capoeira
Capoeira is a striking art originating in Brazil. Its training focus centers on Afro-Brazilian kicks, sweeps, and acrobatic movements performed in coordination with live music. The art developed from a war dance tradition, and practitioners engage in a flowing, rhythmic exchange known as the jogo, in which movement, timing, and spatial awareness are central elements of practice.
As a striking art rooted in a war dance lineage, capoeira training generally emphasizes stand-up technique alongside significant athletic conditioning. The acrobatic and musical dimensions of practice mean that body control, agility, and responsiveness to rhythm receive considerable attention alongside the kicks and sweeps that form the core of its combative vocabulary. Training typically takes place within a structured musical environment that shapes the pace and character of each session.
Two principal sub-styles are documented within capoeira. Capoeira Angola is a traditional form associated with a low-game style of play, with emphasis on ritual and strategic interaction between practitioners. Capoeira Regional is a faster, more modern form that was codified by Mestre Bimba. Both sub-styles are examined in the sections below.
Styles & branches of capoeira
Capoeira Angola
Type: Striking · Lineage: capoeira
traditional low-game capoeira, ritual and strategy Wikipedia →
capoeira regional
Type: Striking · Lineage: capoeira
faster modern capoeira codified by Mestre Bimba Wikipedia →
Gear to expect. Striking training typically calls for gloves, hand wraps, shin guards, and a mouthguard — your school will tell you exactly what, and when. New students rarely need to buy anything for a trial class.
Find your martial art →Related striking styles
Classification and facts from our open-data taxonomy (Wikidata CC0 base + our editorial classification). Where a fact (like origin) isn't recorded, we leave it out rather than guess. Methodology.