Hailing from the South American country of Brazil, the art of Capoeira was formed by the men and women who were taken from their homes in Africa and forced into slavery under Portuguese rule. The artform requires great agility and speed on the part of its practitioners to properly utilize its techniques which are designed to confuse and suffocate one's opponent.
All techniques start from a small, but complex group of movements known as ginga.
The ginga itself resembles a dance and is done most effectively to a musical rhythm. The rhythm of Capoeira is controlled by the berimbau, and instrument that resembles a bow with a metal string and a gourd for effective resonation. True capoeiristas play the berimbau and know the traditional songs of capoeiragem.