in rio de janeiro it is possible to watch people practicing capoeira on the beaches - easily recognizable by the characteristic white pants and shirts, participants form a circle while another group sings and plays musical instruments.

the sport involves acrobatics using sweeps, kicks, soft head-butts, slaps, and punches- however, no one is hurt during capoeira, as it is more of a dance between opponents, than a competitive sport.

the exact meaning and origins of capoeira is still debated with historians divided - some say it is simply a traditional dance with improvised combat movements, while others believe that capoeira symbolizes a form of struggle relating to battles that took place in africa.