Beija-flor - Hand and Arm Strikes

Hand and Arm Strikes

Jogo de Braços or "the game of the arm and hand". Traditionally, hand strikes were rarely used in capoeira, the mythological reasoning behind this being that the shackles and chains of the slaves prevented this. Even if this is so, punches, elbows, and slaps have always existed in street rodas all around Brazil. Today, this game of the arm and hand is seen more in the Capoeira Angola rodas. Some players attempt to distract or fascinate their opponent by waving their arms and hands in a spellcasting like way. This jogo or game represents a swinging and waving of hands to diminish any perception of an attack and lower the other player's guard.

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Famous quotes containing the words hand and, hand, arm and/or strikes:

    While you’re playing cards with a regular guy or having a bite to eat with him, he seems a peaceable, good-humoured and not entirely dense person. But just begin a conversation with him about something inedible, politics or science, for instance, and he ends up in a deadend or starts in on such an obtuse and base philosophy that you can only wave your hand and leave.
    Anton Pavlovich Chekhov (1860–1904)

    I wolde no lenger in the bed abide
    If that I felte his arm over my side,
    Til he hadde maad his raunson unto me;
    Thanne wolde I suffre him do his nicetee.
    And therfore every man this tale I telle:
    Winne whoso may, for al is for to selle;
    With empty hand men may no hawkes lure.
    Geoffrey Chaucer (1340?–1400)

    I am the LORD, and I will free you from the burdens of the Egyptians and deliver you from slavery to them. I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment. I will take you as my people, and I will be your God. You shall know that I am the LORD your God, who has freed you from the burdens of the Egyptians.
    Bible: Hebrew, Exodus 6:6,7.

    One of the great reasons for the popularity of strikes is that they give the suppressed self a sense of power. For once the human tool knows itself a man, able to stand up and speak a word or strike a blow.
    Charles Horton Cooley (1864–1929)