Capoeira

Origin and rules

Capoeira was developed in 16th-century Brazil by enslaved West and Central Africans who disguised combat training as dance to evade Portuguese colonial bans. UNESCO inscribed the practice on its Intangible Cultural Heritage list in 2014.

How it plays

Players move within a roda in cartwheel-like ginga steps, exchanging spinning kicks, sweeps, and headstands timed to live berimbau, drum, and call-and-response song. Competitive tournaments score technique, flow, musicality, and dialogue between players.

Competition

The Confederacao Brasileira de Capoeira runs world cups and national championships, with strong scenes in Brazil, France, Portugal, Russia, and the United States. Capoeira is not Olympic but featured at the 2007 Pan American Games as a demonstration.