Capoeira is a Brazil originated Martial-art form. This martial-art, which has been developed over  centuries by the brazilian afro-american slaves in order to protect themselves against their brutal  masters, is practiced officially today in 48 countries around the world. The fact that Capoeira does not  have rigid forms and its intrinsic aesthetics seperates Capoeira apart from all other martial arts.  For different people, Capoeira has a meaning of fight, protection and defence or merely a dance form.  However, by the people who created it, Capoeira has been interpreted as the ‘path to freedom’ and become  a unique life philosophy in centuries. If you are interested in, or actually practicing Capoeira,  you should decide what it means for yourself. The answer exists in your mind.

In May 13th 1888 (which is about 250 years later after they have first been captured) slaves had their freedom. After that date, some of the Africans returned their homeland. The others could not find any job at farms and villages and most begun criminal activity in cities. The rest, who knew Capoeira, used their skill and became bodyguards to politicians. In the years following 1890, although being little in number, some people from the higher crust began learning Capoeira after which politicians frightened and motivated to form a police team for public protection. A new law have been released according to which some Capoeira movements and training get identified as crimeful. Associated with this another new law was enabling the law forces to punish Capoeira practicers on site. However, while these laws were being released one after another, a police chief named Sampio who was also a Capoeirista, taught Capoeira to all men under his authority, putting an end to all underground illegal activity. Although his success, the law which prohibits Capoeira has been around until 1920. People were practicing Capoeira under the mask of dancing and by this way they have managed to protect the tradition

In 1937, one of the most important Mestre’s (Mestre Bimba) has been invited to the capital city to present this sport as an artform. After a prosperous demostration, the master opened a legal Capoeira school when he returned home. Capoeira has continued developing this way, as years went by and reached a position of being known and practiced all along the country. Today, Capoeira is being taught in schools, clubs, and even military in Brazil.