Capoeira Angola

Capoeira de Angola (Angolan capoeira) or simply angola is the traditional style of capoeira, the Afro-Brazilian martial art. A newer style, based on the reform of capoeira Angola, is called regional.

However, the term capoeira Angola is somewhat ambiguous and can mean two things:

• traditional capoeira Angola prior to its codification in 20th century.
• contemporary capoeira Angola codified by Mestre Pastinha, based on an older one.

Although mestre Pastinha strove to preserve the original art, he nevertheless introduced significant changes to capoeira practice. He forbid weapon and lethal moves, prescribed uniforms, moved training away from the street into the academia, and started to teach women. But for mestre Pastinha, Capoeira Angola was, "above all, fighting and violent fighting".

The practice of capoeira Angola is to cultivate chants, music and culture in addition to the martial art, and to keep capoeira as close to its African roots as possible. Angoleiros preserve oral traditions about capoeira's origins and maintain a connection with the ancestral art of engolo.

Capoeira Angola restored to mainstream capoeira the tradition of skillfully played capoeira music which the regional style had neglected.