Capoeira: Meet Brazil’s Unique Blend Of Martial Art And Dance | TODAY

Capoeira is a Brazilian martial art that was invented by slaves to disguise fighting with dance. Today it’s seen as a beautiful and soulful form of art, and it has caught on all over the world. Dalen Cuff of the Olympic Zone learned the basics, getting a feel for the strength and grace the art form requires. Watch students from the ABADA-Capoeira school in Rio perform a live demonstration on TODAY.
» Subscribe to TODAY: on.today.com/SubscribeToTODAY
» Watch the latest from TODAY: bit.ly/LatestTODAY
About: TODAY brings you the latest headlines and expert tips on money, health and parenting. We wake up every morning to give you and your family all you need to start your day. If it matters to you, it matters to us. We are in the people business. Subscribe to our channel for exclusive TODAY archival footage & our original web series.
Connect with TODAY Online!
Visit TODAY's Website: on.today.com/ReadTODAY
Find TODAY on Facebook: on.today.com/LikeTODAY
Follow TODAY on Twitter: on.today.com/FollowTODAY
Follow TODAY on Google+: on.today.com/PlusTODAY
Follow TODAY on Instagram: on.today.com/InstaTODAY
Follow TODAY on Pinterest: on.today.com/PinTODAY
Capoeira: Meet Brazil’s Unique Blend Of Martial Art And Dance | TODAY

[@davet1081AA]

Years ago I saw guys doing this on the crowded streets of midtown Manhattan during a Brazil Day festival - I seriously thought fights were breaking out...

[@angelusvastator1297]

Majima everywhere

[@charlessmith263]

The gymnastics in capoeira are called "flourishes" in English, but "floreios" in Brazil. They include things like head spins, hopping handstands, back handspring saltos, and cartwheels without any hands on the ground (or "au sem mao").

[@charlessmith263]

The hopping handstand in place is called "banana tree", or "bananeira".

[@ryanisaturtlepyc7140]

My fifth grade English teacher did this for 15 years and he always did moves around the classroom

[@randomcommenter5266]

I love Capoeira and I am currently studying and practising this at home, but the problem is that there is not enough space to do all these awesome flips.

[@DaaimShabazz]

You don't need it. Sometimes it is good to have a small space to help with the refinement of moves and control.

[@JaWs738]

This is a very beautiful form of martial arts

[@davejude3453]

I love Brazil

[@mayam.235]

Looks absolutely beautiful. Must've taken a lot of effort to learn, all those turns and spins look very complex.

[@celenial6009]

Most of the moves are trash compared to other fighting styles, I know this from experience because I use Muay Thai and never lost to a capoeira, but some of the moves are actually good

[@alvesz6765]

@@celenial6009 In Brazil they use capoeira as a form of leisure, not always as a fighting style or self-defense. Usually when capoeira is used for fights it is used together with Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.

[@heckingbamboozled8097]

@@celenial6009 Because it's not a super technical martial art. It establishes a lot of basics like how to kick with power and momentum. In a real fight it wouldn't be so flourish-y. The reason it's like this is because in the 16th century, slaves were trying to learn how to fight with it looking like they were practicing martial arts. There's a lot of history and culture behind the style and in the manner displayed in the video is more about the art

[@turtleboy991]

Who else is here because of Dustin Hoffman from "Meet the Fockers"? I know what some of you are thinking but it's not the weirdest place to get a glimpse of a Martial Art. Still though, when I heard that there was a thing such as "Dance Fighting", it was honestly the most beautiful thing I'd ever heard. Seriously, this puts the Art in its' designation as a MARTIAL Art. I hope to learn more of it someday. I notice it focuses a LOT on sweep and spin kicks. That's interesting

[@jojosingh5954]

I love capoeira

[@princemalachijanjudahisrae7385]

I love this music of capoeira Muito

[@Riddlemewalker]

I love the delight of the performers in this amazing art

[@nicolasdavies4129]

This is pretty cool

[@charlessmith263]

2:22 mark - That was a spectacular "folha seca" backflip (dry leaf) in the air!!!

