Can I Make Capoeira Work?

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[SenseiSeth]

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[BaiLong]

I smiled when Juan Pablo talked about feints and trickiness. That's something a lot of people don't know about when it comes to Capoeira. It's not just about flips or tricks. That's the artistic, expressive, showmanship aspect. The real Capoeira is the trickiness. It's kicks that come from different angles and in tight spaces. It's sweeps, trips, headbutts, and palm strikes.

Edit: Thanks for the thumbs up folks. Just to add on, I've seen good capoeiristas use that trickiness. I've seen old capoeistras distract someone in the roda and then trip them because they weren't looking. Now, Capoeira has its flaws. Every martial art does. But to say it can't be used at all? That it doesn't work? I disagree with that.

[portercruickshankdefarias]

I love how capoeira nowadays is usually viewed as just a harmless dance that used to be a martial art - because that's exactly what was always meant to happen. The disguise works to this day.

[archangel]

"Every language has poetry; not every speaker is a poet."
Seeing Sensei Seth start to put the concepts together and express himself using the language of other arts is so awesome! Thank you so much for being open, willing, and truly connecting with the "art" of each martial art you try.

[nagyzoli]

My hardest fight (sparring) EVER was against Capoeira dude. It was light sparring and gradually adding speed and power. The dude could "clip" me from any angle you can imagine. Not huge power but enough to stop your advance and cause pain and unbalance. In terms of "amount of strikes succeeded / amount of strikes attempted" against me, definitely hardest to defend. It does not blow your head off like a pro boxer, but man it eats up your stamina and then.. it starts to hurt, starts hitting you in places you do not think to defend

[seasickviking]

This and your attempts at adapting Capoeira into your style was exceptionally well done. The one flaw I noticed in your sparring attempts is that you have a tendency to stop right before you deliver a kick or punch. Capo is all about constant movement, and importantly, using the kinetic momentum from said movements to deliver attacks. Its likely due to your many years of studying karate, but its a habit you'll have to overcome. You will likely find greater success in the sparring sessions once you do.

[parisherlocker]

"I don't have a cool nickname" bro, you're the Chubby Surprise

[thalesonic]

In Brasil, most people know how effective capoeira can be. And the few ones who doubt, it's just a matter of time before they cross paths with the wrong (or right?) capoeirista.
Powerful kicks, a lot of variation, and superb fitness work. The guy will not stay dancing right in front of you. Before you realize, your ribs are history.
As a Muay Thai practitioner, I just don't wanna mess with capoeiristas.

[Rhythmyk]

"Capoeira is treachery" - Mestre (Master) Bimba. I trained in Capoeira for just one year when I was much younger, and it still influences my karate today. The idea that you "play" with your opponent is a huge element of the art. Karate often has things like Gohan Kumite or drills where you are trying to match your opponent's timing in a safe and structured drill. Capoeira is almost always done with a partner, so it's all about timing - and working with someone else - so that you learn to react to their movements, and when you can interrupt them with your own.

And while I won't pull out ginga or a cartwheel in a sparring session, Capoeira footwork gave me a fluidity and lightness of movement I continue to incorporate. Thanks Seth for going back to this and putting yourself out there! Capoeira cardio is no joke...

[ItalianGigante]

My first martial art was capoeira. I actually credit it for having good footwork and balance in my striking and a lot of confidence in my kicks. I also felt strong from angles that a lot of strikers weren't used to. The creative sparring in the roda also gave you a chance to heavily practice fakes, feints, and misdirection. I threw a lot of spinning attacks too because of my training. It can be very useful if you know what to extrapolate.

[Jenjak]

Capoeira builds cardio, coordination, flexibility, explosiveness, and the ability to read the partner's movements. I bet a good capoeirista can transition easily to any combat sport.

[GourmetBurrito]

"Recapoeria" spoke to me a spiritual level

[ryanmaass]

Capoeira kicks can blend very well into TKD and Karate. My personal favorite is that hand to the ground spin hook. The amount of power you can generate from these "dance moves" is insane.

[christopherpadilla]

It always so captivating when you hear a Master of a specific martial art style give their philosophy, their mindset and advice on how to utilize it to your advantage! Great content Seth!

[just_j_like_the_letter]

Capoeira's helped my life in so many ways, especially at work. I'm a plumber and spend most of my days crouched down or in confined spaces, and the movements I've learned in capoeira have helped me find better ways to move in those spaces. Obviously I'm not busting out big ass kicks while installing a water heater but if I'm in a crawlspace or working on drains or something I have much easier ways of maneuvering that don't put as much stress on my body

[Technotranceism]

Seth might not be a capoeira expert, but he did try, and was incorporating it. His application of some of the moves, started to become second nature, as he became more comfortable with them. Practice makes perfect for a reason, and albeit a bit out of his comfort zone, he still started to flow as time and practice progressed. Like Bruce Lee said "be like water", because it can shape and mold itself to be anything, and can be gentle or crash with enormous force. Shape the skills that you learn to work for you alone, and use those skills to either be gentle or forceful in their application for use. Be like water Seth, and keep the videos coming.

[andrewf]

Seems to me like it's great for keeping you in shape. Juan Pablo looks stacked yet shredded.

[LadyYdak]

I really like how Juan described martial arts. It's an art form not fighting itself. It's like the difference between using a brush, which is a form of painting, and saying that it's superior to finger painting which is also a form of painting.

Fighting is just attacking and defending. Martial Arts are just the tools we use to fight.

[MRLuckyE]

Love the theory Juan Pablo talks about. That in real situations, of course you're not going to do capoeira jinga and pretend you're dancing, of course you don't go lie on your back for a BJJ guard, you'll do what is needed to defend yourself.

As a karate trained person, there are the forms we all know with that straight punch and that rear fist coming back by the side with the elbow coming backwards: the typical "karate punch." But that rear fist, elbow back thing only has a hint of use in theoretical situations, and is more of a form for practicing technique. Likely it's never a form you'd strictly do "to the T" in a fight, it would never help to do that. You'd want that hand up for guarding, proper defense that suits the situations etc.

I love the breakdown Juan Pablo gives about it, that these martial arts forms are not rigid things to be adhered to and stiffly judged on "practicality" of the practice forms. It's great stuff.

[fikriasrofi]

As a MMA student with capoeira back ground the things that i found work is meia lua de compasso, Martelo tado, Tesaura de Costa, tesaura de frente, vingativa, and martelo from negativa