"Capoeira," an exotic but interesting sport - rather old-fashioned, yet shrewd and clever, with feline blows - is being practiced with general interest lately in Bahia. Until recently, the curious spectacle was not so sought-out. However, "capoeira" is now being appreciated with enthusiasm, taking part in sporting festivals.

While reporting on one of these exhibitions days ago, we asked the sport's champion, the most well-known of the practitioners, to give an explanation to the public, because many people understand nothing of the secrets of this unique art of attack and defense.

Answering our call, Mestre Bimba (his name is Manoel dos Reis Machado) was in our offices yesterday. He came to give us the requested explanations, which are, without a doubt, very interesting.

He told us: "I've been teaching capoeiragem for eighteen years. I adapted various blows to that which is called capoeira de Angola, the style practiced by my mestre, the African Bentinho. The blows of the Angola game are these: meia lua de frente, meia lua de compasso (rabo de arraia), meia lua armada, aú to the right and to the left, cabeçada, chibata, rasteira, raspa, tesoura fechada, balão, leque, calcanheira, encruzilhada, and deslocamento."

"From these blows," continued Mestre Bimba, "I removed two: encruzilhada and deslocamento. And I added the following: vingativa, banda traçada, balão em pé, balão arqueado, balão 'colar' de força, cintura desprezada, cintura de rins, gravata cinturada, tesoura aberta, benção, salta pescoço, sopapo, galopante, godeme, cotovelo, and dentinho."

"In order to avoid deceptions and misinterpretations, and in the aim of making the capoeira encounters more interesting and more violent, all the strikes of capoeiragem will enter into play. The adversaries will be able to use whatever blows they know. Thus, I launch a challenge to everyone who practices or knows capoeiragem, as well as any other fighter (jiu-jitsu etc) – whatever they want. I will face them with my capoeira!"

"And are there any blows prohibited in capoeira?" we asked him.

"There actually should not exist prohibited blows in capoeira, because it's an instinctive fight. But since we want to have a polite match, the following blows will be considered forbidden: eye pokes, blows to the sexual organs, biting, and pulling hair. Capoeira Angola is not to be practiced in the ring, but instead with pandeiro and berimbau, because all the movements obey the sounds of these instruments."

"On the eighteenth there was the exhibition between Bahia and Américo Sciencia in Odeon Park, which ended with an undecided outcome. Why? Simply: capoeira Angola has its strikes determined or regulated by the berimbau and the pandeiro. But the true capoeira is that with which we defend ourselves and face the enemy! So then, if I'm attacked, in any place, will I wait for the berimbau in order to react? Neither the berimbau nor the pandeiro! I really have to defend myself…"

"And your match, in Odeon Park, with Zéy?"

"I won fifteen points to two and not as it was reported. The points are counted like this: cabeçada to aú (takedown) – 3; cabeçada to aú (hit) – 1; cabeçada takedown – 2; cabeçada hit – 1; meia lua and armada in the face – 1; meia lua and armada hit – 1; calcanheira – 1; tesoura takedown – 2; tesoura hit – 1; balão açoitado – 2; balão arqueado – 2; headlock – 6. I did a cabeçada to aú (hit), a cabeçada hit, a meia lua and armada in the face, two meia lua and armada hits, two tesoura hits, one balão açoitado and one headlock. Zéy did only one meia lua and armada hit and one tesoura hit."

And Mestre Bimba, accompanied by his manager, left the office. Our readers now have a precious explanation of capoeira. At the same time, the Bahian champion has launched his challenge to all other fighters.