Knocking and kicking
The Sabbath among slaves, 1849. People practice martial arts in the background. | |
| Also known as | Kicking and knocking |
|---|---|
| Focus | kicks, headbutts, evasions, acrobatic |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Ancestor arts | engolo |
| Related arts | capoeira, danmyé |
Knocking and kicking (or yuna onse) is a little-known traditional African-American dance-like martial art, arguably practiced clandestinely in parts of the Southern US and on the Sea Islands.
Music and acrobatic movements made knocking and kicking inseparable from dance. Knocking and kicking was secretly performed within the black community. These performances were set to the beat of drums, clapping, or the accompaniment of reed pipes known as "quills."
Some authors find that this art originates from engolo, and cognates with capoeira and danmyé.