Capoeira in popular culture
Encyclopedia
The Afro-Brazilian martial art of Capoeira
, noted for its acrobatic movements and kicks, has been featured in numerous films, TV shows and video game series.
Capoeira
Capoeira is a Brazilian art form that combines elements of martial arts, sports, and music. It was created in Brazil mainly by descendants of African slaves with Brazilian native influences, probably beginning in the 16th century...
, noted for its acrobatic movements and kicks, has been featured in numerous films, TV shows and video game series.
Movies
- Cordão de Ouro (1977) is also the title of a futuristic Brazilian movie. Capoeira is central to the plot, and the movie stars several well known mestres, such as Nestor CapoeiraNestor CapoeiraNestor Capoeira is a contemporary capoeira master. Though his first teacher was Mestre Leopoldina, he trained for the majority of his career under Rio de Janeiro's Senzala group....
and Mestre Camisa.
- Rooftops, a 1989 film, is a film based around street kids who use dance fights to settle arguments and as a form of entertainment. One of the kids sees a capoeira group and starts to integrate it into his dance.
- Only The Strong, a 1993 action film, is the only Hollywood film that showcases capoeira from beginning to end. While many capoeira fans appreciate the film out of a sense of irony, and as a showcase for the sport. It is generally considered to be of poor quality, probably due to almost completely unrealistic impressions of Brazil.
- The 2002 film Madame SataMadame Satã (film)Madame Satã is a 2002 Brazilian-French drama film directed by Karim Aïnouz. It tells the story of Madame Satã and premiered in the Un Certain Regard section at the 2002 Cannes Film Festival.-Cast:* Lázaro Ramos - João Francisco dos Santos / Madame Satã...
is set in the seedy underworld of 1930's Rio de Janeiro. It tells the story of João Francisco dos Santos - a drag performer and capoeirista street-fighter.
- Vincent CasselVincent CasselVincent Cassel is a Cesar award winning French actor probably best known to English-speaking audiences through his performances in the Ocean's Trilogy of films and Darren Aronofsky's Black Swan.-Personal life:...
, a proficient Capoeira practitioner showcased his skills in Ocean's TwelveOcean's TwelveOcean's Twelve is a 2004 American crime comedy film, the sequel to 2001's Ocean's Eleven. Like its predecessor, which was a remake of the 1960 film Ocean's 11, the film used a celebrity ensemble cast. It was released in the United States on December 10, 2004. A third film, Ocean's Thirteen, was...
(2004) to evade and bypass an advanced laser-based security system..
- In the 2005 movie The ProtectorTom-Yum-GoongTom-Yum-Goong Tom-Yum-Goong Tom-Yum-Goong (Thai: ต้มยำกุ้ง, is a 2005 Thai Martial arts Action film starring Tony Jaa. The film was directed by Prachya Pinkaew, who also directed Jaa's prior breakout film Ong-Bak. As with Ong-Bak, the fights were choreographed by Jaa and his mentor, Panna Rittikrai...
, the main character Kham, played by Tony JaaTony JaaTatchakorn Yeerum , formerly Panom Yeerum , better known in the West as Tony Jaa, in Thailand as Jaa Panom, is a Thai martial artist, actor, choreographer, stuntman, director, and monk...
, fights enemies that all are masters of a different art. He faces a fearsome man who specializes in Capoeira, played by Lateef CrowderLateef CrowderLateef Crowder Dos Santos is a Brazilian-born American actor, stunt performer, and martial artist. As a member of the ZeroGravity stunt team since 2000, he has been featured in multiple internet short videos and demo reels, such as Inmate 451. He's a 26-year experienced practitioner in the art of...
.
- Harry Potter and the Goblet of FireHarry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (film)Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire is a 2005 fantasy film directed by Mike Newell and based on the novel of the same name by J. K. Rowling. It is the fourth instalment in the Harry Potter film series, written by Steve Kloves and produced by David Heyman...
(2005) wizards from the Durmstrang school display some Capoeira moves.
- Mestre BimbaMestre BimbaManuel dos Reis Machado, commonly called Mestre Bimba , was a mestre of the Afro-Brazilian martial art capoeira.-Early life:Machado is said to have had two birth certificates, dated 1899 and 1900, respectively...
