Capoeira: Difference between revisions

An Afro-Brazillian martial art which combines fighting with performance art. It's a very recognizable style with its emphasis on acrobatics, ground combat, and spinning kicks frequently all at the same time. Its usage dates back at least to the 18th century. Capoeira as practiced today stems primarily from two Mestres in the 20th century and their respective schools: Mestre Bimba, founder of the modernized Capoeira Regional in the 1930s, and Mestre Pastinha, founder of the more traditionalist Capoeira Angola that strove to keep closer to the art's roots.

 

The art spread first throughout Brazil, from poor blacks to wealthier classes, and throughout the world in the later part of the 20th century.

 

* [[Armed Legs]]: A common misrepresentation is that some early capoeiristas performed with razor blades clenched between their toes as a hidden weapon. In actuality, razors were used, but generally in the user's hands.

** There ARE videos on [[YouTube]] showing people playing with razors between their toes but these games are ''very'' slow and cautious.

*** Just to elaborate, the Blessing (or, in portuguese, "Benção") is an unbalancing push that is one of the most known and effective moves in Capoeira.

* [[Dance Battler]]: A traditional Capoeira roda (sparring circle) is performed to music, and is as much about looking impressive and showing off how clever you are as it is about landing blows.

** The spinning kick exchanges may also be used by one player to lull the other into a false sense of security before dumping him or her on his butt with a sudden sweep. All part of the fun of the game.

* [[Extremity Extremist]]: The basic dozen or so kicks are pretty much always the first thing new students will learn, and probably 90% of the attacks in the roda are kicks. Headbutts and takedowns account for another 9% or so. Hand strikes are usually reserved for illustrating to your opponent that they're conspicuously dropping their guard. Hand or elbow strikes and takedowns are generally reserved to more experienced practitioners, but can become fairly frequent in games between skilled Capoeiristas.

 

 

* Eddy Gordo and Christie Monteiro of the ''[[Tekken]]'' series, possibly the best reproduced example in non-Brazilian media (even though they speak English like every other non-Asian...).

* ''[[Combo Ninos]]''

* [[Eternal Champions]]: Trident uses Capoeira despite its existence being an anachronism in his given time period.

** Yashiro had his fighting style stated as Capoeira, but it bears little resemblance.

* ''[[The Rundown]]''

* ''Cordão de Ouro''

* ''[[Kung Fu]]'': season 1, episode 13

* ''[[Capoeira Legends]]'': An [[Indie Game]] for Windows which features Capoeira as an exploration of Brazilian culture.

* Lateef Crowder is one of Hollywood's most prominent capoeiristras. His roles have included

** Eddy Gordo in the ''[[Tekken]]'' movie.

* In Hellboy 2 it's revealed [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDw7OwVUeE8 Abe is one hell of a capoeirista.]

* The enemy captain of Episode 2 of ''[[Merc Force]]'' employs Capoeira in his fighting style.

* Male trolls in ''[[World of Warcraft]]'' have Capoeira as their dance emote. Few players are any good at [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bYy5aVSa2eU replicating] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQGL_vSdgBo it.]

* An episode of [[Bob's Burgers]] focused on Tina trying to learn Capoeira.

* Kilik Lunge from [[Soul Eater]] [[It Makes Sense in Context|owns a pair of capoeira practicing weapons.]]

* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ih-UosRDvNA This] [[Stand Up Comedy]] session in Spanish has the comedian Sergio Freire commenting about Capoeira [[Cloudcuckoolander|in a very... special manner.]]

 

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[[Category:Sporting Event]]

[[Category:Capoeira]]