Capoeira is the national martial art of Brazil. Its origins lie in Angola, where its ancestor was a type of ritual dance. The martial art's development began after 1530, when the first Angolan slaves were brought into Brazil. Many of these slaves escaped to live in free communities, and thus Capoeira's ancestor spread, seeding the ground for the later Capoeira.

Capoeira was the fighting style the escaped slaves developed to resist attacks by government forces. It was banned in 1707, and promptly "went underground", when its practitioners converted it into a dance form, disguising its combat effectiveness. In many ways, the circle was completed.

Among the art's unusual features are its dance-like footwork, and the acrobatic prowess of the practitioners. For many maneuvers, practitioners (called capoeiristas or capoeiras) will stand on their hands and attack with powerful kicks.

One reason for this part of the art was that it allowed capoeiristas to fight while their hands were manacled, something that was rather often the case of the style's originator, the Angolan slaves.

Capoeiristas also added razor-fighting (and we're not talking Gillette Sensor Excel here!) techniques to their repertoire, and this is sometimes taught in classes to capoeiristas.

Capoeira is practiced to the accompaniment of musical instruments, including the musical bow, drums, bells, and tambourines, so capoeiristas will often be proficient with these musical instruments.

A word on techniques

The armando da costa can also be called the martelo, or, when performed in acrobatic mode (with the capoeirista standing on one or both hands) the meia lua.