Editing Capoeira (section)

== Philosophy ==
=== ''Malícia'' (malice) ===

{{blockquote|The capoeirista resorts to an endless number of tricks to confuse and distract his opponent. He pretends to step back but he returns quickly; jumps from side to side; lies down and gets up; advances and retreats; pretends not to see the opponent to deceive him; turns in all directions; and shrinks in a cunning and bewildering ''ginga''.{{sfn|Talmon-Chvaicer|2008|p=166}}|[[Mestre Pastinha]]}}

[[File:O Jogo da capoeira, Diário Nacional, 1927.png|thumb|''Diário Nacional'', from 1927, shows a drawing of a sailor tripping a policeman, while another figure is already on the ground.]]

The basic term of capoeira philosophy is ''malícia'' ([[Wiktionary:malice|malice]]). One aspect of ''malicia'' consists of deceiving the opponent into thinking that you are going to execute a certain move when in fact you are going to do something completely different.{{sfn|Capoeira|2007|p=33}} There is an example of ''malicia'' of [[Besouro]] who once fell to the ground during a game, crying like a woman and begging for mercy.{{sfn|Talmon-Chvaicer|2008|p=167}} Mestre [[João Pequeno]] claimed that he teaches his students how to play capoeira, but they should learn ''malícia'' for themselves since it cannot be taught.{{sfn|Talmon-Chvaicer|2008|p=172}}

The meaning of ''malícia'' in capoeira has expanded over time to cunning, suspicion, alertness, readiness, flexibility, and adaptation.{{sfn|Talmon-Chvaicer|2008|p=166}} Basically, it is the capacity to understand someone's intentions and making use of this understanding to misdirect someone as to your next move.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |title=Contemporary Latin American cultural studies |date=2003 |publisher=Arnold |author1=Stephen M. Hart |author2=Richard Young |isbn=0-340-80821-7 |location=London |pages=285–286 |oclc=52946422}}</ref> In the contemporary capoeira, this is done good-naturedly, contrary to what the word may suggest.<ref name=":0" /> [[Nestor Capoeira]] explicated malícia as follows:

{{blockquote|I think ''malícia'' is not only to feign, to pretend that you are going to deliver a certain blow and do something else, but a system of signs and signals. It is as if you were casting a spell or a charm in order to build a specific reality, a seductive reality, during the game and also outside the ''roda'' in day-to-day life and in any type of struggle or combat.{{sfn|Capoeira|2002|p=49}}}}

Gregory Downey explains:

{{blockquote|''Malícia'', not coincidentally, is the quality, or constellation of qualities, that the ideal capoeirista should most evidence in his or her everyday life: a combination of wariness, quick wit, savvy, unpredictability, opportunism, playfulness, viciousness, and a talent for deception. The ability to fool, distract, and deceive the opponent is the key to success. The basic movement in capoeira, the ginga, is a constant fluid movement backward and forward, and a good capoeirista will use malícia in the ginga to deceive his opponent.{{sfn|Talmon-Chvaicer|2008|p=166}}}}

The ''[[Ginga (capoeira)|ginga]]'' is the first principle of capoeira and the embodiment of malice. The continuous, ceaseless bodily motion, known as ''gingar'', is the principle that creates deception or trickery, catching the opponent off guard.

The ''[[bênção]]'' kick, ironically named, reflects another form of malícia. Slave owners would gather slaves in the morning, often on Sundays, to offer blessings, despite their mistreatment. In a deceptive twist, ''bênção'' appears as a blessing but swiftly becomes an attack on the opponent's belly.{{sfn|Talmon-Chvaicer|2008|p=167}}

=== Malandragem ===
{{main|Malandragem}}

''[[Malandragem]]'' is a word that comes from ''malandro'', a man who used [[street smarts]] to make a living. In the 19th century, capoeira was quite similar to the type of urban person who was a constant source of trouble — the ''malandro'' (punk).{{sfn|Talmon-Chvaicer|2008|p=169}}

In the 19th century [[Rio de Janeiro]], the capoeirista was a ''malandro'' (a rogue) and a criminal, expert in the use of kicks (''golpes''), sweeps (''rasteiras'') and head-butts (''cabeçadas''), as well in the use of blade weapons.{{sfn|Capoeira|2007|p=11}}

In capoeira, ''malandragem'' is the ability to quickly understand an opponent's intentions, and during a fight or a game, fool, trick and deceive him.<ref>Diaz, J. D. (2017). Between repetition and variation: A musical performance of malícia in capoeira. ''Ethnomusicology Forum'', 26(1), 46–68. doi:10.1080/17411912.2017.1309297</ref>

A popular Brazilian saying, "''Malandro demais se atrapalha''" means that when one tries to be too clever or smart, instead of confusing his opponent, he confuses himself.{{sfn|Capoeira|2007|p=33}}