Capoeira
Movement - Freedom - Fun:
A sport for everybody
What is Capoeira?
Capoeira is a Brazilian martial art that combines self-defense, kicks, acrobatic movements, music and culture. It comes from the time of slavery in Brazil and was used as a way of empowerment. When you practice Capoeira you get much more back than just exercise; you get to know yourself better, you can always find a fun challange to improve your skills, confront your weaknesses and find fulfillment. It brings people together and makes everyone exercise with pleasure.
Benefits of Capoeira
Full body workout
Improve your strength, endurance, flexibility, explosiveness and dynamic movement.
Cultural enrichment
Try a unique sport where you cna discover a whole new culture
Mental strength
Challenge yourself, learn to improvise and think strategically
Motor skills
Improve your coordination and reflexes by training your athletic responsiveness
Social environment
Training is always fun! The Capoeira group is like your second family. Everyone supports and encourages each other
Music
Whether you are or aren't musically inclined, everyone can enjoy the rhythms of Capoeira music
Capoeira VS Other martial arts
Both Capoeira and Kickboxing are martial arts. With both you learn to kick and to block.
Kickboxing works a lot with punches and uses protection (gloves, shin guards). With Capoeira the focus is more on kicking and punches occur less often during training. Furthermore, you not only learn to take a hit, but also to avoid kicks because no standard protection is used.
Zowel Capoeira als Karate zijn vechtsporten. Bij beide leer je trappen en vechttechniek.
Bij Karate ligt er veel focus op stoten en trappen. Verder worden er veel standaard reeksen van bewegingen geoefend. Bij Capoeira staat het spel en improvisatie juist centraal staat. Verder zijn er naast trappen ook veel acrobatische en sierlijke bewegingen.
Both Capoeira and Karate are martial arts. In both you learn kicking and fighting techniques.
In Karate there is a lot of focus on punching and kicking. Furthermore, many standard sequences of movements are practiced. Capoeira is about free play where improvisation is central. Furthermore, in addition to kicks, there are also many acrobatic and graceful movements.
Both Capoeira and (Brazilian) Jiu Jitsu are martial arts. Both are very popular in Brazil.
Jiu jitsu is characterized by a lot of ground movements and chokes. Many of these movements are also used in Capoeira, but the goal is to remain standing and not fall or land on the ground. Both sports have adopted many movements from each other.
Capoeira and Judo are both martial arts. Capoeira has more kicks and high movements, while Judo stays close to the ground and focuses on throws.
Judo is a Japanese martial art that focuses a lot on throws and ground technique. It uses a lot of power and has a competitive character. Capoeira uses throws, but the goal is not to stay on the ground, but to try to stay on your feet. Dynamic movements and cultural expression are central. The competitive part is more about being playful and showing your insights and skills.
Capoeira and Taekwondo are both martial arts.
Taekwondo is Korean and pays a lot of attention to high and fast kicks. It is also competitive and sparring is often structured. Capoeira involves kicking both high and low. In addition to speed, strength is also important when kicking. It is not an Olympic sport so the focus is not to win or lose, but more to challenge yourself and the opponent and to always improvise.
Both Capoeira and Kung Fu are martial arts. Energy is very important for both.
Kung Fu is a Chinese martial art that is strongly linked to philosophies such as Yin and Yang philosophies around balance. Structured forms and the flow of energy are at its core. Energy in Capoeira comes from the Roda and (circle in which you practice it) the music. It is a communal activity where you strengthen and empower each other. Dynamic movement and improvisation are central here.
Capoeira VS dances and other sports
Breakdancing is heavily influenced by Capoeira. It is a dance form where various movements, including more acrobatic moves, are used and where two dancers enter into a battle with each other and show off their skills.
This is similar to Capoeira where two players in the Roda challenge each other and improvise. Capoeira has been around for about 300 years while Breakdance was developed about 70 years ago.
Freerunning shares the acrobatic element with Capoeira. The goal of Freerunning is to get from point A to point B in a creative way. It’s a new Urban sport.
Capoeira is always practiced with two people. It is a social and interactive sport. Acrobatics is one of the components, next to defense and kicking. When learning acrobatic movements, technique and safety come first.
There are many movements that are common to both Capoeira and gymnastics. Yet the two sports have a very different structure.
Gymnastics focuses a lot on the show aspect: to perform and demonstrate the movements in a very specific way. It also has a very specific rating system. Capoeira has many similar movements such as cartwheel, handstand, back handspring and various somersaults. The movements are used in a dynamic and more free way between kicks and are improvised during the Capoeira game.
Modern dance is an artistic expression through choreographed movements. It is a popular dance form with many influences from various other dances and sports.
Capoeira is a fun challenge for modern dancers. Many of its movements are adapted and used in dance. Of course, the martial arts part is unique to capoeira and the combination with acrobatics does occur in modern dance, but to a lesser extent.
Afro dance is a very broad category of dance that has many forms and types of dances. The music often has a strong rhythmic character and movements with the lower body and legs are often central.
Capoeira is Afro-Brazilian and has rhythms that are similar to Afro music. However, the movements are quite different from each other. The acrobatic side and martial arts are not often seen in different Afro dances.