: A Capoeira Illuminada (2006) is a documentary about Mestre Bimba and Capoeira.
- The 2009 movie BESOURO based on true and actual events of a legendary fighter and practitioner in Capoeira history who goes by the same name as the title starring Aílton Carmo as Besouro. It includes extensive capoeira fighting scenes.(Trailer)http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1322277http://www.capoeirashanghai.com/news/325
- In the 2010 film Undisputed III: RedemptionUndisputed III: RedemptionUndisputed III: Redemption is the third installment to the 2002 action film Undisputed. The film stars Scott Adkins, Mykel Shannon Jenkins, Mark Ivanir and Hristo Shopov, and was directed by Isaac Florentine.-Plot:...
, Lateef CrowderLateef CrowderLateef Crowder Dos Santos is a Brazilian-born American actor, stunt performer, and martial artist. As a member of the ZeroGravity stunt team since 2000, he has been featured in multiple internet short videos and demo reels, such as Inmate 451. He's a 26-year experienced practitioner in the art of...
plays Brazilian character Santiago Silva, a capoeira-trained fighter, and has two fight scenes against a Grecian and a Russian fighter, the later protagonist Yuri Boyka played by Scott AdkinsScott AdkinsScott Adkins is an English actor and martial artist who is perhaps best known for playing Yuri Boyka in Undisputed II: Last Man Standing and Undisputed III: Redemption and Bradley Hume in Holby City and Ed Russell in Mile High...
.
- Many of Wesley SnipesWesley SnipesWesley Trent Snipes is an American actor, film producer, and martial artist, who has starred in numerous action films, thrillers, and dramatic feature films. Snipes is known for playing the Marvel Comics character Blade in the Blade film trilogy, among various other high profile roles...
' action films include scenes involving capoeira, as it is one of several martial arts he practices.
- The French ConnectionThe French Connection (videos)The French Connection is a prolific producer of gay pornographic videos.Although the company produces several lines of films in different categories, almost all of these feature young men with little or no body hair and who have not been circumcised...
, a company which is a prolific producer of gayGayGay is a word that refers to a homosexual person, especially a homosexual male. For homosexual women the specific term is "lesbian"....
pornographicPornographyPornography or porn is the explicit portrayal of sexual subject matter for the purposes of sexual arousal and erotic satisfaction.Pornography may use any of a variety of media, ranging from books, magazines, postcards, photos, sculpture, drawing, painting, animation, sound recording, film, video,...
videosFilmA film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
, has released at least twenty-seven Capoeira-themed films.Black & Tan Videos
Television
- Capoeira first entered public consciousness in the UK by exposure from the NokiaNokiaNokia Corporation is a Finnish multinational communications corporation that is headquartered in Keilaniemi, Espoo, a city neighbouring Finland's capital Helsinki...
Mobile 2000 advertisement showing Mestre Sylvia and Contra-Mestre Marcos of the London School of Capoeira performing on a beach. - One of the BBC 'Rhythm & Movement' identsBBC 'Rhythm & Movement' identsBBC 'Rhythm & Movement' idents were a set of on-screen channel identities designed by Lambie-Nairn and used on BBC One from 29 March 2002 until 7 October 2006...
introduced to BBC OneBBC OneBBC One is the flagship television channel of the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It was launched on 2 November 1936 as the BBC Television Service, and was the world's first regular television service with a high level of image resolution...
in 2002 showed Mestre Poncianinho and Contra-Mestre Casquinha playing capoeira, which raised its profile in the United KingdomUnited KingdomThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. While the attention capoeira has received has caused a boom of interest in this martial art, more skeptical capoeiristas have argued that the way it is used in the media is a misrepresentation of what capoeira truly is. - Stargate SG-1Stargate SG-1Stargate SG-1 is a Canadian-American adventure and military science fiction television series and part of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's Stargate franchise. The show, created by Brad Wright and Jonathan Glassner, is based on the 1994 feature film Stargate by Dean Devlin and Roland Emmerich...
also used several capoeiristas from Grupo Axé CapoeiraGrupo Axé CapoeiraGrupo Axé Capoeira is one of the many Capoeira Grupos around the world. It can be classified as a school that teaches "Contemporary Capoeira" . Mestre Barrão's philosophy is that Capoeira must always change/evolve to improve itself and has been striving to see this purpose achieved...
