Capoeira (Portuguese pronunciation: [kapuˈejɾɐ / kapwˈɐjɾɐ]) is an Afro-Brazilian martial art that combines elements of dance, acrobatics and music. It was developed in Brazil[citation needed] at the beginning of the 16th century. It is known for its quick and complex maneuvers, predominantly using power, speed, and leverage across a wide variety of kicks, spins, and other techniques.
The most widely accepted origin of the word capoeira comes from the Tupi words ka'a ("jungle") e pûer ("it was"), referring to the areas of low vegetation in the Brazilian interior where fugitive slaves would hide. A practitioner of the art is called a capoeirista (Portuguese pronunciation: [kapuejˈɾistɐ]).
On 26 November 2014, capoeira was granted a special protected status as "intangible cultural heritage" by UNESCO.
Bimba's Regional style overshadowed traditional capoeiristas, who were still distrusted by society. This began to change in 1941 with the founding of Centro Esportivo de Capoeira Angola (CECA) by Vicente Ferreira Pastinha. Located in the Salvador neighborhood of Pelourinho, this school attracted many traditional capoeiristas. With CECA's prominence, the traditional style came to be called Capoeira Angola. The name derived from brincar de angola ("playing Angola"), a term used in the 19th century in some places. But it was also adopted by other masters, including some who did not follow Pastinha's style.
Simple animation depicting part of the ginga
The Contramestre Caveira belongs to the Grupo Internacional de Capoeira Topázio de Mestre Dinho.
Reginaldo Augusto dos Santos Filho was born on June 14, 1975 in Salvador de Bahía.
He began training in the 90s through the Associaçào de Capoeira Mestre Bimba, where he trained for five months with Mestre Rubens Bamba. Due to some works in the academy, in order not to stop training, he decided to continue the classes with Mestre Cabeludo, who was also a student of Mestre Bamba and who had founded the Grupo Porto da Barra.
He trained with Mestre Cabeludo for aprox. eight and a half years. This is where they proposed to him to go to Seville (Spain) and give continuity to the work of the then Professor Cía. On May 28 2001, he decided to speak with the Metre Dinho of the Topázio Group to be part of it.
In the year 2013 he earned the graduation of Contramestre.
The Contramestre Caveira has been dedicated for the last 20 years to the dissemination of capoeira in Seville.
Visit his website capoeirasevilla.com
The Formado Comprido (Pedro Martin) is from Castilla La Mancha (Spain) but considers himself sevillian (Andalusia). Born in May 1978 and owes his capoeira nickname "Comprido" to his stature. He started training Capoeira in 1996, like most spaniards of the time motivated by the film "Only the Strong" by Mark DaCascos, when he was already a Full Contact Professor (1996). He started practising Capoeira with his two best friends, Louro and Aladdin, influenced because of their age -as they were older- and they thought that the Capoeira movements and music was exciting, even when they were attending full contact classes at that time.
The next year, his friends went to University leaving their Capoeira curiosities to the side. Thus Comprido contacted the author of a Capoeira book from South America. It was through Leonardo Torres Negro -an Instructor of the Grupo Muzenza de Mestre Burgués and author of the book "Capoeira, Arte Marcial Del Brasil" (ISBN 9788420303772, 1996)- and with him exchanging Capoeira videos is when his interest to learn grow. Leonardo Torres used to send videos with exercises and corrections to Comprido for a while, from time to time Comprido met with Louro and Aladdin and could at the same time update them with movements, names and techniques.
Year after year, Comprido tried to follow up on the casual exhibitions that Mestre Trovoada (GIC Topázio de Mestre Dinho) or Mestre Brucutu (Capoeira Abadá) used to carry out at the Festival of Nations in Seville, which used to stay approximately 10 days in the city during the spring.
This was not enough. There should be a faster way to keep growing and learning. At lot have been written about the beginning of Capoeira in Seville...but facts are facts. Comprido was so interested in learning Capoeira that he opted to put ads and write articles in the magazines and newspapers at that time, as well as looking for someone to teach him.
Then João Paulo Pinho Freire (Professor Cia) appear on the scene during the time he was studying Medicine at the University of Seville.