[@charlessmith263]

In that folha seca, he does a sort of skewed angle like he would do that "parafuso" or screw jump, so I would call this a "folha seca parafuso". This capoeira move is definitely not for "iniciantes" (or "beginners'").

[@swordpegasus4032]

Expressesing and freedom and I love this video!

[@TheWordMercy82]

It's professional wrestling! The dance is the wax on / wax off training that builds the muscle memory for maneuvers which could be used to great strength in battle when applied with pressure

[@danielvega9185]

da como una alegría inmensa escucharlo

[@leonardomurgia4959]

Stupid me thinking that Eddie from tekken was unique and creative

[@el_raffido18]

And Christie Monteiro too

[@oosmanbeekawoo]

Your not wrong. It must have taken a genius to come up with Capoeira.

[@nimanknight662]

Awesome energy!

[@nahombewise7954]

Capoeira originated within as a product of the Angolan tradition of "Engolo" but became applied as a method of survival that was known to slaves. It was a tool with which an escaped slave, completely unequipped, could survive in the hostile, unknown land and face the hunt of the capitães-do-mato, the armed and mounted colonial agents who were charged with finding and capturing escapees.

[@d.d.s.g.l9945]

Exactly

[@tiagoribeiro6759]

No, capoeira originated in Brazil.

[@wolverineleo2140]

@@tiagoribeiro6759 by African slaves sold to Brazil by the Portugeuse.

[@tiagoribeiro6759]

@@wolverineleo2140 We all already know that it was slaves of African descent in Brazil, In other words, they were already African descendants born in Brazil, capoeira originates in Brazil, with African influence, influence is not origin it's just a basis for something new to be created. who at that time were already of African descent, capoeira was invented in Brazil in the 16th century, a century after the arrival of Africans in Brazil in the 15th century, in this case it was already the a descendant of African peoples. In Brazil the descendants of African slaves were the ones who created the first capoeira, because in the 1930s the mestre bimba natural from the state of Bahia created a second capoeira, called regional capoeira with many differences and it was this version that spread throughout the world. world.

[@areguapiri]

@@tiagoribeiro6759 Stop trying to make capoeira an invention of white people and other non-African/black people! The entire tradition and instrument is from AFRICA and the BLACK slaves who were stolen from AFRICA. The n'gola fighting they brought from AFRICA was forbidden by the white slaveowners. So the slaves began to disguise the fighting as a fighting dance with music. That is the BASIS/ORIGIN of what became the capoeira that we all know today. You will NEVER take away our African and Afro-Brazilian heritage!

[@brianmcd9492]

Awesome moves doing a cart- wheel is a great move in Capoeira🙂

[@Abe9096]

So beautiful

[@nahulanham1821]

I love doing Capoeira and playing Samba music.

[@campionedi1764]

Got here from Batuque.

[@meshrampia]

Wow that camera positions are so cool

[@patriciamedrano5622]

Excelente ejercicio y combinación de cuerpo mente y alma armonía!

[@danethomas4235]

Beautiful.. From South Africa

[@RyanRoemer8624]

Eddy Gordo from Tekken also does Capoeira

[@smallboto]

Can be a nice dance but can be very deadly if you get it hit by the spinning kicks.

[@LennekeTimmermansSoulSearcher]

What is the music intrument they use? The bowl with the long necK? It sounds great!

[@SpecApenas]

hiii, they use the Berimbau, agogo, pandeiro and atabaque :)

[@tammycosby1569]

Berimbau

[@NuggetyNugget_]

Real life Eddy and Christie

[@itshamzatalat]

So this is what eddy does in Tekken 7 🤔

[@Ironman875]

Doing it since Tekken 3.