, namely Mestre Barrão, as well as several professores, instructors and students in many stunt choreographies, and conceptualized a race of alien beings practicing a martial art that is based solely on capoeira. It formed the basis for the martial arts style called Mustaba, used by the Jaffa people serving Imhotep in the Stargate SG-1Stargate SG-1Stargate SG-1 is a Canadian-American adventure and military science fiction television series and part of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's Stargate franchise. The show, created by Brad Wright and Jonathan Glassner, is based on the 1994 feature film Stargate by Dean Devlin and Roland Emmerich...
universe. The fighting style was highlighted in the fifth season episode The Warrior. In the Season 6 episode Allegiance, some Jaffa can be seen playing capoeira at the alpha site in the background of a conversation between Jack O'Neill and Jacob Carter/Selmak. - In the hit martial arts cartoon Xiaolin ShowdownXiaolin ShowdownXiaolin Showdown is an American animated television series that aired on Kids WB and was created by Christy Hui. Set in a world where martial arts battles and Eastern magic are commonplace, the series follows four young warriors in training that battle the forces of evil...
, one of the main protagonists, Raimundo, practices capoeira throughout the series. - Professional wrestler John Morrison currently working for World Wrestling EntertainmentWorld Wrestling EntertainmentWorld Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. is an American publicly traded, privately controlled entertainment company dealing primarily in professional wrestling, with major revenue sources also coming from film, music, product licensing, and direct product sales...
incorporates many capoeira moves in the ring.
Comics
- BatmanBatmanBatman is a fictional character created by the artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger. A comic book superhero, Batman first appeared in Detective Comics #27 , and since then has appeared primarily in publications by DC Comics...
is said to be trained in all "127 major martial arts". The DC Ultimate Guide to the character mentions Capoeira by name as one of these, as well as the Greg RuckaGreg RuckaGregory "Greg" Rucka is an American comic book writer and novelist, known for his work on such comics as Action Comics, Batwoman: Detective Comics, and the miniseries Superman: World of New Krypton for DC Comics, and for novels such as his Queen & Country series.-Career:Rucka's writing career...
novelization to the "No Man's Land" story arc. Other characters in Batman's canon are also seen using capoeira like movements, including, notably, the most recent Batgirl, Cassandra CainCassandra CainCassandra Cain is a fictional character in the , one of several who has served as Batgirl, an important character in the Batman comic book franchise. Cassandra's backstory presents her as the daughter of assassins David Cain and Lady Shiva, she was deprived of speech and human contact during her...
, although it is noted that she has no dominant style. Her natural ability of reading movement, however, and her resulting dodges are very similar to capoeira principals. - In the manga series,Black LagoonBlack Lagoonis a manga series written and illustrated by Rei Hiroe, and published in Shogakukan's Sunday GX since 2002. An animated television series based on the manga aired in Japan from April 8, 2006, to June 24, 2006, totaling twelve episodes. A second season, subtitled "The Second Barrage", ran for twelve...
, the character Fabiola Iglesias is a master practitioner of the art. - In Brazil, the heroes "Meia lua, o Rei da Capoeira" (Half Moon, King of Capoeira), "Corcel Negro" (Corcel Black), "Capoeira Negro" (Black Capoeira), "Homem Capoeira" (Capoeira Man) and Carlos da Silva Gimenes of the series Ronin Soul, represent Capoeira.
Music
- The music videoMusic videoA music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
of The Obvious Child by Paul SimonPaul SimonPaul Frederic Simon is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist.Simon is best known for his success, beginning in 1965, as part of the duo Simon & Garfunkel, with musical partner Art Garfunkel. Simon wrote most of the pair's songs, including three that reached number one on the US singles...
features Capoeira at the beginning 0:00 and end 4:03. This was the first single from The Rhythm of the SaintsThe Rhythm of the SaintsThe Rhythm of the Saints is the eighth studio album by Paul Simon, released in 1990. Like its predecessor Graceland, the album gained commercial success and received mostly favorable reviews from critics...
