Capoeira self defense effectiveness?

[Panagiotis97]

Is Capoeira any good for self defense?
dont forget that it was banned in Brazil because of the problems it caused to the police...
but nowdays can be effective?

[S.Anucha]

Is Capoeira any good for self defense?
dont forget that it was banned in Brazil because of the problems it caused to the police...
but nowdays can be effective?

In UK there are these two guys who do capoeira for a BBC advert. I met them personally while performing at a martial arts demo thing, there was Kickboxing, capoeira, Jujitsu, Sumo and Muay Thai.

The capoeira guys were amazing, acrobatic, serious shit here, no exaggeration, the stuff the guys were doing i.e cartwheeling in one position but like 100 miles per hour! blew me away, backflips, real crowd pleasing acrobatic stuff.

It all lacked one thing POWER! there was none, in a fight this shit would be nothing more than a point winning art the way it is, to be a practical fighting art the acrobatic dance moves should be turned into full force blows and less of the jumping around.

Capoeira is, after all, dancing, well it is was used to disguise fights in prison between inmates, the screws would think they were dancing or some shit... so they told me. It aint a fighting art now, dancers and body poppers take it up to develop in their dancing ability.

looks great though. I was really impressed.

[shadowkiller]

I think that if combined with a good striking art that it could be very benificial to your self defense. You would be very quick and agile. And lets face it, dont you want to fight matrix style?

[chris davis 200]

Agreed - it would have its benifits in terms of speed, agility etc - BUT it lacks some key conciderations in the process.

As a stand alone art - no - as a way to improve your speed and flexability - yes.

cheers
chris

[krys]

I think Capoiera has a lot of interesting exercises...
This art teaches you to be evasive not static, to stay relaxed while fighting, get the proper timing, and is also good for your balance, physical condition.... Capoeiristas have also good low kicks and sweeps. Since I practice their jinga daily (300-500 repetitions) my kicking skills and footwork greatly improved....

[eXcessiveForce]

realize this was designed for slaves. Slaves who had their hands bound and had to learn to fight without their hands being free. As for power realize also that it was done with knives strapped to their feet.

It was a dance so that it could avoid being punishable since martial arts were outlawed during the time.

There are two types of capoeria the national sport that is for fun, and the type still used by the criminal element in brazil.

I still do not believe that by itself it is of much benefit in a self defense situation. To much energy expenditure for one thing. susceptible to grabing and to being knocked over. Overly telegraphed movements also would hinder it. Hard to do it by surprise. The Jinga is needed to get the momentum up so that some of the better moves can actually be completed.

[CKD]

I think Jean Silva does capoeria.

[JaredExtreme]

Though it is pretty much a dance, I think it is more effective than Shotokan.

[Rudolphuss]

Though it is pretty much a dance, I think it is more effective than Shotokan.

More effective than Taekwondo ?

[swan104]

I believe the Capoeira guys used to stick razor blades to their shoes when fighting? I can't really comment on the style because I've not actually seen it first hand, but it does like very acrobatic and wushu-like?

[efortiz]

Capoeira? maybe more effective than sme

Well..

Capoeira was developed by african slaves in Brazil, they used to dance to ir because anything else was banned, they're dancing was assumed to be some kind of religion type of cult and was permitted. Music and the movement used only made it more deadly.

It was for a long time banned in Brazil, believe me, if it was just a "dance" like someone posted, it would have never been banned!

In capoeira u use ur whole body to attack and are taught to be evasive, not to block movements from your opponent but use it to ur behalf. There's grappling, throw downs, kicks, punches, elbows, head buts, sweeps, all sort of hand strikes..

All movements are done with grace and a lot of power, slaves tried to end the fight as soon as possible and take down their opponent to be able to flee and help others. So the "powerless" comment really is unbased.

It is sad that not many people understand what capoeiraa it's all about and yet take their time to bash out such a beautiful martial art and culture.

You want to learn more about capoeira? go to a school, find out what it is all about, capoerista.com has a list of schools around the world, my group, grupo axé capoeira at www.axecapoeira.com. I hope this enlightens and helps those who do not know.

Capoeira é mais que uma pelea; é um estilo de vida! (Capoeira is more than a martial art it's a way of life!)

Axé,

Eduardo

[efortiz]

more on capoeira

btw..

there are only TWO types of capoeira, angola and regional.

Angola movements are really close and down to ground, focuses on closed space.

Regional is more active, there usually is more space between the players (or fighters for all you will) and movements are more higher paced and do include floreios (aerial movements)

www.Google.com does a great job if you want to learn about Capoeira before trying to assume things.

Axé

[m.artist]

wesley snipes is very good at it as well


but....about it being more affective then tkd..i dunno..they r both pretty much useless alone..so if the 2 were to fight....i would say that tkd lose...but it's till close

[efortiz]

capoeira vs. tkd

I used to study tkd back a few yrs now..

Capoeira has ground game and kicks from every imaginable position and evasive manuvers as to tkd, it has standard kicks, then some kicks that ppl have picked up from other martial arts and blocking maneuvers.

Capoeira goes with the flow, we never block, we evade and attack if needed. tkd blocks and then attacks or counter attacks.

I'd have to say that if ur mestre or capoeira teacher keeps the capoeira real, you'll be able to use it stand alone in any kind of fight. But everything depends on how and where u learn it.

Axé

[hEmPY]

OMG Get Real

Capoeira goes with the flow, we never block, we evade and attack if needed.

OMG What r u talkin bout. I imagine you fightin me!!!
Ya neva block?? BAM u takin serious punches, and you know how it feelz when you get hard punch?? It feelz like you wake up from a nightmare, and then BAM,BAM you feel like you had a nightmare and while 'sleepin' you thought you woke up from a nightmare.
Jus like dat baby, jus like dat

I like Capoeira. And Ill do Capo, but only coz I like dem dancin, dattz right