What was the ORIGINAL Capoeira like?

[Broadsword2004]

Hey, I was thinking, Capoeira the way it is currently known is considered to be more of a game and a dance and an acrobatic art. However, it was supposed to have been a real martial art that was used to help aid in freeing slaves and so forth. They practiced it by disguising it as a dance. I also have read that Capoeira Angola is not very acrobatic, but for fighting.

Is fighting Capoeira more like a MMA when used, but just to disguise it, it was made to look like a dance to onlookers, and then as time went on, it evolved into a more acrobatic dance?

I know in videogames with Capoeira, the guy's "fighting stance" is his dance, but I would guess that dance was only for disguise and that in reality they would assume a more realistic fighting stance, like a boxer or something. Like how in karate they have the stances, but any sensible karate person knows you don't get into one of those rigid stances for any fight or match or whatnot? Although Capoeira has virtually no hand-strikes I've heard.

Is Capoeira the same way though? I ask because I cannot possibly see how anyone could fight with Capoeira; one could maybe use some kicks from it, but they'd have to be mixed with something else, like boxing or something, I think. Yet, Capoeira is supposed to be real martial art that helped slaves, so it has to have been effective in some way or in some form.

What do you guys think or know?

[Tom Yum]

They haven't invented time travel yet, my friend...

seriously though, do some research and post your write-up here.