, released in 1990. - The 2006 music videoMusic videoA music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
of Mas Que NadaMas Que Nada-Song information:In 2006, Mendes re-recorded the song with The Black Eyed Peas and additional vocals by Mendes' wife, Gracinha Leporace; a version that is included on his album Timeless. In Brazil, the song is well-known for being the theme song for the local television channel Globo's Estrelas....
by Black-Eyed Peas and Sérgio MendesSergio MendesSérgio Santos Mendes is a Brazilian musician. He has released over thirty-five albums, and plays bossa nova heavily crossed with jazz and funk....
features, among various Brazilian dance forms, several scenes of capoeiristas (Mestrando Cocada & Professor Marcinho) playing.
Dance
- Breakdancing, developed in the 1970s, has many analogous moves. However, the original breakdancers of the early 1970s based their style primarily on actors in Asian kung fu films, rather than capoeira.
- The Southern California hardcore metal scene also uses capoeira as an evolution of the early 1980s "slam dancing". With many of the basic traditions of the "roda" and "volta-ao-mundo", the participants engage in capoeira at 144-180+ beats per minute.
Video games
- The indie game Capoeira LegendsCapoeira LegendsCapoeira Legends is a Brazilian video game developed by Donsoft Entertainment and released in 2009. The game is divided into three chapters, the first of them is available for Windows....
for PC revolves entirely around the capoeira theme. - One of the earliest video games to make use of capoeira was the 1993 Sega Genesis 2D-fighting game Eternal ChampionsEternal ChampionsEternal Champions is a 2D fighting game originally conceived by Scott Berfield, produced by Mike Latham for Sega of America and was developed by the Sega Interactive Development Division....
. In this game, the Atlantian warrior Trident applied the technique in combination with several genre-typical supernatural attacks. As with all characters in the game, Trident's biography in the "Information" menu offered a brief description and history of the fighting style. - Martial Arts: Capoeira RPG action game created by Twelve Interactive for PC , Wii , PS2 and Nintendo DS launch on November 25, 2011.
- Capoeira Legends: Path to Freedom is a 3D action game created by Brazilian developer Donsoft Entertainment for PC. With a pace a bit more strategic, the game received colsultancy by Escola de Capoeira Água de Beber of Mestre Vuê.
- Eddy GordoEddy Gordois an Afro-Brazilian video game character in the Tekken fighting game series by Namco. He made his debut in the arcade version of Tekken 3 in 1997 and his first console appearance was in the 1998 PlayStation port of the title...
and, later, Christie MonteiroChristie Monteirois a character in the Tekken fighting game series. Christie is the granddaughter of the Capoeira mestre who taught Eddy Gordo the art of Capoeira during his incarceration in prison...
are capoeiristas in the TekkenTekkenis an arcade fighting game franchise created and developed by Namco. Beginning with the original Tekken arcade game released in 1994, the series has received several sequels, as well as various home conversions and spin-off titles released for consoles...
series. - The Street Fighter IIIStreet Fighter IIIis a fighting game in Capcom's Street Fighter series, originally released as coin-operated arcade game in . Street Fighter III was produced for the CD-ROM-based CP System III hardware, which allowed for more elaborate 2D graphics than the CPS II-based Street Fighter Alpha games , while revamping...
series had its own capoeirista, ElenaElena (Street Fighter)is a fictional character in the Street Fighter series. She first appeared in the arcade game Street Fighter III: New Generation, and appeared in several revisions of it, including Street Fighter III, Street Fighter III: 2nd Impact, and Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike...
. - On Rumble FighterRumble FighterRumble Fighter is a free-of-charge, 3-D, online fighting game developed by WeMade Entertainment and Nimonix, and published by OGPlanet. The game is a translated port of an original game called which originated from Korea...
there is a capoiera fighting style you can choose. - Online martial arts game Zone 4Zone 4Zone 4 may refer to:*Travelcard Zone 4, of the Transport for London zonal system*Hardiness zone, a geographically defined zone in which a specific category of plant life is capable of growing...
has capoeira as a fighter's type to play with.