Give thanks for the response Ras Mandingo!
A Brazilian brother told me that where he's from, people are always playing capoeira in the streets, usually in the slower form as a dance, but if the police or soldiers pass by, they speed up, make it more like fighting, to intimidate the cops and let them know to leave the bredren alone. Don't know if that's true or not.
I've also heard that advanced capoeristas sometimes practice with razor blades between their toes and cloth around their necks to prevent getting cut in the jugular, is that true?
Also, as you progress in capoeira, do you learn to use your hands/fists, or is it still strictly the feet you are using?