[Capoeira] Capoeira or Kickboxing?

[Kainn K]

After doing some research on both these martial arts, I've decided I want to take lessons in one or both. Taking both seems too hard, so which of these martial arts would be more practical?
a) Better for getting/staying in shape?
b) Self Defense?
c) Laying the beat down on bullies?

Thank you for your time.

[Jordan]

Kick boxing seems to be easier to adapt to then Capoeira because of the fact Kickboxers stand up. But about you questions to A, B, C, both arts are a great way of acheving these goals

[wayofthedragon]

:confused: didn't I post here before :confused:
or is just another thread like the one I posted in:confused:

Anyway, I'd say give both a shot just for a while, then see what you think.

[Jay]

Kickboxing will help you defend yourself in a stand-up fight, but does not contain any groundwork. It'll help you get fit / flexible and strong.

Capoeira will help you get jiggy with it on the dancefloor :D

Jay

[wayofthedragon]

Originally posted by Jay
Kickboxing will help you defend yourself in a stand-up fight, but does not contain any groundwork. It'll help you get fit / flexible and strong.

Capoeira will help you get jiggy with it on the dancefloor :D

Jay

Capoeira is mis understood by a lot of people I see. Yes it can help you get jiggy with it on the dance floor. But just as Kick boxing, fit flexible and strong, defending yourself and a stand up fight, as well as ground techniques that can be found in capoeira. Capoeira is just as effective as every martial art there is if you know how to use it

[Jay]

Yeah .. but isn't it true that most capoeira fights got to the ground because they fall over from getting dizzy from all that spinning ? :D

[wayofthedragon]

Not that I know of. Hey, where did you find those statistics:confused:
Anyway, a good capoeirist would know not to get himself dizzy in a real fight.

[Jay]

I made it up :D

[wayofthedragon]

Oh:confused:
:D
seriously though, capoeira is a very effective art, though if a person does not know how to use it correctly in a fight, then it may not help much....the same as with every martialart

[Disciple]

In answer ABC, Both get you in shape, though capoeria does it much more and can make you much stronger if you get into the arieal and spinning aspects,
Self Defense and Beat down.... tie for self d, beat down: Capeoriea.

[Kosh]

I do Capoeira and Hapkido and they both go together perfectly.
Its hard to explain but anything i cant do in Capoeira i can do in Hapkido and vice versa. Perhaps you will find the same is true for kick boxing and capoeira.

One thing you should consider is that my perseption of kick boxing is that it is very utilitarian, in that it is a means to an end (competition fighting). This is good but you may find it limited in terms of self expression / having fun / creativity etc. You might find Capoeira is a good flipside of that, since it will be a lot more relaxed and free.

As for the work, if i can do two martial arts then anyone can. The trick is to enjoy it.

[Kosh]

One other thing...the decision you make should (and will wether you like it or not) be based on your fealings not your logic.

[M3inline6]

After doing some research on both these martial arts, I've decided I want to take lessons in one or both. Taking both seems too hard, so which of these martial arts would be more practical?
a) Better for getting/staying in shape?
b) Self Defense?
c) Laying the beat down on bullies?

Thank you for your time.

....Pick whichever best suits you, your body type, and your personality!

a) Both are great for getting/staying in shape. It's all preference!
b) Both are great for self defense. It all depends on you, the practitioner. The kicks in Capoeira (..i.e...Martelo, gancho, chapa, armada, etc.) are found in just about every other art.
c) Use psychology to avoid this type of confrontation to begin with. You can't win 'em all. If it comes down to the act, again, it depends on the practitioner.

Good luck in your quest.

Axe'

[GhostRider]

Here's a novel idea... why don't you do both? I've been in your shoes (and still am to a small degree with choosing between two great arts) and understand the predicament you must face. You want the best of both worlds, why not go for it? If you take kickboxing first there's a lot of basic fundamentals that it covers that can be translated to Capoeria later on. Kickboxing is not easy to do but compared to other arts it's not half as complicated. It's fairly straight forward to learn and in two to three years I'm sure you'd have down all the basics and then some. Then go into Capoeria. I think you'll find the two arts blend very well together... but, that's just my opinion. :cool:

[Guy Mendiola]

Yeah, Almost like crosstraining... Both arts is suitable for you it's just the one that you want to take up.

