NOWADAYS, it is thought that slaves from Angola, who were first brought to Brazil in the 16th century, developed Capoeira as a self-defence technique. Basing themselves on traditional African dances and rituals, these slaves practised Capoeira in the work free hours left to them, thus training both mind and body for combat situations. As the slave-masters forbade any kind of martial art, it was cloaked in the guise of an innocent-looking recreational dance. In the 17th century escaped-slaves founded a number of "quilombos" (hidden slave-governed territories), in which the Art of Capoeira was further perfected.  The inhabitants of Palmares, the largest of the quilombos, fought a decade-long war against their colonial oppressors. Capoeira was used not only in direct combat, it also inspired the battle strategy itself; feigning retreat, thus luring the over-confident enemy into remote territories only to strike back at an unsuspecting place and time.
 

Mestre Pastinha & Mestre Bimba

The official prohibition of Capoeira remained even after slavery was abolished in 1888. It was nevertheless practised by the poorer population on public holidays, during work-free hours and similar occasions. Riots, caused also by police interference, were common. Persecution and punishment were almost successful in eradicating Capoeira from the "streets" of Brazil by the 1920's. In spite of the ban, Master Bimba and Master Pastinha founded the first Capoeira schools in Salvador, Bahia. Master Bimba created a new style, the "Capoeira Regional" (as opposed to the traditional "Capoeira Angola") by incorporating new moves and techniques and was finally successful in convincing the authorities of the cultural value of Capoeira, thus ending the official ban in the 1930's.