Capoeira: Brazilian Martial Art Spotted in Melbourne

I was walking past Melbourne Museum when I heard drums and stopped completely. This is ABADA Capoeira Melbourne performing live — and if you've never seen Capoeira before, here's what you're looking at. Capoeira is a Brazilian martial art created in the 16th century by African people as a form of resistance. Because they were forbidden from fighting, they disguised combat moves inside dance and music — so what looks like fluid rhythmic movement is actually one of the most sophisticated fighting systems in the world. Every session is called a jogo (game), performed inside a circle called a roda. Live music drives the whole thing — the key instrument is the berimbau, a single-string percussion bow that controls the speed and intensity of the fighters. ABADA Capoeira was founded in Brazil in 1988 by Mestre Camisa and is now active in over 60 countries — including right here in Melbourne, Australia. One unexpected afternoon outside the Melbourne Museum and I learned something completely new. That's why I love this city. 🔔 Subscribe for more travel and cultural discoveries — from Melbourne to Asia and beyond. #Capoeira #ABDACapoeiraMelbourne #MelbourneMuseum #BrazilianCulture #melbournelife