Capoiera is an indian word, which signifies “wood-clearin” and gave its name to this art, because the blacks use to practice there.

Capoiera appeared in Brasil duringthe time of slavery as a weapon of the blacks, against their persecuters.

In the few moments they had left to rest, the slaves practised and developed fighting skills, moves, strokes and hits they could use to escape. When strangers came near, a different berimbau-rythm was played and the blacks would start a dance full of acrobatic movements. These movements were so beatutiful, that they were forced to present them at the parties of their owners, before these noticed that they disguised a fight of deadly strokes. History says, that the warriors of the Quilombo dos Palmares had the unbelievable advantages of speed, flexibility and skill of striking with their feet and hands against the soldiers.

It was probably this fight and the courage of the blacks that – for more than one century – impeded the way to the destruction of the biggest and best known fort of slavery fugitives. This is why ZUMBI, the black king of Palmares is considered the 1st Capoeira Master.

Later on, in the 20th century, after having been a forbidden practise, capoeira found it´s most important figures in some mestres from Bahia: Manoel dos Reis MAchado (Mestre Bimba), Valdemar da Liberdade, Mestre Pastinha, Traira and Totonho de Maré men who have already died without having the luck, to get the appreciation of their people (who, insstead, focused on esterior sports, which have nothing to do with the history and development of Brazil.)