Capoeira is above all, a search for freedom. African slaves in Brazil created Capoeira over 500 years ago. They developed the moves to convince their captors they were practicing ritual dancing when really they were developing a strategic fighting technique. Current in Brazil since the slaves’ arrival in the process of the colonization of the country, it emerges as a manifestation of defense against the oppression imposed, coming from transformation of rites and fun recreation of the slaved African people. It is seen as fight and dance to trick their factors that rapidly could be changed to an extremely aggressive fight which was used as a fundamental weapon for the slaves’ liberty. Current in the slaves market and in the slave houses, Capoeira was always a street activity. It started to be practiced in Gym Academies in 1932, when Mestre Bimba opened the first Academy of Capoeira in Salvador, Bahia and from that time it began to be organized as a Regional Bahiana Capoeira, known as Regional Capoeira.
Nowadays, after resisting to a high oppression and its almost disappearance at all, Capoeira comes with its peculiar strength, although more erudite and practiced all over the world, combining the movement of the body and music, a Brazilian dance, art, game and fight with African roots.
The fundamental principles taught in Capoeira include a corporal dialogue, the body’s intelligence, the ability to react, balance, as well as the notions of space, time, rhythm, music. Capoeira is a marvelous exercise for the body, involving all of the muscle groups and developing a series of physical qualities. While playing in the "roda" (the circle of the social group) one rapidly notices a great change: less tension, faster reflexes and increased power. By persevering your breathing becomes regulated as the regular practice of Capoeira (at least three times a week) develops the cardiovascular system. And, most beautiful of all, one develops great abdominal muscles, these muscles being amongst those most solicited. Below are the qualities that the practice of Capoeira develops and improves.
Endurance: to provide the maximum energy during the entire period of play.
Agility: the movements change direction at any time.
Flexibility: large movements dominate Capoeira.
Speed: in order to trick your adversary.
Balance: to master the body’s control during complex movements.
Coordination: to be able to respond to attacks with arms, the trunk of the body and legs, all at once.
Rhythm: the game is led by music and singing and the pace of the movements must match the music’s rhythm.
But Capoeira in not only good for the body. Capoeira works with one’s emotions, helping to liberate aggressively, although the sport does not encourage any form of violence. Capoeira develops the mastery of one’s body and mind, as well as one’s creativity. By practicing Capoeira you improve:
Your concentration: The attention paid to your adversaries movements must be constant.
Your perseverance: Perfect mastery of one’s body comes only after diligent practice.
Your daringness: Little by little one’s fear of performing certain acrobatic movements is overcome.
Your cunning: In order to fool your adversary with unexpected sequences of movements.

Capoeira will give you a cardiovascular work out. Your mind and your body work together as you concentrate on anticipating your opponent's next move. If you're concerned with your sedentary status preventing you becoming a Capoeira champion, don't panic. Being creative and inventive with your moves will keep your opponents on their toes while you build up your strength. And you'll be so busy learning and perfecting your moves, you won't even notice your thighs toning. As well as increasing strength and agility, practicing this art form will boost your self-confidence and teach you some nifty self-defense techniques.
Drawbacks: The only thing that will stop you enjoying this exercise is your confidence.
 It's up to you to keep persevering until you are competent - which could take some time.In order to acquire resistance and breath, the ideal is that the practitioner does not have any addiction, as cigarette, alcohols or drugs, which compromise the resistance. The exercise can be practice for people in any age or physical condition. Each person will work out within his/her body limits. Capoeira demands also concentration and observation. Looking at the other person’s eye is one of the bases of its game. It’s important to be always watchful to the partner, looking for the direction of his eyes, doing the movements without losing sight of him. The liberated aspect is one of its characteristics proved by literature, songs and typical movements.Another point is that Capoeira does not happen by itself, for that reason it is necessary the participation in the group. Its teaching is based on the knowledge transmitted orally through the experience and regular practice. This aspect demands that the person molds him/herself to a group and starts living with the differences that might exist in this specific group, exercising the tolerance. The capacity of improvisation, adaptation to the differences and dramatization of the circumstances are characteristics that the practitioner acquires with training, involving cunning and entertainment.

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For the African slaves and their descendants, besides strengthens the body, brings dignity and amuses them, Capoeira had the function of elevating their moral, something that occurs up to nowadays. However, it is for its sporting character and philosophy that Capoeira gets and keeps the people in the activity along the years. It goes beyond a simple physical exercise or gymnastics. It’s only by trying its jig that a person can find out everything that Capoeira can offer. Capoeira itself is not a confrontation neither has winners or losers. The game, understood for some ones as a dance or an artistic fight, is a dialogue between two individuals and from this point the game can be seen. It is not a choreography; it’s a sequence of questions and answers all the time. The important thing is that the two players are attentive and not lose the sight of each other. The speed and intention of the game depends on how the master or instructor (“mestre”) conduces the activity of the group. As a sporting activity, it can be used the Capoeira techniques to leave the partner in ‘dead end’ or even to knock down him/her on the floor to show superiority in ability and experience. An important aspect of Capoeira is that it can be a strong, violent and dangerous fight, but it can be also a fun activity, an inoffensive or harmless dance, or a simple presentation. As a sport, some techniques of presentation can be used in order to show that the Capoeira player can beat but doesn’t really beat, showing his/her control over the movements and consequently over his/her body. The game combines knocks that interact with each other by keeping a dialogue between two bodies. The jig is the base of the game and from that jig, all the knocks show up, full of little variation that the Capoeira players discover and adapt in his/her own style, according his/her capacity and body, developing the movements in a demonstration of high ability along the years.