# How functional would capoeira be in a fight?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-functional-would-capoeira-be-in-a-fight/220392>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [December 22, 2003, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-functional-would-capoeira-be-in-a-fight/220392 "2003-12-22T00:46:26Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Sqube](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aca169/32.png) [@Sqube](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sqube)\
**Post date:** [December 22, 2003, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-functional-would-capoeira-be-in-a-fight/220392/1 "2003-12-22T00:46:26Z")

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I don’t know all that much about the system of fighting (if it even is that), so if anyone would like to educate while answering my question, that would be great.

But yeah, how useful would it be in a street fight? This question is prompted by me downloading a series of crazy videos off of KaZaA (do a search for “Multi Level Moves” if you’re interested). I was just wondering if you could use that fighting style effectively in a street fight.

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**Author:** ![Blake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a9a28c/32.png) [@Blake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blake)\
**Post date:** [December 22, 2003, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-functional-would-capoeira-be-in-a-fight/220392/2 "2003-12-22T00:51:39Z")

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It would be effective. That much is beyond dispute. It has been used in streetfights before, and some of them have been won.

Whether it is more or less effective than any other fighting style is so subjective that you can’t really answer it.

You should also remember that capoeira is not primarily an unarmed art. It is designed to be used with straight razors and knives. That gives it a big advantage in a street fight.