the slaves needed a fighting style they could use to rise up against their masters, but they were not allowed to possess weapons or practice combat. the capoeira fighting style was created, in dance like formation, to overcome the previously described restricitons.

during down time, slaves would play music and practice acrobatic kicking techniques in a rhythmic manner - if they were seen by the slavers, they would say they were practicing a ritualistic dance - capoeira thrived from this point on. when holland attacked brazil in 1630, giving the slaves a chance to revolt - the portuguese ended up fighting a two front war, and the slaves were armed with their newly created martial art.