ABADA Capoeira Cultural Arts Center
Brazilian Association to Support and Develop the Art of Capoeira
Benefits of Capoeira
Capoeira is a unique art form that incorporates many different muscles of the body. It combines basic dance movements, martial arts, music, and acrobatics. The practice of Capoeira helps improve ones cardiovascular system, endurance, flexibility, motor coordination and alertness as well as physical balance.
In addition to the physical benefits, practitioners also learn how to play instruments used in Capoeira and learn songs in Portuguese. In turn, a majority of practitioners learn to speak Portuguese. The Capoeira songs are an example of strong traditions that have been passed down through generations.
The practice of Capoeira teaches students discipline, perseverance, teamwork and self-awareness; positive attributes that can help anyone succeed in Capoeira and in life.
Capoeira Today
Capoeira helps people to approach conflict, fear, and uncertainty with greater confidence, determination, and humor. Ultimately, capoeira is a celebration of the joys of movement, music, physical expression, and strategy. Today's students, like the earliest practitioners of capoeira, learn to translate struggles into celebrations, to believe in their abilities, and to understand the richness of sharing with others. Capoeira has gained respect as a martial art form throughout the world. Increasingly visible in popular culture and mainstream media, capoeira has attracted millions of individuals from every part of the globe.
The Roda
The Roda is a tradition in Capoeira that can never be left behind, a "Roda" (pronounced "ho-da") refers to the circle that capoeira players form, and inside of which the game is played. Those forming the Roda are as important to the game as the two players inside—adding to the energy and rhythm of the game by clapping their hands, singing choruses of capoeira songs, and playing instruments.
The Roda is a tradition in Capoeira that can never be left behind, a "Roda" (pronounced "ho-da") refers to the circle that capoeira players form, and inside of which the game is played. Those forming the Roda are as important to the game as the two players inside—adding to the energy and rhythm of the game by clapping their hands, singing choruses of capoeira songs, and playing instruments.
Besides this technical explanation, what is a Capoeira Roda?
The Roda is where Capoeira has always been played in since the beginning, if we compare Capoeira to another sport we could say that the Roda is to a Capoeira player the same as a swimming pool is to a swimmer, even thought you can have a good player without the Roda, one is not complete without the other. It is in the Roda that the ritual is completed, all the physical, cultural, musical and mental training are put together to be performed in the Roda. As a metaphor for the circle of life, the challenges, cooperativeness, participation, fun and awareness are there to be deal with, the players are expected to answer to the game with all the skills they have learned and with they own personality, the game shows the participants there are no failure or victory as you can always play another game, learn lessons and improve for the next time. The two players inside receive energy and support from the Roda. The Capoeira Roda illustrates that all individuals are important in the creation of the whole, and that cooperation is essential to the process.