Sport? Dance? Capoeira!

The Brazilian martial arts form (with a bit of song and dance) is now in India.

The mirror on the wall was fogged. The humid room reverberated with the electric fusion of sounds "" the drumbeats of an atabaque, pandeiro (tambourine), clapping, singing and the laughter of people who were sweating profusely.

Ranged into an arc, they sang songs as two among them, occupying centre stage, appeared to be immersed in a dialogue while practicing a combination of martial arts and dance.

Reza Massah recalls being entranced. That was nine years back, in Israel, and Massah, aka Baba, learnt that the sport was called Capoeira. On subsequent trips to Israel he began to practic the Brazilian martial arts form accompanied by rhythm and song, and vowed to bring it to India some day.

Capoeira trains you to fight (lethally) in the garb of dance. It is Brazil's national sport and its marriage of martial arts and dance is popularly practiced as an alternative workout in campuses the world over.

In India, it rings a bell of familiarity with only very few. But those into Capoeira explore the possibility of joining a Capoeira session wherever they are.

Like Anant Rishi, a Capoeirista on a study break from Wisconsin University in the United States, who was looking around for a Capoeira school in Mumbai. He was lucky enough to chance upon images of a Capoeira class on a television channel and got in touch with the channel for the address of Baba's Capoeira School in Mumbai, set up four months ago and the only one in India.

"If you call Capoeira a dance, a Capoeirista might break your neck," laughs Baba. He goes on explain the Brazilian sport's history, which tis shrouded in controversy.

Some say it originated among the Amazonian Pygmies, others speculate that merchant sailors brought it to Brazil. The most believed theory is that it came to Brazil through the slave route from Africa some 400 years ago, as slaves essentially practiced Capoeira to hone their defense and attack skills.

The free movements of dance were added as the slave masters disallowed the practice of martial arts, so Capoeira came to resemble a dance. These days it's usually practiced in the evenings "after one is through with a hectic, slave-like day", says Baba.

Since Capoeira is a group activity that is physically strenuous and requires one to switch off from worldly worries, it's become a popular alternative to those looking for a workout session that's more exciting than just repetitive gym exercises.

That it's mentally relaxing and rejuvenating is an added benefit. "It makes one flexible and brings grace to body movements, plus it's something new to keep fit," says Maithili Pamuuami, a professional who opted for Capoeira classes two weeks ago after unsuccessful sessions at the gym.

According to Pamuuami, a student develops the coordination of a dancer, the strength of a martial artist, the flexibility of a gymnast, and the endurance of a runner as one practices the sport, apart from comradeship, friendship and giving a part of oneself "" which is central to its philosophy. Practiced barefeet, and without the restriction of huge spaces or equipment, Capoeira can help burn up to 1,000 calories over a two-hour session.

Within a Capoeira class, energy levels can rise as the group in the Rodha (circle) sings and claps for the two people in the centre engaged in dance combat, as the tempo gradually increases from Angola Capoeira (slow) to the newer Regional Capoeira (fast).

According to Baba, when the African community in New York started practicing Capoeira in the 1970s, it clashed with the then emerging break-dance (that included several Capoeira steps).

Baba's classes teach the Capoeira drill for two hours before switching to the game for an hour. Serious Capoeiristas are baptised into the sport "" Batizado. And like other martial arts form, it has degrees "" 11 belts "" each signifying a level of excellence in combat.

"It's a fight like a dance, and a dance like a fight," sums up Baba. If you're planning to join a class some time soon, remember: you could end up being streetsmart too.