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.