CAPOEIRA - "The Brazilian Martial Art"
The history of capoeira, in part, is obscure. There are many documents and facts that can be proven, but there is also much speculation and correct and incorrect conclusions that can not be proven. There is also the popular romanticism and stories that come from the past, for generations, without historic foundation but that is accepted by many. The reality is that there are always questions without responses. The history of capoeira, ironically through its destiny, reflects the actual jogo (game) de capoeira. In some ways it's a charade and full of mandinga (secrets/deception). There are numerous books, which speak of the same subject but take totally different angles. Some of the published books about capoeira, are good and some bad. There are many different berimbau rhythms with the same name. There are also many of the same movements with different names. There have been cordao graduations with the same level in different colors. Out there, there are many rodas, many mestres and many capoeiristas but to none has capoeira revealed all of its' history. Because of this, there will always be questions without exact answers. And because of this, anyone who is interested in capoeira and its history, should read as much as possible about the subject and discover its various angles.

While he played, Brazil won the World Cup, staged quadrennially, three times in 12 years. He scored five goals in a game six times, four goals 30 times and three goals 90 times. And he did so not aloofly or disdainfully--as do many modern stars--but with an infectious joy that caused even the teams over which he triumphed to share in his pleasure, for it is no disgrace to be defeated by a phenomenon defying emulation.

He was born across the mountains from the great coastal cities of Brazil, in the impoverished town of Tres Coracoes. Nicknamed Dico by his family, he was called Pele by soccer friends, a word whose origins escape him. Dico shined shoes until he was discovered at the age of 11 by one of the country's premier players, Waldemar de Brito. Four years later, De Brito brought Pele to Sao Paulo and declared to the disbelieving directors of the professional team in Santos, "This boy will be the greatest soccer player in the world." He was quickly legend. By the next season, he was the top scorer in his league. As the Times of London would later say, "How do you spell Pele? G-O-D." He has been known to stop war; both sides in Nigeria's civil war called a 48-hour cease-fire in 1967 so Pele could play an exhibition match in the capital of Lagos.