[leo]

cross training is always best, neither arts are perfect on their own but for street defence if u had to do just one art then kickboxing is much better

[M3inline6]

cross training is always best, neither arts are perfect on their own but for street defence if u had to do just one art then kickboxing is much better

Who says it's better? Better because of preference perhaps? There is nothing fundamentally superior about kickboxing. The same basic kicks in kickboxing are in almost every other art with kicks. So explain what makes it better? To this day, Capoeira is still very esoteric, and therein lies its greatest strength.

If you want to be technical about it, psychology is your best "street defense"!

Axe'
M3inline6

[Scarlet Mist]

There's a capoeira club aroound my area. As far as I've seen they're a bunch of crackhead clowns who like to stand on their heads and spin around and play Brazilian Music (good music by the way). I see no way how the Capoeira they do could be adapted to self defence. If I were you, I would go with Kick Boxing.
Of course, I'm not that qualified to make a comparison, since I haven't seen any REAL Capoeira.

[M3inline6]

There's a capoeira club aroound my area. As far as I've seen they're a bunch of crackhead clowns who like to stand on their heads and spin around and play Brazilian Music (good music by the way). I see no way how the Capoeira they do could be adapted to self defence. If I were you, I would go with Kick Boxing.
Of course, I'm not that qualified to make a comparison, since I haven't seen any REAL Capoeira.

Yes, exactly......you know very little about what you're viewing so you are not qualified to make a judgement. There are movements left to the roda, and applications that are street worthy. It's too much to explain, so I won't bother trying.

[englishpremier]

I did capoeria for a while and it is an excellent work out. the kicks were impressive but i didn't feel that any self defense as such was being taught. At least there wasn't a focus in this area in my particular school. I haven't noticed any real hand strikes in capoeira do they exist?

[M3inline6]

I did capoeria for a while and it is an excellent work out. the kicks were impressive but i didn't feel that any self defense as such was being taught. At least there wasn't a focus in this area in my particular school. I haven't noticed any real hand strikes in capoeira do they exist?

It does depend on the teacher and their focus. My mestre is a fighter, so he teaches us "dirty" techniques, and he places emphasis on the fight. Every teacher approaches it differently. That's with any martial arts school though. Some teachers are just better than others.

Hand strikes do exist. Punches, slaps, palm hands, etc. all exist in Capoeira. The reason you don't see these too often is because most outsiders only see Capoeira when it's in a roda. It is considered disrespect to punch or slap in most rodas. Our roda is akin to sparring in other arts. Sometimes you'll see rough games, but most times you see friendly match ups. In the roda, most Capoeirista's don't play rough, however, if you were to look at any street roda in Brazil, the contact would be entirely different than in the U.S. Capoeira and BJJ reign out there, and fights ensue all the time. Full contact Capoeira ensues especially when two Capoeirista's have beef. Again, there is much to learn about Capoeira if you are to fully understand it. We have the same kicks that any other art has, and a few ultra powerful kicks..........namely Meia Lua de Compasso. Alot of Capoeirista's can grapple as well. BJJ & Capoeira matches happen in Brazil quite often, and BJJ doesn't reign supreme like some would like to believe. When you have people in Brazil that grow up doing either art, the dedication spawns impressive fighters. It is their culture! I find it hard for anybody to discount it because many American's choose not to pursue it's fighting aspects. They are there, and if one of the most poverty stricken, violent countries find the art useful, then I don't understand where the doubt originates from. Everything tends to get watered down in the U.S. I think people need to open up their scope a bit. On the other hand, as I stated before, being underestimated is one of the arts greatest strengths. I'd rather be underestimated......and surprise somebody, than to be overestimated and disappoint.

