Capoeira is a martial art of African origin, but it has evolved to its present form in Brazil. The warrior arts that developed into capoeira were brought to Brazil by African slaves from Angola in particular. Slaves were not allowed to practice martial arts, so they disguised their fighting training as a festive dance-game which they played when they had reason to celebrate something. Capoeira games were accompanied by instrumental music, clapping and singing. Capoeira is very acrobatic and makes use of a constant flow of attacking kicks and defensive evasive movement (eskiva). Capoeira kicks are very powerful.

Capoeira is still a very festive martial art. Capoeira players (capoeirista) gather around in a circle (rhoda), clapping hands and singing songs. They accompany the music with instruments like drums, rattles, tambourines and the birimbao, an instrument consisting of a bow and string, a calabash, stick and stone. The fighting or playing takes place inside the circle with the singers and musicians looking on. Two players squat down in front of the band, pay respects to the rhoda leader, greet each other and then move into the rhoda and play. The word Capoeira means chicken den and refers to the circle made by the onlookers at a cock fight.

There are two main styles of Capoeira today- regional and angola. Angola is the older style. It uses slow movements that are low down and close to the ground, kicks that are close and often make contact, and tripping and pushing. Regional was developed by the patriarch of modern Capoeira, Mestre Bimba. It is an upright style, making use of fast, big movements and powerful, fast kicks that are done at a safer distance than in the Angola style. It is sometimes said that the regional style is more for display and the angola style more for fighting, but this distinction depends on the individual practicing the art.

 is a very healthy form of exercise improving strength, stamina, flexibility, co-ordination, timing, distancing, evasive skill and dexterity. Its also a very popular and enjoyable social activity and a good way to make friends.

Hans Menck likes both the angola and regional styles. He started his training with Marlow Cannon in South Africa and continued it with Mestre Saguin from the UNICAR school in Munich. Capoeira has become a valuable part of Freedom Style Martial Art.