Capoeira: The Jogo de Angola from Luanda to Cyberspace (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9781583941836)

Capoeira evolved as a Brazilian martial art developed initially by that country's African slaves. Marked by deft, deceptive movements played on the ground or completely inverted, the form started gaining worldwide popularity in the early 20th century, when this second volume of Gerard Taylor's wide-ranging history begins.

The book opens with a study of the capoeira "Bamba," Mestre Bimba, who became renowned as a fighting champion in Bahia and opened the first legal academy during the dictatorship of Getulio Vargas. Taylor investigates the dramatic development of the schism that resulted in the competing styles of Regional and Angola. Moving into contemporary capoeira, the author provides an overview of new trends, such as international encounters, long distance "mail-order mestres," mass membership capoeira associations, cyber-capoeira, and grading systems.

The book features the wisdom of a number of important mestres recounting their experiences teaching capoeira professionally around the world. In frank, inspiring interviews they talk about the highs and lows of the capoeira life, and how its lessons can enrich people's lives.

Photographs, illustrations, and an extensive glossary of terms illuminate the complex history of this fighting art.

Author: Gerard Taylor
ISBN-10: 1583941835
ISBN-13: 9781583941836
Publisher: Blue Snake Books
Language: English
Published: 04/24/2007
Pages: 560
Format: Paperback
Weight: 1.93lbs
Size: 8.90h x 6.06w x 1.35d