, Volume , Issue 1
The head marking in the performance of the capoeira’s armada
Abstract
Background & Study Aims: Capoeira is a Brazilian martial art created by blacks enslaved during colonial Brazil period for the purposes of resistance and survival. It develops as a game in which two players perform motor skills of attack, counterattack and defence against each other in the middle of a circle formed by people playing percussion instruments, singing, responding to a choir and clapping their hands This study aim was knowledge about the head movement during the performance of the capoeira’s armada.
Material & Methods: Forty experienced volunteers, male (n = 20) and female (n = 20), with an average age of 24.0 ±5.0 years took part in this experiment. They were assigned into two groups (beginner and advanced) considering the cordon graduations of the Brazilian Capoeira Confederation. The armadas were performed considering the performance velocity, opponent and preferred lower limb. Measures involved the (a) starting time of armada, (b) ending time of armada, (c) starting time of head movement, (d) ending time of head movement, (e) armada movement time and (f) head movement time.
Results: Results showed that head movement started after and ended before all other armada’s components. It was revealed similar armada’s head movement times for performance velocities (slow and fast) and learning stage (beginner and advanced). In addition, results showed that head movement time in the armada performed with the dominant inferior member and on an virtual opponent was longer than those of the non-dominant member and without an opponent, respectively.
Conclusions: Conclusions imply useful insights into the design of practice tasks in the teaching-learning and training of capoeira’s armada by considering teachers (senseis) should instructing the performers that the head should be the last part of the body to start the turning movement, but the first to finish. Future studies need to consider the head marking in relation to the role of the vestibular system, including the performance of other motor skills.