Capoeira (Portuguese pronunciation: [kapuˈejɾɐ] or [kaˈpwɐjɾɐ]) is an Afro-Brazilian martial art that

combines elements of dance,[1][2][3] acrobatics,[4] and music.[5][6][7] It was developed by enslaved

Africans in Brazil[8] at the beginning of the 16th century.[9] It is known for its acrobatic and complex
maneuvers, often involving hands on the ground and inverted kicks. It emphasizes flowing
movements rather than fixed stances; the ginga, a rocking step, is usually the focal point of the
technique. The most widely accepted origin of the word capoeira comes from
the Tupi words ka'a ("forest") paũ ("round"),[10] referring to the areas of low vegetation in the
Brazilian interior where fugitive slaves would hide. A practitioner of the art is called
a capoeirista (Portuguese pronunciation: [kapuejˈɾistɐ]).[11][12]
After the abolition of slavery in Brazil, capoeira was declared illegal at the end of the 19th
century. However, by the 1920s, authorities began to relax enforcement on its prohibition, and
martial artists began to incorporate capoeira technique into their practices. By the 1970s,
capoeira masters started traveling around the world, helping the art become internationally
recognized and practiced. On 26 November 2014, capoeira was granted a special protected
status as intangible cultural heritage by UNESCO.[13]