[@mudithabandara8575]

Nice one

[@davidekstrand8544]

I’m using Gaelic Games 🇮🇪 as an example of the description I’m referring in asking about Capoeira. In Gaelic Football, it’s describe as having a ball resembling a volleyball 🏐 , the impact of rugby 🏉, the speed of badminton 🏸, scoring of basketball 🏀, and the suspense of soccer ⚽️. In Hurling, it’s described as combing the skills of lacrosse 🥍, baseball ⚾️, and hockey 🏒. What sports and recreation do you see in Capoeira?

[@zoomgallygally]

In Capoeira there is the Irish dancing in Riverdance 💃 gymnastics 🤸‍♂️ Sean nos singers with Portuguese lyrics 🎤 Conor McGregor kicking and squealing 🦵 and crawling on the ground quickly like a wain 👶

[@matheusbressanin8060]

paranaue

[@ulisses5606u]

parana

[@frenchbread952]

Paranaue

[@hurakagame9195]

1:40 *"Floreios"* #flourishes

[@victoriasf394]

Muito respeito por Mestre Morcego!! 💖

[@juliamoura302]

quando o jornalista falou "mestre morcego" puta que pariu nunca ri tanto

[@frenchbread952]

Neeee mano kkkkkkkkkkk fiquei rindo q nem um doente.

[@efxnews4776]

Master Batman!

[@Laurent-dy2pn]

I want the interview of Lucy Davis!

[@kinghiggins5021]

I saw kofi Kingston during it and Then I saw a instructor On TV wonderland news one now and I Said I have to Check this out

[@cheeleong6078]

What was song name at 0:46

[@alexandrercgamer6650]

Chee Leong berimbau

[@trashman6883]

i always imagning me fight while doing liek dance but fighting move, i didnt know that it was real

[@MikiDrugiWielki]

capueira is... is everything.

[@alexsilva4542]

Afro-brazilian martial art 👀 Did anyone here watch Only the Strong ?

[@russelladams6517]

Yea it's still an Afro brazillian art form

[@JesusSavesJohn3verse16]

Thank you for the video ^_^ Hope you are all well and resting in Jesus saving love + grace ^_^ Blessings friends ^_^

[@James-oe5ou]

eddy players are the worst

[@jscorpion1466]

Lol! Tekken 3 reference?

[@joshcotter6079]

I can appreciate this. Tekken 3 was one of my first fighting games.

[@aswadi1991]

I am here after Tekken 7

[@BRN497]

Eddy from Tekken 3 🎮

[@token3905]

Can’t see this without thinking of Eddy🙏🏾

[@pietrolencioni1033]

👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

[@electroocelot]

nice tekken matches :3

[@missairikatarot]

❤

[@Ronaldomorosini]

I'm from Brazil and I practice capoeira, I love this fight a lot 

[@africatshinaka4607]

I trained it in Angola... Strictly Black then .

[@fuzzyotterpaws4395]

I only heard about this from One Finger Death Punch

[@theoneandonly1ndex]

I found black leg Sanji, but brazilian

[@100ZUMADRE]

Buenas tardes! 😀😷😷

[@_NEW3RA_]

Eddy Gordo!!!!

[@chyng-ce1km]

Hey it’s iara if your seeing this from school 👁👄👁

[@elizabethe4496]

Am seeing this for school too LMAO

[@johnrainsman6650]

Call this question random if you must, but please don't let that distract you from the point. KZbin "Pokemon Stadium 2 RARE SHINY GRAVELER." Based on the way it flips in the video, do you guys think Graveler has potential in capoeira? The reason I'm asking is I'm making a video about why Graveler should be a Rock/FIGHTING type Pokemon.

[@tiffanyytn]

came here after odd taxi..

[@YogalaxmiMuthukrisnan]

Yogalaxmi Muthukrisnan used this martial art to bash up Siva Chandran from C-8-7 and Fazli from C-9-7 video it with his wife and niece. Who's Ricky Martin when Yogalaxmi Muthukrisnan was already rocking this martial art here in Malaysia. 🤠 Aditya Chopra reporting reporting reporting from PPR Kg. Muhibbah, Kuala Lumpur ❤

[@WalterWhite84762]

It’s basically break dancing

[@blairrowell2387]

Consider some of the most forceful kicks in the martial arts realm.

