Capoeira

Capoeira is a combination of dance, ritual, and martial arts that developed out of the Portugese trade of African slaves to Brazil during the 16th century. Capoeira was illegal in Brazil until the 1930's. The ritual game begins with two players squatting in a circle, or roda, of spectators. The players rest at the feet of a single-stringed instrument, or berimbau, and one player sings a commencement song. The other player can sing in response or remain silent to allow the first player to sing the announcement that the game has started. The musician at the berimbau then picks up the song as the players move to the center of the circle. The lead berimbauist is the Mestre, or master of the capoeira game. The roda chants, sings, and drums under the direction of the Mestre. The players and the Mestre carry on a dialogue during the game; the music sets the tempo for the tricks that a player can use. A player may also improvise his movements according to the musical commentary the Mestre gives to his performance. The Mestre in turn may play music that reflects the players' attitudes, reactions and strategies.

The goal of the game, or jogo, is to catch the opponent off-guard using guile, technique and gymnastics. Players can fake each other out using rapid kicks, cartwheels, handstands, leg sweeps, flips, jabs, dodges, and turns. The base movement, and the one most often used by beginners, is a side-to-side motion in a semi-crouched stance called ginga. Unlike most martial arts, strikes are admired most when there is no physical contact. A player gains the most applause when the other player has been skillfully baited into a vulnerable, off-balance position, but has not actually fallen or been hit. Although there is no point system, and no official winners or losers, players can be disqualified for falling into a seated position or, in some forms of capoeira, using their hands to strike. Some speculate that the lack of hand use in capoeira harkens back to an ancient Kongo saying: "hands are to build, feet are to destroy." Modern martial artists have two main choices for capoeira techniques and philosophy. Angolan capoeira is the more traditional form, with slow, dance-like steps while Regional capoeira relies much more on high-energy acrobatics. Capoeira today is truly a global phenomenon with schools teaching Angolan, Regional and dozens of fusion styles in major cities all over the world.

by Dancing with Fire January 1, 2011

al capone's vault

Something over-hyped that provides disappointing results. A reference to Geraldo Rivera's television special "The Mystery of Al Capone's Vault."

Dang, that movie sure was an Al Capone's Vault.

by Warren E. June 7, 2007

Caponer

Getting extremely excited about something nobody cares about.

Dan got a caponer when thinking about the high school football game.

by candapone April 2, 2014

capouche

v. To capouche

n. capouche; fancy hat worn to a Capouche

"The line was so long so I turned to my friend and was like...capouche?"

"I told my mom that me and my buddy Capouche went to the movies."

by kapoosh October 31, 2011

Al Capone

An American hero.

RIP Al Capone.

by bgfbhfhfgghnfhfhffh May 27, 2022

caporegime

A highly ranked person in the italian/sicilian mafia. A regime is a troop, and a capo is a leader/boss.

In The Godfather, Don Vito Corleone and Consigliori Tom Hagen is the highest, and after them comes the family's two caporegimes, Clemenza and Tessio. Later, Rocco Lampone creates a new regime.

Sonny Corleone: "Our two New York-regimes are more than a thousand men, that's more than the other five NY-mafia-families have together."

Six people were present at the meeting in Don's working-room: Michael, Sonny and Don, Tom Hagen, and the caporegimes Clemenza and Tessio.

by klimaxx August 9, 2006

Al Caponed

To get owned in style

He got Al caponed by my grenade...

by Goat23535 September 27, 2005