Capoeira Brazilian martial art created more than 300 years ago by African slaves and banned by the government for most of its history. Capoeira is beautiful to watch, encompassing such moves as back flips, cartwheels, sweeping movements, and spectacular kicks. The majority of its techniques are elusive and devoid of blocking motions. Capoeira practitioners are very skilled at escaping an opponent’s attack, and countering it with several number of hand or foot attacks. Many of the foot techniques involve leg sweeps, leg blocks, and kicks executed while in a handstand position. Even though most of capoeira consists of leg movements, the hands must also be trained, particularly since they were often used to help the practitioner’s poise while upside down.
Capoeira was originated by African in Angola, who presented the movements as a religious dance. During the 16th century, slave traders brought many of these people to Brazil, where they continued to practice their “dance". Because of the brutality of many slave traders, the blacks soon converted the capoeira moves into a self-defense system. Because their hands were regularly chained, they developed leg and head-butting techniques.
In the 17th century, a considerable number of slaves formed their own state, but were ultimately suppressed. Many were killed or escaped to cities and villages around Brazil, disseminating the practice of capoeira wherever they settled. The art reached its height in the 19th century, when many capoeira practitioners wandered the streets in criminal pursuits. At one point during the early 1800’s, the art once again rose in popularity; by 1890, however, the threat of imprisonment was decreed against anyone practicing it, and many capoeirasts were deported.
In 1928, finally capoeira was formally recognized by the Brazilian government and in 1972, it became an allowed Brazilian sport, at which time rules and regulations for its competitive aspect were employed. Only in the 1970’s did capoeira begin to reach outside of Brazil. There are now a small number of schools teaching this art in the United States. For more information go to: www.kuksul.com
Most Effective Martial Art
Let's face it; karate has been exposed. There was a time when the karate man was looked upon with respect and feared. A time when, if someone said they were a black belt, it caused others to be impressed. You can say that karate has become outdated. There has been an interesting development in the martial arts in the late 20th Century and into the 21st. Martial arts have evolved and become much more true to life than ever.
If you are one of those people who like to question things then maybe this thought has gone through your mind. Why are there so many different martial arts systems in the world. We all have two arms and two legs don't we? So why all the different systems of self defense? I know that systems were usually born out of a need such as one group of people having to fight another group who were better armed. So they developed systems to fight those men who used certain weapons a certain way. Unfortunately these men thought their system more effectual than they should.
So let's look at what we have in the world without going into a deep history lesson. You basically have karate and ju-jitsu from Okinawa and Japan. You have a multitude of kung fu systems from China. You have Tae Kwon Do and a few others like Tang Soo Do from Korea; boxing and wrestling from Europe of course. Of these there is every variation under the sun. You name it and someone has tried to develop it into a fighting system. But what do we really have. Remember that all we really have is three men out there. It all boils down to those three. You have boxers or people who fight predominantly with their hands, kickers who like to use kicks as their main weapon and grapplers who like to take people to the ground and finish them there. That's really it. Just those three. Now there are people who are good at one, two or even three of those methods. Those guys are now known as mixed martial artists.
Someone once asked, what is truth? I think we can ask that same question here. I mean how can the average guy deal with someone who is skilled in one or even three of the main fighting methods? You know, the boxer, the kicker and the grappler. If this person is skilled as a mixed martial artist, will I have to employ his methods? Do I have to fight in the same manner? I know karate won't do the job. Definitely Tae Kwon Do will not do. How about adding a self defense class or two. Will that help? I don't think so. What about kung fu and all the various animal styles? No. You can pretend to be an animal but that won't beat the skilled boxer, kicker, grappler. So how do we deal with this guy. It can't be using his own methods. You can't box a boxer and expect to win if he's really good at what he does. Let's just assume this guy is a really good mixed martial artist who happens to be a thug and wants to rob and maybe even kill you. What's the answer if you don't have a weapon at hand?
The answer is elementory yet intricate. In order to effectively deal with a skilled thug you must first put away all your preconceived ideas about what real combat is. Forget the ring. Forget what you see on TV. How can an older man; say middle-aged, defend against a group of younger, stronger and faster opponents. It will not be by speed and power. If he is to win; and he must, he has to do something all together different. Yes the older man is a master of self-defense. But his method is extremely sophisticated. He relies on a core group of concepts rather than techniques. Not that he doesn't use techniques but everything he does is founded in his core concepts. He also has the amazing ability to fight in a very apropos manner because he is guided by highly developed contact reflexes. In other words, if he is touched by an aggressor, the older man instantly knows all about him and deals with him in proper time with super preparatory application. That means he stops the first attack and all future attacks immediately. He also uses skeletal alignment to enhance his power. He is able to hit much harder than his younger counterparts who use muscle to deliver their blows. The skilled older man delivers his strikes with his bones which feels like being hit with the end of an iron rod.
The answer is to unite with the opponent's energy. No struggling or resisting but moving according to "the now". To be able to discharge a highly potent "motion martial art". Not static or choppy, muscular movements but relaxed yet aligned motions that can deal with an attack as if it were just a crude language. Yes, the answer is to have a highly developed and fluent martial language as a complete and elaborate communication. Yes, self defense can be like this. The only martial art I know that achieves this elevated dexterity is Wing Chun.
If a person truly dedicates him or herself to only doing and developing a system that is fit for the 21st Century real world self defense, then he must use external defenses guided by internal faculty. A system that encompasses the most effective techniques a person can deliver with the most advanced internal concepts one can make manifest. Now I mentioned Wing Chun earlier but not every Wing Chun teacher has developed in this manner or to this level. It is rare to find people who have this high level skill. But they are out there.
If you really want to get involved with a martial art and want to find verity, then take a few steps back. Get back far enough away from what is traditionally known and taught. Take an honest look around and see if the martial art before you justifies itself intellectually. Ask the hard questions. Is it good against the three fighters in the world? Can it be done effortlessly? What makes the most sense? Study and do research before you join a school. I can tell you right now, forget karate and Tae Kwon Do unless you just want to do a sport. Don't be too reverent with any martial art system. Be honest with yourself and hopefully you'll find a good teacher.
Both Qumars Shenasai & Armando Sainz are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Qumars Shenasai has sinced written about articles on various topics from Martial Arts. www.kuksul.com www.kuksul.com/martialarts/capoeira/capoeira.html. Qumars Shenasai's top article generates over 1900 views. Bookmark Qumars Shenasai to your Favourites.
Armando Sainz has sinced written about articles on various topics from Boxing, Web Development and Boxing. Armando Sainz has been involved in martial arts since 1979. His school is highly recognized in the industry as being one of the top Wing Chun schools in the country.. Armando Sainz's top article generates over 49500 views. Bookmark Armando Sainz to your Favourites.
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