[@theenzoferrari458]

How is capoeria going to deal against krav maga or BJJ?

[@arandompersonp6930]

I don’t think it’s really meant as a true fighting style, some of the movements and techniques could be helpful, but O doubt they’d be doing all the dancing and stuff if they were on a real fight. That being said, I still think Krav Maga would be better in a fight, although Capoeira is a really pretty thing.

[@areguapiri]

We don't try to deal with anybody. We just have fun with capoeira that no other martial art offers. Capoeira is, by far, the most fun and exciting martial art! Everybody who has done capoeira and other martial arts will say the same thing.

[@LuanMower55]

@@areguapiri 7 months late but I'm a former muay thai and boxing practitioner who recently started capoeira. Really, really fun!

[@ArthurPPaiva]

Só digo uma coisa: "Djozé Couɹdeiɹou Caɹdouzou"

[@danielone8]

💩

[@justintime8922]

Africans from Angola .They were a people from a specific place.

[@HiamChelsea]

BOB'S BURGERS

[@Lavcnder]

Imagine L doing this

[@Robert-pt6nz]

🎲🎲🎲🎲🎲🎲🎲🎲🎲🏓🎲🏓discovery/gods not dead

[@in_English_and_SpeackFacabular]

💃👰💐👀🙏,#he_oooew_ouuuow_ey_ey_uao. #hari_ini_Senin03_Mei_2021_Morning_Day. #Bersama_Ydi_Novianto😐😷🙏

[@runningupengine77armanbw13]

Copyright

[@willm7994]

It’s interesting when they say slaves invented it , misconception it was brought with them From Africa it’s an offshoot of an Angolan martial art called Engolo.

[@chaelsthumbnailposture3135]

capo players atpRTSd

[@alexlin5475]

如果妳看到這篇留言 代表妳正在寫作業😢

[@noronhagamesoficialtv6998]

Gringo e bixo besta kkkk Slv capoeira Mestre perna longa aqui🐧

[@smoothcriminal4038]

White guy takeaway from this videos will be Capoeira wasn't created by Afro Brazilians it was created by white guys in Europe 😂😂😂😂

[@russelladams6517]

Same for black people smh

[@mattwagnone3498]

bruh this is just hardcore dancing

[@JoaoLucasK]

The video shows the recreational aspect of Capoeira, not the martial art aspect of it. Capoeira kicks can be very powerful

[@russelladams6517]

My brotha its some much more than that

[@Roniezocchio]

Canal lacrador!!!

[@BRunoAWAY]

Vá a merda então

[@fcseedy]

Kkkkkkk gado

[@gabrieldesousa8034]

Concordo plenamente

[@kripanart]

odddance

[@YRNCUJO]

I feel like in a real fight this would be useless which is why I do Wing Chun

[@daysemaria7234]

Capoeira is a dance, not a martial art.

[@victoraraujo6431]

@@daysemaria7234 wrong, in a fight, we just use the cicks, not the "floreios"

[@martinmyggestik292]

It is pretty much useless in a fight, but Wing Chun is even worse. Capoeira is the coolest physical game though 😎

[@MH-zg5yw]

Capoeira kicks are powerful.

[@MH-zg5yw]

@@martinmyggestik292 i've seen capoeira used in a fight. The kicks are powerful. I saw a dude get kicked square in the sternum. Ambulance showed up and took that guy to the hospital

[@fanelemabaso2514]

This is an African, specifically Angolan dance. Kungfu didnt stop being chinese because it came to America.

[@ruanaribeiro]

Not true! It was ivented by African descendents in Brazil, the own name "capoeira" is a indigenous word that these African descendents learned with them.

[@d.d.s.g.l9945]

@@ruanaribeiro os indígenas não tem nenhuma participação na capoeira,a capoeira é uma cultura exclusivamente africana

[@ruanaribeiro]

@@d.d.s.g.l9945 não no esporte em si, mas na nomenclatura sim. O nome capoeira é indígena e se refere ao local onde a luta era realizada.