[Solomon]

tie for self d, beat down: Capeoriea.

woot! :D

[leo]

Who says it's better? Better because of preference perhaps? There is nothing fundamentally superior about kickboxing. The same basic kicks in kickboxing are in almost every other art with kicks. So explain what makes it better? To this day, Capoeira is still very esoteric, and therein lies its greatest strength.

If you want to be technical about it, psychology is your best "street defense"!

Axe'
M3inline6

that is my opinion, we concenstrate very much on combat, more than capoeira does (or atlease thats what it seems to me), im not saying any martial art is better than any other one, i just think that they all have advantages over the other martial arts in different situations, on the streets i wud feel much safer haveing done full contact kickboxing than all the fancy moves in capoeira. but capoeira does make u strong and agile which is very helpful, thats y i believe cross training is always best, i do kb but may be doing capoera aswell soon.

[englishpremier]

In England or at least where i live we didn't really train much in the way of fighting aspects, but as you said that would be down to the teacher etc.. I did have the pleasure of attending a seminar with mestre Gato. I would love to take up capoeira again if i found a school that taught the martial side of things.

[M3inline6]

In England or at least where i live we didn't really train much in the way of fighting aspects, but as you said that would be down to the teacher etc.. I did have the pleasure of attending a seminar with mestre Gato. I would love to take up capoeira again if i found a school that taught the martial side of things.

Have you looked into training w/ Cordao de Ouro in the U.K. or the London School of Capoeira? I'm not sure about how much they train the fighting aspects, but I know they breen great Capoeirista's. Honestly, application to the fight comes down to the individual as well as the mestre. You can have 20 people in a class, and not everybody wants to learn how to fight..........but, there will be a small percentage in every class that want to fight. You can tell by the aggressiveness in their game, and the way they approach their training. If you train to fight, you'll learn to fight. I agree with the above posts that Capoeira helps in a major way when it comes to agility. Remove all kicks/hand attacks from Capoeira, and what do you have left??? .........You have an art that teaches you how to escape in so many ways it's mind-boggling! That's one of the arts best attributes........the escape. Some people prefer confrontation, so that's why other arts better fit them.......a'la Muay Thai, etc. Usually, what people study in terms of martial arts are direct representations of their personality. Some people are mellow, some are not so mellow. Some like confrontation, others prefer avoiding confrontation altogether. Some like to fight, others fight only when expressedly provoked. To each his own though, and I respect all arts. Capoeira isn't the only art I've studied (I'm a previous Hwa-Rang-Do & Muay Thai practictioner), but having studied other arts prior to Capoeira, I have come to appreciate what Capoeira has taught me, and I prefer it over the other two arts. I guess the other facets of Capoeira further attributed to this point of view. Mucho axe' to all martial artists!

Axe'
M3Inline6

[redbull]

After doing some research on both these martial arts, I've decided I want to take lessons in one or both. Taking both seems too hard, so which of these martial arts would be more practical?
a) Better for getting/staying in shape?
b) Self Defense?
c) Laying the beat down on bullies?

Thank you for your time.


definately kick boxing, in six months in kb u can become quite proficient. BK is also much more realistic than Capoera.

[Baqueta]

definately kick boxing, in six months in kb u can become quite proficient. BK is also much more realistic than Capoera.

really? is that a fact? or is it just your opinion? I think it really depends on the practitioner, but again that's my opinion.

Anyhow, I think this was said many ages ago on this same thread, but yeah, you should really try both out and see how it works for you. people are different.

[M3inline6]

definately kick boxing, in six months in kb u can become quite proficient. BK is also much more realistic than Capoera.

The only inkling of truth in this statement is that you'll be more proficient in kickboxing over a 6 month period than Capoeira, although you will have learned the same kicks. It takes alot longer to become proficient in Capoeira because there's alot to learn. Kickboxing is fairly straight forward! More realistic? By what standards? Most of you guys that comment on the unrealistic nature of Capoeira never even trained in the art, and if you did, never trained longer than a year or so. Development takes time! Some of you base conclusions off of what you see in a roda or a demo. To each his own though. This is a pretty tired subject. People always argue which art is best. If it's not Capoeira vs Kickboxing, it's BJJ vs Kung Fu, or Aikido vs Hapkido....and the arguments blaze on. Do what makes you happy.

