'Capoeira, historian, socioliogist, actor, author, teacher, and inquisitve traveller, Nestor Capoeira presents the reader with a unique and personal vision of capoeria. I hope all students of capoeria will have the opportunity to use his teaching for their own growth and understanding of this art.'- Bira Almeida (Mestre Acordeon)

'Capoeria has been in the States for twenty years, but there are few books...Nestor's is of interest not only to capoeiristas, but muscians, anthropologists, and lovers of capoeria. This book will help a new generation of capoeristas on their path.'-Mestre Jelon Vieira

Nestor Capoeria was intitiated by Mestre Leopoldina, a living legend. Later he joined the Senzala Group and in 1969 received the coveted 'red-rope,' Senzala's highest graduation. In 1990 he left Senzala and started to teach his personal approach to the game at his own school. He has been a pioneer in teaching capoeira in Europe, and his books have been published in France, Denmark, Germany, and the United States. He has worked in film, theater, and television and currently teaches at the Planetario da Gavea in Rio de Janeiro.

Contents

Preface by the translator
Preface
History-Introduction; Origins; During slavery; The freeing of the slaves; Bimba and Pastinha; The recent years; Capoeria in the 1970s and 1980s; Capoeira nowadays-the 1990s
O Jogo (The game)-Ye vamos embora, camara!; The Roda (the circle); A game, a fight or a dance?; The three levels of the game; Malicia; The origins of Malicia: The slave and the bandit
The music-Music and capoeira; The Berimbau; The chants
Learning capoeira-Presentation fo movements (Defensive mokvements; The basic kicks; Bimba's sequences; Takedowns; Other kicks and movements; The language); Final words; Final words to the English edition; Glossary of basic capoeira terms
Appendix: Capoeira trands-Updating The Little Capoeira Book; The conferences and debates of the 1984 National meeting of the Art of Capoeira; The pioneer meetings of 1968 and 1969; the 1984 'Capoeira Art' meeting; History of the Senzala Group; Art and science in Capoeria; Women in Capoeira; The Capoeira Federation; Capoeira in the United States; Capoeria in Bahia; Racism in Capoeria; Talks with the Velha Guarda
Bibliography
About the author

Great book - practically, historically and philosophically. ( )