Martial arts in Brazil: an overview.

**SpringHeeledJack** · Posted On: 2/12/2007 11:35am

This was a very good read. One of my old instructors told me that th "real" fighters in Brazil used Capoiera (something about razors between their toes), and the sport guys used BJJ. I thought this was bunk at the time, but from what I can tell you have provided validity to my doubts. Thanks for the info.

**WingChun Lawyer** · Posted On: 2/12/2007 11:43am

Originally Posted by debul937

This was a very good read. One of my old instructors told me that th "real" fighters in Brazil used Capoiera (something about razors between their toes), and the sport guys used BJJ. I thought this was bunk at the time, but from what I can tell you have provided validity to my doubts. Thanks for the info.

The story about razors between the toes is indeed true, some capoeiristas still train that (I asked that guy at the gym). But mind you, that sort of trick was used in the good old days when murders were still commited with razors - today you just grab a gun and get over it.

ABOUT BJJ

Thanks for reminding me, there is something to be said about that art.

Some BJJ teachers, such as mine, place a huge emphasis on self defense techniques and tactics, and both policemen and bouncers do BJJ for that very reason. On the other hand, I did hear BJJ blackbelts complaining that nowadays people place too much emphasis on sport competition, and not enough on self defense and submissions (why submit the other guy when you can win by points/positioning?).

The consensus among some BJJ people is that BJJ is going down the same road as judo, as it becomes more and more popular.

Mind you, that is their opinion. I have started BJJ three weeks ago, and am in no position to pass judgement.

**metarat** · Posted On: 2/12/2007 12:01pm

This is wonderful info, and can give people elsewhere (like me) perspective on our problems. Thanks so much for taking the time to write it.

Stuff like this is why I came to Bullshido.

Liked the video too; just a little relaxed banging on each other, good training.

**DCS** · Posted On: 2/12/2007 12:08pm

Nice read WCL

Originally Posted by WingChun Lawyer

... Oh, I was once challenged to a deathmatch by an aikidoka, but he refused to meet me when I said it should happen in a public place with a camera, go figure.

Priceless.....

BTW, Have you ever heard about these people: Sociedade Brasileira de Bugei.

They are infesting youtube with their videos, selling his style as the real deal and legit koryu. Howevewer their lineage claims are dubious and his techniques flawed from a koryu pov.

Can you give more info about them, or point me to brazillian forums where these people are subject of debate so i can read about them by myself.

**TheBigSwede** · Posted On: 2/12/2007 12:14pm

Thanks for the info. I'm sad everytime I hear about how many aikido McDojos there are out there. I've practised it for over seven years, and although our club doesn't market aikido much as self-defense I've had many good hours of training and made some good friends. Sure, there's the odd ninja wannabe, but he (mostly a he) usually finds his way to the iaido club sharing the dojo with us...

**Epicurus** · Posted On: 2/12/2007 12:20pm

Originally Posted by TheBigSwede

Thanks for the info. I'm sad everytime I hear about how many aikido McDojos there are out there. I've practised it for over seven years, and although our club doesn't market aikido much as self-defense I've had many good hours of training and made some good friends. Sure, there's the odd ninja wannabe, but he (mostly a he) usually finds his way to the iaido club sharing the dojo with us...

Yeh - IMO there are two "good" kinds of aikido; the aikido that trains hard, with aliveness and without the high horse, and Aikido that trains however it wants but doesn't claim to be the be-all end-all of self defense. These categories apply to most other "questionable" arts as well, if you ask me.

So Capoeiristas actually train with razors in between their toes in some places in Brazil? Crazy. How do they hold razors in between their toes, special running shoes or something?

My impression of capoeira is that it's good for dancing and perhaps even good for fighting (with knives, machetes, razors, or clubs) but not much good for hand-to-hand.

**weechey** · Posted On: 2/12/2007 12:31pm

rats...too bad i didn't get to read your post last week...I just met with a graduate student at Stanford where I am applying, who is from Brazil, and I happened to mention I did BJJ and he gave me this look like I was a nut - now I suspect he thinks I'm one of those violent crazy dudes :-D

**WingChun Lawyer** · Posted On: 2/12/2007 12:32pm

Originally Posted by DCS

Nice read WCL

Priceless.....

BTW, Have you ever heard about these people: Sociedade Brasileira de Bugei.

They are infesting youtube with their videos, selling his style as the real deal and legit koryu. Howevewer their lineage claims are dubious and his techniques flawed from a koryu pov.

Can you give more info about them, or point me to brazillian forums where these people are subject of debate so i can read about them by myself.

I am not familiar at all with aikido, I just talked to some aikidokas online and went to one class...

This is a link to orkut´s largest aikido community. I didn´t dig deeply there, but even if you find nothing, you could just ask them about SBB (if your portuguese is OK) and duck when the political shitstorm hits the proverbial fan.

http://www.orkut.com/Community.aspx?cmm=24120

Incidentally, if you want to see brazilian bullshido, look no further than Taiyando. Among other pearls, they train striking by sticking drinking straws in potatoes.

www.taiyando.com.br

**WingChun Lawyer** · Posted On: 2/12/2007 12:39pm

Originally Posted by Epicurus

Yeh - IMO there are two "good" kinds of aikido; the aikido that trains hard, with aliveness and without the high horse, and Aikido that trains however it wants but doesn't claim to be the be-all end-all of self defense. These categories apply to most other "questionable" arts as well, if you ask me.

So Capoeiristas actually train with razors in between their toes in some places in Brazil? Crazy. How do they hold razors in between their toes, special running shoes or something?

My impression of capoeira is that it's good for dancing and perhaps even good for fighting (with knives, machetes, razors, or clubs) but not much good for hand-to-hand.

They train barefooted. Remember capoeiristas were originally poor, black and oppressed, so going barefoot (or wearing sandals) was more or less the norm. My MT coach told me he knew one capoeirista who trained that way.

Quite frankly, I never saw a capoeira fight - AFAIK, that capoeirista who did MT with me could be bullshitting. But I did read historical records of fights between capoeira gangs and between such gangs and the police: apparently old school capoeira consisted mainly of sweeps, palm strikes, head butts, elbows, front kicks, razor blades, machetes, and a gun (whenever available).

BUT, they also did those backflips and handstands, even then. That´s all in those records, from the early 1800s to the mid 1900s (I read it in historical magazines and in books written in that period).

**FictionPimp** · Posted On: 2/12/2007 1:04pm

Good to know. I'm not sure of the details yet, but my instructor (who spent a good handful of years in Brazil when he started learning bjj) is starting to plan a trip for this summer for a bunch of guys to go down to Brazil and train, see the sights, party, etc. I personally hope hotel/airfare is cheap enough that I can go.