Capoeira at The Bridge

The Erakor Youth experience a session of Capoeira, an Afro-Brazilian martial art that includes components of acrobatics, dance and music.

The Mestre Rodrigo Carneiro came to Erakor Bridge for a session with the Youth and Children of Erakor Bridge.

Mestre Rodrigo, an experience teacher now living in Vanuatu but that usually travels around to make workshops about this unique Martial Art explained that in Brazil is adopted as part of the curriculum in the schools because its practice helps to motivate students and promotes discipline in the education.

This martial art is originally linked with the conditions of the Afro-Brazilians who have been forcefully displaced from Angola by the Portuguese to Brazil as slaves. It was developed in the 18^th century.

Capoeira was developed by Afro-Brazilian community to be able prepare to resist, as a form of self defense in case of a physical confrontation with their Masters, the owners of the slaves. It was also developed as a game, dance to maintain the afro culture and spirituality. A martial art disguised as a dance. Players do not touch to each other. Usually it is practice is a simulation of a combat in pairs where players are dancing without physical contact.