Yet More Martial Arts Type Stuff

[ellyssian]

Less on the martial arts side, this time, really.

Capoeira has so much more going on than "just" a fighting art. This example is from a film, or *is* a film, more accurately.

I first came across this art through, of all things, a video game. My first impression was it was made up for the purposes of the game - it wasn't until earlier tonight when I stumbled across a book from a martial arts store that I realized it was real, and there's a lot more to it than fighting.

A lot of the commentary on various videos goes to great length to say why capoeira isn't as good as this or as deadly as that, and they miss the point. The videos - even one titled 'capoeira fight' - are not depicting a sparring match. If you look at some of the comments from those in the know - or look up additional info on the art - you might catch the word "play" used - it's compared to chess, looking for an opening and taking it; it's not about beating the stuffing out of someone.

Anywho, I'm probably not the best one to comment on it as I just discovered it does exist an hour or so ago... enjoy a bit of Afro-Brazilian culture... =)

Comments

[nebris.livejournal.com]

It was developed by Brazilian slaves. It mimes dance, which was used to hide it as a martial art from their masters, but can be very deadly.

~M~

[ellyssian.livejournal.com]

What's really interesting is, when it gets down to business, it gets down to some simple, straight-forward punches and low kicks.

One of the drunken kung fu books I have states much of the same: there's practical fighting, and then there's the performance art. One is simple and direct, the other is more flowing and beautiful. That's kind of what a lot of the comments on the various videos get at: one side goes on about how their style is more deadly than capoeira, and then others try to explain that you're not seeing the actual fighting style: they're playing the game, and it's beautiful and acrobatic. The vicious side does exist, but it's not what you're seeing.

As I've only been "studying" for such a short time, I haven't come across any of the practical examples, but from the descriptions I've read, it sounds a lot like what I do in Jeet Kune Do and learned by example: unless your target is sleeping or tied up, a high kick will not work. The guy I trained with was highly skilled in a number of martial arts - much more so than I - but if his kick went above my knees, he landed on his back. Every time. =)

[lady-ravenlocke.livejournal.com]

Would this game be one of the Fatal Fury variety, by chance? That was my first exposure to it, and if my memory of the game hasn't faded too badly with age, it was Richard Meyer that used it.

[ellyssian.livejournal.com]

Can't say if it used it - my knowledge of Fatal Fury is limited to what I just looked up on the Wikipedia page! =)

It doesn't mention capoeira or Richard Meyer on that page, though... Edit: the capoeira article mentions Richard Meyer and Bob Wilson as two Fatal Fury capoeiristas.

Tekken 3 is the video game I refer to, and Eddy Gordo is the capoeirista.

[wakingdreaming.livejournal.com]

Wesley Snipes is a capoeira master. I love watching capoeira. It looks so complicated.

[ellyssian.livejournal.com]

Never saw him use it - that's pretty cool!

[wakingdreaming.livejournal.com]

Rent the Blade movies. He uses it in those.

[ellyssian.livejournal.com]

Always wanted to see them... I'll have to do so! =)

[puddock.livejournal.com]

When I was on a yoga retreat a few years ago I watched a couple of guys do capoeira out on the lawn, it is mesmerising to watch.

[ellyssian.livejournal.com]

I'd love to see it in person. I found a school that teaches it *relatively* nearby, but not close enough to make it feasible.

[dustyskinandall.livejournal.com]

I did capoeira for about six months when I lived in NC. It was really amazing to watch the people who'd been doing it for years. Beautiful.

[patrixa.livejournal.com]

Robson came to America when I was working at the dry cleaners; he was then 19 years old and from Brazil and got a job as driver for the store. Leo teased him about capoeira. He was tall but VERY thin and told us he trained for it and now practiced it with friends. He did demonstrate some of it for us at a cook-out that summer.

local Capoeira group

[noone234.livejournal.com]

Wow. What interesting timing. Last week, I stumbled across a Capoeira group in Philly area.

http://capoeira.meetup.com/137/