A Collision of Cultures in the Brazilian Battle Dance - Capoeira Music

chapter
in 1972 the federação Brasileira de pugilismo (Brazilian federation of Boxing)
founded the departamento especial de Capoeira, to be responsible for
establishing an international standard for capoeira. all capoeira schools had to
apply for and receive certification from the federation and comply with its codes
and regulations. The curriculum included civics and mores, law, organization,
refereeing capoeira contests, and Brazilian folklore and music. Capoeiras were
classified into ten levels, distinguished by their belt colors, which corresponded
to those of the national flag. Level 1 was green; level 2, green and yellow; level 3,
yellow; level 4, yellow and blue; level 5, blue; level 6, green, yellow, and blue;
level 7, white and green; level 8, white and yellow; level 9, white and blue; and
the highest level, 10, white. at level 5 the Capoeirista became a graduate. prior
to level 5 it was the teacher who determined a student’s progress, and a year of
training and a test were required for each belt. some schools also required a
written examination in theory. at level 6, the Capoeira became an assistant instructor
(contra mestre) but only after a practical and theoretical examination
and acceptance by the technical division of the state federation of Capoeira.
to achieve the rank of teacher, the student had to be at least twenty-one years
old, have at least two years of experience as an assistant instructor and ten years
of capoeira experience. at level 7 and up, a man was allowed to open his own
capoeira school and be formally recognized as a mestre throughout Brazil. advancement
from this level depended on a teacher’s personal dedication and contribution,
public involvement, compliance with the rules of morality and of capoeira,
and at least ten years of experience between levels.54 it is strange that just
when the government was endorsing capoeira throughout Brazil, Bimba’s status
declined. He ran into financial difficulties, was out of favor with the authorities,
and complained bitterly about the lack of support and assistance he received. He
left salvador in 1973 and moved to Goiania, where he was invited by a former
student to teach at the university. soon after this, quarrels flared up between him
and the establishment, and he became consumed by bitterness and criticism. He
died there, penniless, on april 5, 1974. Mestre Bimba is still recognized as the
founding father of Capoeira regional, though the authorities took over its organized
supervision.
The first official capoeira contests were held in 1975, and national championships
were arranged in classes according to weight (as in boxing). These contests
aroused controversy over what determined victory. The importance of speed,
technique, and other elements were heatedly debated and are still problematic
today. in the 1970s many of Bimba’s students moved to large cities such as rio
de Janeiro and são paulo, hoping to make a living by teaching capoeira, as is
reflected in the following song:55