Capoeira is a Brazilian martial art that blends elements of dance, acrobatics, music, and fighting. It was developed by African slaves in Brazil during the 16th century as a form of self-defense disguised as a dance to avoid detection by slave masters. Today, it is practiced worldwide as a form of cultural expression and physical exercise. In capoeira, practitioners, known as capoeiristas, engage in a roda (a circle formed by players and musicians), where two people participate in a playful, flowing exchange of movements. These movements include kicks, spins, flips, and sweeps, often accompanied by rhythmic music played on instruments such as the berimbau (a one-string percussion instrument), atabaque (drum), and pandeiro (tambourine). The music sets the tone and rhythm for the game and influences the movements.