Capoeira is a 400 year-old Afro-Brazilian martial art, developed as a method of expression and self -defense by the African slaves in Brazil.

Today, Capoeira is Brazil's second largest sport after soccer, and is fast becoming a global recognized art form and sport. Its distinctive blend of martial arts, dance and ritual music attracts people of all types.

Even Hollywood is recognizing the benefits of Capoeira's high intensity workout when actress Halle Berry prepped for her upcoming role in "Catwoman" by training in Capoeira on a daily basis. It's no wonder because Capoeira's emphasis on functional core strength, flexibility and balance makes it an ideal workout.

According to the International Capoeira Federation (Federação Internacional de Capoeira) over 600,000 people practice the Brazilian martial art in the United States alone, and the number keeps growing. Capoeira can be found today in every continent and it is especially blooming in Europe and Japan.

Capoeira has also become a popular workout in gyms in New York and Los Angeles and, at prestigious Standford University students can take capoeira as an elective class!

How is capoeira played?

A Capoeira game takes place within a roda - a circle of players who sing and play instruments, while the capoeiristas spar with flowing, rhythmic movements.

Players who wish to enter the game kneel at the head of the Roda and wait for permission to enter.

The music being played tells the players inside the Roda how to play.

The history of Capoeira

Capoeira first came about in Brazil, where slaves from several different African cultures were thrown together. The slaves combined fighting, music, and dance elements of their cultures and came up with what is now called Capoeira.

African slaves developed their own fighting style to protect themselves from white slave owners, but hid their training by making it look like a ritualistic game.

Another theory says that an African rite of passage called the N'Golo, during which warriors would engage in a ritualistic fight/dance, was the original Capoeira.

It was practiced by Brazilian slaves up until they were freed in the 1880s, at which point Capoeira became the fighting style of criminals. Capoeira gangs would have their own turf, where they controlled the criminal activites. Capoeira at that time incorporated less ritual and music and involved the use of weapons such as knives and clubs.

In the early 20th century, the first Capoeira academies were opened, and Capoeira went from being the art of outlaws to being declared Brazil's national sport.

Today there are two forms of Capoeira; one is called Capoeira Angola (its more traditional form) and the other called Capoeira Regional. Capoeira Angola is a slower and lower style where Capoeira Regional is faster and has adapted other martial art movements.