[Capoeira] Combat Capoeira?

[Adam]

Is there any sub-style of capoeira that focuses solely on self-defense and full contact fighting and not all the fancy breakdance moves?

[SoKKlab]

There are, I seem to remember, two main styles of Capoeira.
The 'Regional' and the 'Angola' style.

One of them, I think it's the Angola style is more practical in its movements and less geared to acrobatics.

But I might of got it the wrong way round....

[gutshot]

angola is the traditional style. Regional is the newer competition style started by mestre bimba that incorporates a lot of eastern martial arts style kicks and such in other to make it more of a fight and less of a game so that it would be easier to score.

still the traditional style will put you in great condition, improve your coordination and definitely help with self defence combat situations, however i'd say to gain real fighting ability regional is your best bet.

[bad eddy]

Hey adam I posted a really good post in the capoeira is the best art thread. i posted a link as well so if you go there and read my post you'll get the link to an article on capoeira used in combat tourneys such as ufc etc. Also the post is really good. I ve been practicing capoeira for about 5 yrs now and it is an effective fighting art. I respect all arts and feel the same way about them as well.

[Goju]

ahahaha only the strong, a classic

[marinheiro]

Adam, most of the fancy breakdance moves are not really capoeira, but maybe for demonstrations and exhibitions. Capoeira is actually built on self defence, because it has a warring history. It was not created as a dance or acrobatics, (those came in later, with "regional" and "senzala"). Capoeira was created as a means of self defence. Attack, vengeance and survival. Both of slave from master, then later for the gangs and "strong men". Thats why capoeira is often said to be for "only the strong"...."parana e". dont be fooled by the acrobatics.

Capoeira is strongly rooted in the rhythm of the "berimbau", an instrument used to control the movements of the "jogadors" or players of capoeira. But take note they were often NOT playing and casualties often occured.

Look for a capoeira class around you and pay them a visit. Watch what goes on and please DONT join in unless you are thoroughly convinced..

all the best, adam

[valetudo74]

Adam, most of the fancy breakdance moves are not really capoeira, but maybe for demonstrations and exhibitions. Capoeira is actually built on self defence, because it has a warring history. It was not created as a dance or acrobatics, (those came in later, with "regional" and "senzala"). Capoeira was created as a means of self defence. Attack, vengeance and survival. Both of slave from master, then later for the gangs and "strong men". Thats why capoeira is often said to be for "only the strong"...."parana e". dont be fooled by the acrobatics.

Capoeira is strongly rooted in the rhythm of the "berimbau", an instrument used to control the movements of the "jogadors" or players of capoeira. But take note they were often NOT playing and casualties often occured.

Look for a capoeira class around you and pay them a visit. Watch what goes on and please DONT join in unless you are thoroughly convinced..

all the best, adam

Nicely put Adam, spot on.

"Combat Capoeira," "Renegade Capoeira," etc., are titles of Capoeira videos or from instructors who know nothing about the art. A group of Western Martial Arts instructors put together a horrible video entitled "Renegade Capoeira" where they were teaching horrifying technique to unsuspecting students. To the instructor's credit, he began the video by stating he was not a certified Capoeira instructor. In any event, watch out as Adam stated, for wannabe's.

If you train here in the U.S., you are guaranteed to find at least 95% of the schools are going to emphasize Floreios. The percentage I gave may be extreme, but that's my own personal view of how much Capoeira has given way to acrobatics. Very few instructors will teach actual self defense concepts that Bimba taught. Consider yourself fortunate if you find someone who does. Acrobatics were very rarely used in Regional, if at all. What you're seeing today is not Regional, rather, Capoeira Contemporanea, or Contemporary Capoeira. It's an updated form of Capoeira that really focuses on the demonstration and acrobatic use during rodas. This started in the late 60's, early 70's and has come to full bloom in the 90's-2000's.

Brazil is perhaps the only place you're going to find the authentic form of Regional being taught, with some exceptions being schools in England, some in the States, and some in Canada. There may be others, however, I'm not aware of them. Full contact is taboo in many schools today. I've been love-tapped before in a roda and the guy I was in the jogo with apologized for tapping me with his foot. It's actually quite sad to see how much watered down Capoeira is nowadays from its original form.

[Guy Mendiola]

I've heard in Brazil they used to hold Capoeira fights like full-contact Capoeira insted of the "Angola" and the "Regional".