From 1997 to 1999 they train together, keeping a night group in the University Hall of Maths at the beginning, and putting the Capoeira discipline into an important gym of the martial arts tradition in Seville (Gym Herbert). This contributed to the growth in number of those interested as well as radio interviews and flyer distributions. It is in one of these radio interviews where that Professor Cia named Pedro as Comprido, due to his stature as mentioned.
Due to his career responsibilities, Professor Cia travelled to a near city, allowing Formado Caveira (actually Contramestre Caveira) to come from Brazil and continue his job in Seville. Formado Comprido is the oldest student of the Contramestre Caveira, and has spent about 20 years practicing Capoeira with him.
Some of their contributions during this golden era of Capoeira in Spain, helped grow a number of afiliates. New academies where opened in Cadiz, Cordoba, Huelva, Jaen, Badajoz, Caceres and other cities within the past few years.
Regarding his gratuation, in the year 2000 received the Instructor graduation from the Grupo Internacional de Capoeira Regional Porto da Barra de Mestre Cabeludo through Mestre Cía (Mestre Cabeludo's brother). In 2001 he received the graduation of "Formado" in Salvador de Bahia (Brazil) from the hands of Mestre Rudson, who is the son of Mestre Dinho (founder of Grupo Internacional de Capoeira Topázio).
He's been sweating his Formado graduation since then.
After this time living the Capoeira as an art, some of the achivements reached are:
Establishment of Capoeira in Seville (1996)
1st Instructor in Spain of the International Grupo Internacional de Capoeira Regional Porto da Barra de Mestre Cabeludo (2000)
1st Formado in Spain of the International Capoeira Topázio Group of Mestre Dinho (2001)
Administration for years of the biggest Internet Portal in spanish till 2005: www.Capoeiras.com
Author of the Book in Spanish: "Ao som do berimbau: Capoeira" (2003)- Curiosities | Book Captures
1st Official Monitor for Capoeira Workshops of the Seville City Council (2002-05)
1st Permanent Section for Capoeira in the Andalusian Sports Magazine
Online promoter of Capotherapy © Mestre Gilvan
Online promoter of "Capoeira: Jogo Atletico Brasileiro" © Joel Pires Marques
Online promoter of "Mestre Bimba: A Capoeira Iluminada" © Luiz Fernando Goulart
Founding partner of C.D Capoeira Topázio in Seville (2001)
Board Member of Mestre Formiguinha Topázio Association in Australia (2018)
Promoter of Capoeira at Central Coast - Australia (since 2017)
Founder of Grupo Capoeiras - Australia (October 2018)
He want to continue contributing to the diffusion of Capoeira, the martial art of Brazil, and demonstrate that it is an art for all. He is willing to collaborate in the projects that any person proposes, as long as the reasons that motivate them are honest.
Founder Grupo Capoeiras Inc Charity in Australia (2019)
Many think that it is impossible to change the body, others believe that it is possible only in the long period run and with great sacrifices ... this is not true!
First we must understand that in addition to a good aerobic training and strengthening, the real "gym" starts at the table. It is very important then to follow a healthy and balanced diet.
We must be very careful not to confuse this word with "diet", the diet for the body is always something negative, which is interpreted by our body as a symptom of lack of food or hunger.
When the body understands that it is on a diet, it first reduces the metabolism and then tries to get rid of all the structures that in the famine they can not afford to maintain; In other words, it breaks down the muscles because they are an expensive structure to maintain.
So, dieting is the fastest way to lose your muscles.
The maximum success of a physical program for an athlete occurs when he trains well and consistently, accompanying him with small measures in daily life, even outside the gym, such as: not smoking, avoiding alcohol consumption, eating healthy foods (genuine or controlled), sleep at least eight hours per night, etc.
With the practice of Capoeira and specifically with your athletic training, our goal is to achieve improvement and improvement of motor skills.
The ability of the body's systems to group, process and administer oxygen
The ability of the body's systems to process, supply, store and use energy
The ability of a muscle unit or a combination of muscle units to apply force
The ability to maximize the arc of movement of a joint.
