The Little Capoeira Book
Nestor Capoeira, a long-time teacher of capoeira and noted mestre (master), begins this revised edition of his bestseller with an in-depth history of the Brazilian art, giving the most popular theories for the origins and purposes of this movement that combines the grace of dance with lethal self-defense techniques in a unique game-song structure. He discusses some of the most famous capoeristas and their influence on the art. In addition, he describes how the two major branches of capoeira...
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Nestor Capoeira, a long-time teacher of capoeira and noted mestre (master), begins this revised edition of his bestseller with an in-depth history of the Brazilian art, giving the most popular theories for the origins and purposes of this movement that combines the grace of dance with lethal self-defense techniques in a unique game-song structure. He discusses some of the most famous capoeristas and their influence on the art. In addition, he describes how the two major branches of capoeira (Angola and Regional) came about and the differences between them. The Little Capoeira Book’s clear descriptions of the game, or jogo, explain the actual application of capoeira, vaguely similar to sparring but very different in purpose and style. The music of capoeira, which is played during all jogo, is also examined, along with its main instrument, the berimbau. The author includes a how-to guide with photographs showing basic moves for beginners, with offensive and defensive applications for simple kicks, takedowns, advanced kicks and movements, head butts, hand strikes, and knee and elbow strikes. Each technique is vividly depicted with drawings that are easy to understand and learn from, and mestre capoeira includes an explanation of both Angola and Regional versions.
Preface by the TranslatorPrefaceIntroduction3Origins3During Slavery5The Freeing of the Slaves10Bimba and Pastinha13The Recent Years15Capoeira in the 1970s and 1980s17Capoeira Nowadays - the 1990s19Ye Vamos Embora, Camara!23The Roda (The Circle)24A Game, a Fight or a Dance?29The Three Levels of the Game30Malicia33The Origins of Malicia: The Slave and the Bandit34Music and Capoeira41The Berimbau41The Chants45Presentation of Movements60Defensive Movements71The Basic Kicks73Bimba's Sequences86Takedowns108Other Kicks and Movements124The Language of Angola135Final Words139Final Words to the English Edition141Glossary of Basic Capoeira Terms143
