Capoeira in Cape Town

Capoeira was born in Brazil out of a need for African slaves to unite in fighting for the common goal of achieving freedom. Beginning in the 1500's, Brazil imported over two million slaves from Africa to work on the sugar and tobacco plantations found mostly in Bahia, Recife, and Rio de Janeiro. Rebelling against their masters, the mix of people from different African tribes eventually found a way to share their cultures by developing a form of combat based on various African fighting styles that required agility, strength and fast movements. Through the centuries, Capoeira has evolved into a respected art form that encompasses dance, rhythm, movement and martial arts.

Read more at Suite101: A History of Capoeira: A Powerful Martial Art, Artform, and Fitness Tool http://www.suite101.com/content/a-history-of-capoeira-a136318#ixzz1JoETfeRY