The ability of a muscle unit, or a combination of muscle units, to apply maximum force for a minimum amount of time.
The ability to reduce the repetition time of a repeated movement.
The ability to combine a series of different movements in one movement.
The ability to decrease the transition time from one series of movements to another.
The ability to control the position of the center of gravity of a body in relation to its base of support.
The ability to control movement in a specific direction or intensity.
The quality of being light-hearted or full of fun. Be a warrior while living a second chilhood.
The capoeira practise is full of joyful and soulfulness. You will for sure improve your body condition, heal your spirit and strength your mind!
Our social and community group is unique, creative and in a 'start up' or development phase. The Formado Comprido, since September 2018 -living in Australia- 40 years old and with more than half of his life training Capoeira, created this Group entering a new path in the capoeira.
The name used for this pourpose is "Grupo Capoeiras", as the initial name that he started using in Internet 20 years ago when he started his Capoeira research. Far away from create just another Capoeira group or break with the past, the intention is continue growing and share his own Capoeira beliefs and values.
In October 2018, just with 4 recent students, he founded the Grupo Capoeiras [INC1801443 - Incorporated Association] under the definition and pourpose: "To provide an opportunity for the people of all age to participate in Capoeira -Afro-Brazilian cultural practice- activities, specially people from cultural and linguistically diverse backgrounds as act with an unique body language".
The name used of "CAPOEIRAS" is the name that he have been always using on the Internet (for 20 years) in his continue research about capoeira.
Far from creating a more capoeira group or breaking with his past with the Contramestre Caveira, his intention is to continue growing as an individual and share his own beliefs and values instilled in capoeira with more and more people. Following the words of Mestre André Luis their need for associativism comes from the necessity of adding efforts to achieve a common goal.
To design the logo he used the sketch designed by a good friend and first student sponsored in capoeira "Apu", this design it is the beginning of somtehing, a tiny step on a tumultuous road, and he starts it accompanied by almost unknown, far from his homeland, which does not make it easier.
Anyway, as he says: "accompanied by my heart for all those who have helped me grow as a capoeirista in the past".
We offer capoeira classes for kids and adults in Central Coast (Australia). The combination of dance, acrobatics, music and martial arts, makes capoeira a wonderful experience for everyone. Young and old, men and women, beginners and advanced, everybody is welcome. Come and join our training and discover the game of capoeira!
In January 30, 2019 we convert our Association into a Charity empowered also to operate in Spain.
As in other martial arts, the capoeira uniform is WHITE. Traditionally, capoeiristas wear the ABADÁ: it symbolises purity and being on the quest to learn.
The founder of Capoeira Regional, Manuel dos Reis Machado, Mestre Bimba, chose white for the uniform, to show the uniforms of his students were clean. Dirt can be easily spotted on white clothes. Back in those days capoeira was judged to be the pastime of petty criminals and vagabonds. To show the uniform was clean, was to create a distance between his school and that common perception.
When a student receives their uniform their face lights up and it sets the foundation for their entire martial arts journey as well as teaching them many valuable lessons that they can apply for their entire life. Our students achieve the white uniform usually after 2 months practising. This gives importance to the uniform and teaches our kids the importance of earning: remind them about the importance of respecting what they have and what they have earned after a time of practise.
Wearing the uniform, being committed to training as well as being committed to growth to earn the graduations (CORDAS) shows and develops tenacity. People who learn commitment at an early age are better able to cope in difficult circumstances, and that's the foundation to success later on their lifes.
The ABADA (capoeira pant) and the CAMISA (t-shirt) as our GROUP uniform is a symbol of unity. It connects people who are on the same journey towards a unified goal. The uniform connects people, draw strength from being a part of something greater than themselves and stand united in the face of challenges. Not wearing the uniform may send the wrong message: "it's all about me me me". Even when we don't dress it properly, with a diferent tag, personalized or clean.
The uniform keep our look special: having a uniform sets the intention to learn and develop in CAPOEIRA. Kids learn to take care of their uniform, making sure it is clean, the corda is tied correctly along with making sure their nails are cut and hair out of their face (we can hurt a training partner or they can hurt us if can't see properly). This goes on to teach them to be well put together at school with heir uniform and later in life. The uniform is the students responsibility, they learn to take care of their earned attire have respect for their belongings and look after it.
