Capoeira as Sport?

I’ve always been intrigued by martial arts, I don’t care what style I find it all interesting. I’m particularly interested in the lesser known MA’s. I’ve done posts on Lethwei, Savate, and Yaw Yan. Today I came across a this Capoeira clip.

I’ve always enjoyed watching people battle (think breakdancing) a lot of it seems like it must have come from Capoeira. I’ve always admired the rhythm and coordination of their practitioners. There was a studio down the street from my house when I lived in Mission District. You could hear the music and drums half a block away. I’d usually stop by and gawk on my way back from stuffing my face with carnitas tortas…

The art has an interesting history. It’s was disguised to look like a “Fight Dance” by the African slaves. When slavery was abolished in Brazil in 1888, the freed slaves poured into the cities. With no work some formed criminal gangs. ( Wouldn’t you?) Capoeira became associated with a criminal element and was eventually banned in 1890. The government made it illegal to practice Capoeira so the art had to go underground. Capoeira practitioners adopted knick names in order to conceal their identities. It’s a tradition which still carries on today. Practitioners who are baptized into Capoeira are still given a name. Kinda dope don’t you think?

[youtube 2q3Z7UQZnBY ]

I think it’s a beautiful art to watch, Although I’ve always wondered how one would apply it in a street situation. To be honest I’m not sure if it’s all that “Practical”. Today I came across these clips where their “sparring” I’d never seen them actually go at it.

[youtube LkBEQ3G42Z8 ]

I can’t tell if they are trying to make it into a sport, I don’t think it really works in a point sparring scenario. From what I can tell it appears that it’s all open hand strikes… Anyway I thought you guys might find it interesting.