Capoeira history is one of the most intriguing of any world martial arts. Its exact origins are unknown, however, it is known that it was developed by African slaves who were taken to Brazil in the sixteenth century by Portuguese conquistadors. The captives knew that to learn martial arts openly would have meant severe punishment, so the deadly capoeira moves were hidden in dance.The End of Slavery in Brazil
In the nineteenth century, the best martial arts experts in the country were students of capoeira. Brazil saw a legal end to slavery at the same time as the United States, 1888, and this began a difficult transitional period for former slaves, who now had to provide basics like food and shelter for themselves.The country saw mass unemployment overnight which inevitably led to a rise in the criminal underworld. For the talented capoeira fighter, this provided new opportunities and as leaders of gangs, many were suddenly able to earn good money and command respect within the community.
The Criminalization of Capoeira
The authorities soon made the link between the practice of capoeira and the criminal gangs. The art was banned and severe punishments were dished out to those caught practising it. A capoeirista could have his Achilles tendons sliced if caught so many would use a street name to hide their real identities, making capture and prosecution more difficult for the authorities.The ‘o malandro’ was an archetype figure in the criminal underworld of Brazil in the late nineteenth - early twentieth century who was an expert capoeira fighter and a master con artist. The o malandro’s contribution to martial arts history in Brazil cannot be overstated and his fighting skill, cunning and sharp mind awarded him respect and fear alike. In this climate, legendary figures sprung up such as Mestre Praia, Mestre Nascimento Grande and Mestre Besouro Manganga who were famed for their ability to outwit the police and to evade capture.
Mestre Bimba and the Legitimization of Capoeira
For years, those who wanted to learn martial arts in Brazil were hunted down until the art was only being practised in Rio de Janeiro, Recife and Salvador. It seemed that capoeira was set to become no more than a set of stories relegated to the history of fighting until in the early years of the twentieth century, Manoel dos Reis Machado, more commonly known as Mestre Bimba, legitimized the art.One of the greatest capoeirista in the martial art’s history, Mestre Bimba added a code of ethics and introduced it to people outside of the world of crime, selling it as a part of Brazil’s cultural heritage and highlighting the more positive aspects of capoeira history.
Written by Andrew Griffiths – Last updated 16/06/2023. If you like
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Further Reading:
Capoeira: From Crime to Culture. [Internet]. 2012. Library of Congress. Available from: http://blogs.loc.gov/law/2012/10/capoeira-from-crime-to-culture/ [Accessed 9 Nov 2012].O Malandro and Crime. [Internet]. 2012. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Available from: http://capoeira.union.rpi.edu/history.php?chapter=Malandro [Accessed 9 Nov 2012].
The Prohibition of Capoeira. [Internet]. 2011. Live Capoeira. Available from: http://voices.yahoo.com/the-prohibition-capoeira-8223787.html?cat=37 [Accessed 9 Nov 2012].
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