| The movements of Capoeira engage all aspects of the body. Some moves require the upper body to hold the majority of the body's weight. Others entail repetitive kicks and squats which strengthen the leg muscles, or acrobatic steps which increase total-body strength. At the same time, the movements are melodic and dance-like as they flow from one position to the next. this enables the body to experience a full range of motion and this motion increases flexibility. Practicing the movement of Capoeira increases stamina as well, because the participant constantly works the body in a diverse, demanding manner. Participants sing, clap, and play instruments simultaneously which increases mind-body coordination. The combinations of movement that the participants carry out also increase physical coordination. When people play Capoeira in a roda, they interact with another person. if a person kicks, they react to that kick and go into a movement as a result of the other person's movement. The "game" is interactive and people who play it become aware of their surroundings and creatively react to them. Students who participate in Capoeira sing songs in Portuguese and clap their hands to the beat. They also learn how to play a drum and tambourine which they play while singing. All of these increase their musical attributes in a well-rounded way. People who practice Capoeira perform in every class when they enter the roda in pairs or one-by-one. With Capoeira's rich and unique Afro-Brazilian cultural background, participants become aware of these cultural issues and practices. |