The uniform is just a smart idea: has changed like in any other sport along the time, and it's specially design in Brazil not to shrink, fade or rip easily!
Capoeira uniform including pants and t-shirt can be bought or arranged from the link below.
Unlike other sports and activities, martial arts teach us life lessons. Those lessons can be learned in class but must be cemented at home. So not sending a child to class in uniform undermines the importance of the lesson and their own achievement.
Get the Capoeiras Uniform > Get just the Capoeiras T-Shirt >
Formado Comprido (Grupo Capoeiras, 2018), wrote the "Ao som do berimbau: Capoeira" book taking numerous studies about Capoeira as a reference, and with the contribution of Luiz Renato Vieira (Mestre Luiz Renato, Grupo de Capoeira Beribazu) and Professor Quim Lluciá (Bachelor in Physical Education, physical therapist and specialist trainer in the field of bodybuilding applied to aesthetics, health and performance).
This book presents Capoeira in a mature vision of the principles that guide it, advice and opinions from the Mestres Comprido admires (since he started his own experience), and more than 400 photographs illustrating the basic capoeira movements.
His Spanish Capoeira book is a text that fills an important void in the aspect of the diffusion of Capoeira. The age of this sport, as well as the handicap of the language in which it develops, makes the profane not discover the sociocultural value from the beginnig. It can be very easy to get lost in capoeira's plasticity, rhythms and deep historical roots, it meanings and the people who have fought to keep their cultural identity and traditions alive, until you're really involved. This is a work with an impressive theoretical and historical content, accompanied by a deep description of the techniques and everything that surrounds it.
You are going to discover a book about Capoeira, Brazil's martial art, the fight of the black slaves that yearned for freedom.
Its multiple meanings will take us beyond a simple game of amazing perfection between comrades, a pretentious search for self-control of the individual educated through its practice with essential educational values and a vast poetic and instrumental richness. Infused with strong historical and socio-cultural essence, Capoeira has been able to resist the passing of time and today it shapes an enigmatic universe that contains traditions and behaviour patterns, a methodical discipline in constant evolution.
The task of translating his book: "Ao Som do Berimbau: Capoeira" into English has been proposed on several occasions by some very dedicated students, but for reasons of time has still been unachieved. The book marketing is limited to Spain and South American countries (Spanish-speaking) with which Editorial Alas handles shipments in an ordinary manner.
Association Files |
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| Grupo Capoeiras Inc New Student Booklet [5MB] | Download |
| Grupo Capoeiras Inc Association Certificate | Download |
Grupo Capoeiras Inc Charity Certificate  |
Download |
| Grupo Capoeiras Inc Logo | Download |
| Formado Comprido BIO | Download |
| Australia Police Certificate - Formado Comprido | Download |
| Australia Work with Children Certificate - Formado Comprido WWC1421727V It's the law that people who work with your children must have a working with children check » Verify Status here! |
Download |
| Grupo Capoeiras Inc 8 Weeks Formation Program [20MB] | Download |
| Grupo Capoeiras Inc - Creative Kids Registered Provider - Brochure | Download |
| Child Safe eLearning Certificate (Formado Comprido) | Download |
| Grupo Capoeiras Inc Child Safe Policy | Download |
| Grupo Capoeiras follow Principles for Child-Safe Organisations* *The Office of the Children's Guardian |
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| Grupo Capoeiras Inc - Fees | Download |
| Grupo Capoeiras Inc Graduation System | Download |
| Grupo Capoeiras Inc Rule Book & Register Certificate | Download |
| Grupo Capoeiras Inc Membership Form *Fill in this document with Adobe Acrobat Reader and attach to an email to send us. Alternatively you may bring it printed to the class. |
Download |
| Grupo Capoeiras Inc Insurance Public Liability | Download |
Capoeira Resources |
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| Capoeira Books | Link |
| Capoeira CDs | Link |
| Capoeira at Researchgate Articles | Link |
| Capoeira Apps from Google Play | Link |
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