[Guy Mendiola]

definately kick boxing, in six months in kb u can become quite proficient. BK is also much more realistic than Capoera.So your saying if I took Capoeira then I would get whooped on the street? If so then your wrong, It's up to the practitioner wether if there adapted to that style. Capoeira is just as good as any martial art out there...Enough with nonsense about Capoeira being realistic, Let's see you spar or get into a fight with a Capoeirista.

[leo]

i have, they were very bad, they thought they cud fight but they cudnt, however watching them train they seemed to be more into the art side of it, i dont think they really trained in it to fight they just thought they cud.

id like to fight a capoeirist who is trained to fight sometime

[M3inline6]

i have, they were very bad, they thought they cud fight but they cudnt, however watching them train they seemed to be more into the art side of it, i dont think they really trained in it to fight they just thought they cud.

id like to fight a capoeirist who is trained to fight sometime

Keep searching, and you shall find. :) Good luck on your quest.

[redbull]

The only inkling of truth in this statement is that you'll be more proficient in kickboxing over a 6 month period than Capoeira, although you will have learned the same kicks. It takes alot longer to become proficient in Capoeira because there's alot to learn. Kickboxing is fairly straight forward! More realistic? By what standards? Most of you guys that comment on the unrealistic nature of Capoeira never even trained in the art, and if you did, never trained longer than a year or so. Development takes time! Some of you base conclusions off of what you see in a roda or a demo. To each his own though. This is a pretty tired subject. People always argue which art is best. If it's not Capoeira vs Kickboxing, it's BJJ vs Kung Fu, or Aikido vs Hapkido....and the arguments blaze on. Do what makes you happy.


Im not debating or arguing that capoera is not effective but in regards to the question that begun this thread quote:

"After doing some research on both these martial arts, I've decided I want to take lessons in one or both. Taking both seems too hard, so which of these martial arts would be more practical?
a) Better for getting/staying in shape?
b) Self Defense?
c) Laying the beat down on bullies?"


Capoera is could easily fulfill these requirements.

However, kickboxing is straightforward, there like 4 punches, and like 3 kicks, thats it! if u are looking for a self defence that covers the stricking range, then kb is definately one of the quickest available. Why? It's all based on its simplicity, and simplicity will win u the fight. there are too many factors going on in a street fight to risk complex moves and techniques, u'r life is at stake. the more complex the technique the more open it leaves u to attack, the hardest it is to recover from, etc, etc. I've seen capoera and i've seen kb and if i had to pick one
for :
a) Better for getting/staying in shape?
b) Self Defense?
c) Laying the beat down on bullies?"

then i woud definately go with kb. Again this is only my opinion and everyone has a different one. not saying tha kb guycan beat a capoera, that depends on the individuals involved, just saying that everything else being the same (strenght, skill, speed, training, etc) kickboxing will definately get u there quicker.

[M3inline6]

Great reply RedBull, and your opinion is appreciated. Learning curves dictate most things in the martial arts. Good luck in whichever art you train! :)

Axe'
M3inline6

[MingTheMerciles]

I think Capoeira is like Brazillian TKD　in a more fun and musical hip hop way . I did BJJ and Jun Fan Kick Boxing / JKD / Kali and they go well together . They help me to quickly transfer to submission for BJJ and help me to kick much better in my Jun Fan Training ( as long as you dun go putting your hand on the ground . But yet agan , it depend on the invidual taste and preference . Not to mention that you get to learn many acrobatic movement and cartwheel . And they also help you to burn many calories .

There is no superior art but superior martial artist who will incorporate every single range of combat into the system ( Kick , Punch , Stand up Grappling and Ground Submission ) .

Again , if you want to fight well , I suggest you also add in a ground art ( BJJ , Sambo ) to your striking system

[PlasmaShock]

Capoeira is a great art to help with tricking or parkour.