[@d.d.s.g.l9945]

@@ruanaribeiro capoeira é uma palavra de origem banto

[@ruanaribeiro]

@@d.d.s.g.l9945 ela é originária do tupi-guarani e significa "o que foi mata". Referindo-se as áreas de mato baixo/capinado. A origem da palavra praticamente consenso entre os historiadores, apesar da história afro-brasileira possui várias vertentes devido a queima dos registros. Não faria sentido a palavra ser de origem banto por uma série de motivos.

[@DrGanja99]

It’s from Angola not Brazil

[@juliarafaelle7128]

Capoeira emerged in BRASIL as a form of resistance from slaves brought from Africa in colonial times. In addition to being used for physical defense, capoeira was a way to safeguard the identity of African slaves. Mainly because it was consolidated in Quilombo dos Palmares (Brazil)

[@rocambolli]

Well; i think its from both countries. Slaves from Angola developed the art in Brazil, and in Brazil it became consolidated.

[@CarlosSilva-sr6dx]

Brazil e África

[@rodrigoribeiromichalzechen5091]

No is not, no evidence what's or ever.

[@jimmylee3226]

@@rodrigoribeiromichalzechen5091 Um, just look it up; it DOES say it originated in Angola.

[@adandyguyinspace5783]

Capoeira is actually African. It’s not a Brazilian invention.

[@samugamerbr2649]

capoeira is an African heritage in Brazil was made by slaves as a means of defense and masked as a dance to hide the struggle from masters. you probably don't know about Brazilian history

[@adandyguyinspace5783]

@@samugamerbr2649 I knew all of that. I also knew that Capoeira comes from Africa. Specifically Angola. Ergo, it’s African, not Brazilian. When you type in on here “Angola Capoeira” you’ll see interviews of practitioners in Angola saying they’re the ones who made it.

[@samugamerbr2649]

@@adandyguyinspace5783 Capoeira as a martial art is not African, it was developed in Brazil with indigenous mixes. tell me the name of a great African capoeira master, there was no capoeira fight in Africa what existed was the dance style on which capoeira was based

[@adandyguyinspace5783]

@@samugamerbr2649 Capoeira was made in Africa. Like I told you, youtube “Capoeira Angola” and people from there are being interviewed and they say Capoeira came from Angola. Ergo Capoeira came from Africa. You lose the debate. Good bye

[@samugamerbr2649]

@@adandyguyinspace5783 my friend the capoeira that exists today in angola exists all over the world thanks to internationalization, but it was not created in africa, the slaves created capoeira BASED on dance and rhythm already known in africa, but the fighting movements themselves were developed in Brazil during the colonial period.

[@d.d.s.g.l9945]

I'm Brazilian and capoeira is not a Brazilian culture, but an African culture of Angolan origin

[@liberdade376]

Grande merda essa luta ai, eu com minha G2C tombo todos esses ai em menos de 3 minutos.

[@JoaoLucasK]

Capoeira foi desenvolvida no Brasil. Você tá se referindo ao Engolo, no qual a capoeira foi baseada, mas a capoeira teve raízes tanto na cultura africana quanto na indígena (afinal, o nome "capoeira" é indígena)

[@neilpatrick6764]

Eddy and Christie 🤔👀

[@Nevergiveup-jt1tb]

It looks amazing martial art cuz of its fancy moves but almost emphasis is on kicking high that's why it cant be useful in real time. Imagine if your opponent successfully grabs your leg then he won't forget to drag you & you'll be totally *ucked!

[@LuanMower55]

It can be useful, and I invite you to look up proper capoeira championships and full contact competitions, to see what a proper, full power kick can do when the restriction of not giving your partner/opponent a concussion and broken teeth is taken away.

[@theworm4890]

I train under Cordao De Ouro my namei s Boca De Lota.