Today's style is: CAPOEIRA: a Brazilian dance of African origin that incorporates martial arts movements such as kicks and chops.

More than 400-years-old, Capoeira blends music, dance, singing and acrobatics to create a holistic approach to teaching self-defense. The goal of Capoeira is not to defend oneself through violence but rather, to redirect and avoid violence.

Though originally conceived as a non-aggressive practice, street gangs in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil later used it as a violent weapon. As a result of the terror caused by these gangs, Capoeira was outlawed in Brazil in 1892this law was not changed until sometime in the 1930s.

The jogo-de-capoeira (play of Capoeira) takes place in a ritual activity and a circular area, both called roda (wheel, circle, social group) pronounced ho-da. The roda is a Capoeira party in which Capoeiristas gather and play Capoeira. The players and onlookers form a circle, a roda. At the top of the circle is the bateria, which is an ensemble of musicians and singers.

Music is not incidental to the practice of Capoeira, but it is one of the most important elements in the art. Essentially music creates the atmosphere in which Capoeira is most beautifully expressed. Music is used to inspire the players to more intense level of interaction, and it is used to calm them down when the game has become too heated.

So much history, so much more to learn about Capoeira:

http://www.capoeira-angola.org/what_is_capoeira.htm http://www.capoeirauniverse.com/capoeira_history.html