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Anonymous
Capoeirista here.
Capoeira has some practical techniques within it, but all in all, it's not really a martial art. The very definition of a martial art is a methodology of combat, how to quickly and efficiently minimize harm and neutralize conflict. Capoeira has that within it to a very specific degree, but that is only a very small and not very in depth dimension of it. What you'll find as far as practicality goes are some takedowns and takedown defenses borrowed from jiu-jitsu, some knee and elbow strikes, and most definitely the headbutts. What really stands out though is the mentality Capoeira encourages, which is very, very conducive to being a good fighter. It helps you to understand body language, weight placement, concealing your intentions and predicting other people's intentions. The kind of thinking it orients your mind to about fighting and conflict is very interesting and assuredly useful.
I used to be really concerned about becoming a practical fighter, and blah blah blah...but I realized a few things: A.) I don't plan to fight competitively. B.) I'm not the kind of guy who gets into fights anyways. and C.) I know enough about fighting and self-defense to handle myself competently in case of an emergency.
I've been doing Capoeira for 4 years, and I love it. It's so much more than a martial art. It's a lot like a game, or sport, in fact, people who do it call it "playing" Capoeira. It's a hell of a lot more fun and interesting than any other martial art I've been a part of, and I recommend it to everyone. To appreciate it you've to take it in the context it's presented in, and not try to compare it up and down to everything else. It's much more than a martial art and to strictly judge it in that sense is shallow.
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