Holy freaking crap those guys are in shape. I forgot how motivating watching some breakdancing and flips can be! Freaking awesome.

I believe this will answer all of your questions:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6oiADjOdFg

Wow.

Evan that link is ridiculous, and that kick was unreal. Thanks for the link, and looks like I can move forward with Capoeira hopefully over the next few weeks!

-Steve

All I have to say is WOW. There is a studio for this stuff less than a mile from my house. You should see the honeys that come out of that place. This is definately something that I am going to look into in about 75 pounds.

Hey, never felt the urge to actually follow through and post anything on a blog or forum, but this time I just have to! I have done Capoeira on and off for 6 years. My 4 yr relationship is with a professional b-boy (breakdancer). Of course, capoeira surely isn’t breakdancing fighting, but does resemble some of the amazing aesthetics. Before training capoeira, I practiced other martial arts (tae kwon do and Okinawan karate) for 8 years and competed on a national circuit. I love the fight! Because Capoeira is so lethal, it is not often that you watch a Roda (the circle where capoeiristas fight) that shows extensive contact. That is to say that if you were actually following through with your circular kicks, the blows would be devastating. The meia lua (kick) was originally used to take out horses’ legs for heck’s sake! I have had my fair share of concussions and broken peices, trust me. As well, coming from a very egotistical martial art form (karate and tkd) I never initially gave capoeira the benefit of the doubt. I was absolutely wrong! Because capoeira has no linear handicap as many other asian style martial arts have, they are not as restricted and came dynamically attack from literally anywhere! Of course, ultimately it depends on the martial artist. But it is an awesome art that can be used for many things. Breaking, too, is an amazing form that takes just as much-if not more- strength, bodily control, diligence, sweat and bruises. One thing that makes it even harder to master is that you are often learning on your own or with few people instead of being able to use the infused energy of a capoeira roda!

Wow, great comment!

Ha, I realize that Capoeira is so much more than breakdancing fighting, but it’s a pretty accurate description if you had to tell a completely uninformed individual in two words!

You just made me so excited to start Capoeira training one day. As soon as I can afford to join the gym where it is practiced I’ll be going a few nights a week hopefully to try this out.

-Steve

Capoeira looks like tons of fun and I wholly recommend taking it. However, I strongly dis-recommend using it for self-defense. It takes years of consistent study before you can use Capoeira for fighting, it’s difficult even for the masters. Some of the main reasons are that it requires lots of range and most fights start from very close quarters, and also that it was developed to look like dancing and to be used in a roda, against other Capoeira practitioners. This is why knockouts like Evans are so spectacular. They rarely happen. You said the same gym also offers BJJ classes? Get in on that if you have the money. Very useful for fighting, also tons of fun. Have fun with your martial arts!

Hey Adan, thanks for the advice. I’m going to look into doing both capoeria and BJJ – I think they even have breakdancing too. Unfortunately the gym is quite expensive, so I need to save up some money before I can afford another monthly fee.

-S

I’ve been practicing Capoeira for 7 years and I’ve definitely seen flights break out, but only in the Roda against other Capoeiristas. It’s a martial art, and it must be approached like an martial art. Those kicks are very dangerous. The kick in the “20 second KO” video is called a Meia Lua de Compasso, or circular half moon kick. Even a beginner is dangerous when he throws that kick. I was knocked out a few years back by someone who has been training less than a month because I didn’t take it seriously, and I didn’t dodge the kick properly. It’s not an experience I’d like to relive. Capoeria is a very unique artform, and I wouldn’t necessarily use it in a fight, but there are kicks, and take-downs that I might use in a fight. and of course it hones your instincts and makes you a very tricky fighter.

Here’s a “Best of” video as well. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dO6XvxHJ4Vc

Zoolander!!!!

Did you know there is a movie out that has a BUNCH of Capoeira in it? It is called “Only the Strong.”

Of course like anything else. Don’t get a big head, and know when to use a particular move or combo. A friend of mine who has run a dojo for several years and has been working with regional MMA with another style for the past few, got surprised. While I admit balancing on your hands and kicking is something that I need a heck of a lot of a lot of practice before I can even do that handstand much less the kick is nice to look at. Trying it on a non-martial artist who has gotten in many brawls over the years, results in your feet being pushed back and you off your hands. In this case, my friend was too surprised to control the fall and hit the concrete floor a little hard. no injuries just bruised pride.

It was a good thing they were friends and nobody was angry at each other. Just a little showmanship

edit: just remembered that his style is Brazilian Ju-Jitsu. But the idea of know what to use remains the same.