First of all, pardon me if this is in the wrong place, but I wasn’t sure where to put an opinion question about a martial art that may be categorized as a sport… 
Anyway, I’ve been looking at some videos of capoeira, and, while it has often been billed as a martial art, I’m wondering… Just how practical is it? I would expect most of the moves I’ve seen would leave you off-balance at best (and flat on your backside at worst) if they actually connected. Is there now, or has there been, a self-defense / fighting aspect to the art that I’m unaware of?
Capoeria is beautiful to watch, requires extrodinary athleticism, and has an important place in Brazilian culture, but as a practical self defense art I wouldn’t make it my first choice.
On the other hand, every now and then you’ll see something like this video.
It’ll allow you to teach disadvantaged youths in the ghetto to turn their lives around.
How do you tell a practical martial art from one where sport and/or show are the primary concepts?
Look at the historical stuff and compare it. There is no more practical martial art than those which were being used by our ancestors to kill each other off in quick, efficient ways.
Looking at medieval European and Asian martial arts I’d say you’d see VERY little resemblance to Capoeira. Nuff said IMHO.
That’s not to take away from the beautiful movements involved. Those guys need to work very hard and be in great physical shape to do that kind of stuff. In a real confrontation, it’s that, the physical requirements, that is likely to be of most assistance to them.
After watching capoeira in the streets of Rio, I feel safe to say that any of them could kick my ass. It may be quite stylized and acrobatic, but the performers are fit and nimble. Luckliy, of course, everyone was drinking beer and having a great time and I tucked a bit into the hat because they were awesome.
From what I gather, the Angola style originated (either literally or by legend) from the slaves trying to practice their fighting form while making it look like a dance. The Regional (or Contemporânea, when they’re practiced simultaneously) style was developed to have more flair, and is therefore more dramatic with more jumping and spin kicks.
While the sport almost certainly originated as a martial art, it has turned more towards a flashy display of athleticism (which certainly doesn’t mean it’s no longer a competition). When watching a show in Itacaré, Bahia, it looked like a point was scored when the opponent was knocked off balance, or was put into a position where they couldn’t defend themselves from a likely lethal blow; winner stayed on.
Moreso than any other martial art, it is most effective when both sets of participants are playing under the same rules. The size of that distinction alone may preclude it from being a martial art, but I wouldn’t tell that to anybody who practiced it! :smack: