Blogs

Capoeira is an excellent training tool with loads of health benefits.  In fact, it has been proven to improve cardiovascular health similar to HIIT workouts (high intensity interval training).  Research shows that an average of 700 calories per hour can be burnt using Capoeira.   Furthermore. due to it's unpredictability, Capoeira offers great improvements in cognitive function, reaction time, mental health and endurance.  

The answer can be approached from many lenses. One easy starting point is that government agencies such as the Police and the Military have included Capoeira in their standardized curriculum, thus acknowledging not only the efficacy of Capoeira but also the vast number of people in the population training this art.  Simultaneously, Capoeiras were employed to protect cargo on the ports and gained a reputation of being utterly dangerous due to their associations as enforcers within the criminal underground.  All sides of the law understood and respected the power of Capoeira.  Generationally speaking, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu developed into the scene in the early 1900s and had great success in developing combat sports as a whole - but still, its founders cited Capoeira as the best form of street defense outside of their own due to how tough it was to deal with Capoeiras in any freestyle matches.

Without question, many of the greatest BJJ and MMA athletes that we have seen compete on national levels have come from Brazil.  Understanding this and how integral Capoeira was in contributing to Brazilian nationality - we began to see how Capoeira became a commonplace practice in schools and academies right alongside basketball, soccer, jiu-hitsu, and so forth.  That being said, many athletes of legendary status had backgrounds in Capoeira. These arts have always had an interconnected culture, after all, Capoeira is a mixed martial art by nature.

Athletes with Capoeira Backgrounds:

Ruben Charles Cobrinha - One of THE most decorated BJJ athletes of all time.

Anderson Silva - UFC Hall of Fame Candidate - 2006-2013 Middleweight

Jose Aldo - UFC Hall of Fame Candidate - 2006-2015 Featherweight

Andre Gusmao - One of the first Capoeira Mestres in the UFC.

Andre Galvao - Known as the best grappler of his generation who also had a successful MMA career.

Sergio Moraes - A submission mastermind who was a 4x IBJJF Champion on top of being a Welterweight fighter in the UFC.

Lucas Lepri - An extremely well-established professor of Alliance Jiu Jitsu who has amassed 15 championship medals.

Roan Jucao Carneiro - A legendary coach in both MMA and BJJ with a world-class accomplishments as both a coach and athlete.