivered mainly with the legs, and the hands are used for defense, support, throws, sweeps.
The fighters keep their emotions under strict control, act non-contact and at the same time try to make the fight beautiful and harmonious. In capoeira, it is not victory that is important, but participation, dialogue, the ability to understand the partner. The variety of styles makes capoeira unexpected and appealing.
The Di Angola style, for example, is characterized by very low stances. The Regional style is more saturated with acrobatics.
But, as they say, "The family has its black sheep." In the criminal areas of Brazilian cities, capoeira-wielding bandits often arrange bloody showdowns. At the same time, they grip special sharp blades with their toes and inflict terrible (and sometimes fatal) wounds to each other.
Capoeira came to Russia in the mid-90s of the last century. Enthusiasts earnestly studied its basics and made great strides at the same time, and in 1998 the first capoeira festival was held in the capital with the participation of famous Brazilian masters: Bandeira, Gladson, Braulinu. They generously shared the secrets of their craft.
Capoeira is inseparable from music (it is believed that music served as a means of disguising sparring as dance), it develops flexibility, plasticity, endurance and strength. After several months of training, the beginner realizes that his body is more and more subordinate to him. Brazilian experience shows that capoeira is submissive of all ages. It is available to both men and women.
In Russia, capoeira is becoming more and more popular, and the day is not far off when some stubborn Russian will surpass the Brazilians themselves in skill. It remains only to wait a little!