In early 1600's, Africa was invaded by European nations such as Portugal, Spain, Holland, England and France. They forced their way into the heart of the land and peoples, enslaved them, and packed them into ships to their so called New World, The Americas. These Africans came from many different groups and tribes such as the Kongo, The Ovimbundu, Kikongo, Ioruba, Zulu, Wolof, Mandinke, Hausa, Ibo, Dinka, etc...

Since they were subjected to all kinds of physical abuse, Capoeira was used as a tool of self-defense. Many slaves ran away to form Quilombos, communities of free slaves. The most known of them all is the Quilombo dos Palmares whose king was Zumbi. Capoeira was very much practiced and preserved and used as war strategies against the Portuguese and the Dutch armies whose desire was to destroy these communities and force the people back into slavery.