A reader asked if he can learn old Capoeira Carioca by himself.
The answer is, it is not easy. The full art contains many subtle high-level skills which people today do not even realize exist; much less they can learn them by themselves. So to put it simply, to learn Capoeira Carioca at the highest level, you have to learn from somebody who understands the art.
Still, all is not lost; and you can learn rudiments of Capoeira Carioca by yourself if you love the art enough. (And then you can perhaps advance to the deeper stuff).
You should start with the physical side of Carioca which is easiest to learn. Namely and in order:
(You are also invited to contact me with questions.)
1) learn normal Peneiracao (see my videos)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4B4aFIN7jIQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RqS4pDlFkH8
Peneiracao is the core of Carioca; you will use it to move around on the 'battlefield', with the opponent unable to catch you.
All Carioca techniques flow from Peneiracao; and vice versa, if a technique cannot be done from Peneiracao, it is not part of Carioca.
2) learn LightLegs (see my video)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24z3w_QLneg
LightLegs is an advanced way of using your legs that is used in Carioca. If you cannot use LightLegs, you cannot use Carioca, period.
3) learn bandas (see my many videos)
-Banda de frente - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NXEQmjhHbC0
-Rapa - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UvLN0JlX8BI
-Banda jogada - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hsmzuJp7YnI
-Banda de lado - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWkDjn10nPg
etc.
The above are the best, but any banda is ok as long as it rhymes with you; ie you can apply it quickly and easily from Peneiracao (see below)
4) learn jabs to stun the opponent and immediately apply the banda
-Internal slap (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=58p-Ci9XrQs)
-External slap (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mb0AcfMJLLA)
or
-Uppercut jab (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=02_gE5WlfkI)
(Eye fork jab works good (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RYbMeJRbyRk) but is too hardcore for contemporary self-defence)
5) learn to use this tactics from Peneiracao - use Peneiracao to keep out of reach, then jump to the opponent, slap-jab him and take him down with a banda.
http://razorwire.wz.cz/applying_bandas_in_a_fight.htm
Note: The backward slide of Peneiracao is designed to keep you out of opponent's reach (and from getting crowded in mass battles); so learn to use it. Carioca is not kickboxing that stands in place and trades blows! Most people have trouble grasping that. In Carioca, you get-in, takedown(or not) and get-out.
Picture Carioca to be wrestling, not kickboxing!
You are moving around the opponent using Peneiracao; waiting for an opening so you can get close to him, jab him and take him down; then you jump back out.
In Peneiracao, you are always sprung on your back leg, ready to shoot forward. Like a western wrestler; but western wrestler shoots for opponent's legs, while you first shoot for opponent's head (with a jab) and then take his legs away with your legs.
----------------------
This alone puts you above most contemporary capoeiristas in terms of combat effectivity. (As unlike them, you now know how to move around the opponent and use jabs to set him up).
You also can sort-of half-spar with it.
However, you also need to learn to defend opponent's attacks.
-------------------------
6) learn Carioca evasions:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XobHmV02Jwc
-Voadora to defend straight kicks
-Arqueada to defend round punches
-Resistencia to defend straight punches
-Queda de tres to defend rushes
This allows you to defend opponent's attacks.
7) also learn partial versions of the evasions; so you can jab the opponent at the same time as you evade and can immediately go into banda; thus countering his attacks with bandas.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XobHmV02Jwc
8) learn Escorao so you can draw-fake the opponent
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OBpQyaxm2eU
When the opponent is agressive, simulate escaping from combat; and when he goes after you, turn quickly around to 'support' him with your leg.
9) learn Ambush techniques so you can attack using ambush tactics
-Ambush cabecadas (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CEJflFWc1vw)
or
-Calcadeira (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1UaDrIV4Ml8)
You use ambush techniques when the opponent does not know he is in combat situation. So you calm him down and then attack 'by surprise'.
10) learn Clube X to neutralize grabs; and Chincha to counter
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVrWH3zowIs
You should keep out of range of grabs most of the time; but if the opponent grabs you anyway, use Clube X disruptor position; then immediately throw him down with Chincha.
-------------------------------
After you master the above, you will have a simple, physical, but effective system of Capoeira Carioca. I believe many fighters of the past used such a simple version of Carioca to great success.
Then you can learn the more complicated parts of the art (pick whichever you like):
---------------------------
11) learn a guardbreaker so you can attack an opponent who has a tight guard.
- Rasteira (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_vrTtWCPQgs)
- Cocada (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J77dnA_7X9U)
or
- Xulipa (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hVwfEmuUo-s)
12) learn RubberLegs
This gives inhuman power to your bandas and evasions.
13) learn LightSkills Peneiracao which allows you to be even more mobile in your Peneiracao.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RqS4pDlFkH8
14) learn one of the 'power jabs' from Peneiracao that finish the opponent immediately:
-Tranco (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5kmRYGLoIao)
or
-Elbow spear (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9fMoHKNSjk)
15) learn Banda de lado with Carioca low entry- from Peneiracao or Arqueada (just be careful not to kill the opponent)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WMN-KUZLwsU
16) learn Insect entry into Cocada - so you can apply Cocada very effectively using this entry
-Insect entry into Cocada - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QKgbXzglhSw
-Cocada itself - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J77dnA_7X9U
----
After this, you are getting to the less-physical side of the art; which would have to be taught personally.
Still, even the above is more than enough. It is comparable technically with what Burlamaqui (1928) tried to teach; but the system in this document actually works, it is not just a collection of techniques.
---------------------------
Excursus:
This site and my youtube channel were never intended as a 'textbook of capoeira Carioca'. Their purpose was to document my research of old capoeira; so the techniques are mixed together, Batuque with Carioca, more important ones with less important ones, tactics is usually ommitted etc.
However, if there ever was a 'textbook of capoeira Carioca', it is this document. It should allow you to learn the basic version of combat-effective Carioca by simply following a logical path through my videos; learning the most important techniques and tactics.
So if you want to learn Carioca, this is your chance!
(updated 3.5.2024)
Q: But there is still a lot of Carioca techniques on your channel I cannot use!
A: Keep in mind that this situation - that you have access to such a high number of Carioca techniques - is historically very rare.
In the past, each fighter probably knew a handful of techniques he knew how to apply in a fight - and that was it. But he still could be a very effective fighter.
And that applies still today - you do not have to be a 'technique collector' if you want some basic-to-midlevel fighting ability using Capoeira Carioca.
But if you love the art so much you want to 'understand it all' - well, you will have to get in personal contact with me.
Q: But there is still a lot of other Capoeiragem techniques I like!
A: Keep in mind that you cannot freely mix-and-match techniques from different capoeiragem system(say, Regional and Carioca), or add foreign techniques just because you like them.
This idea comes from martial art dilletantes that do not understand the way old combat systems were composed; but unfortunately, 20th and 21th century is full of such martial arts dilletantes.
The basic rule is: If it does not flow from Peneiracao, you cannot use it in Carioca.
If you want to use Regional techniques, you must use Regional base(ginga) etc.
Q: But I do not like Peneiracao!
A: Well, then Capoeira Carioca is probably not for you. Peneiracao is the base of Carioca.
Do not believe you can stand like a kickboxer and still 'use Capoeira Carioca'; that is an illusion.
(Note: For completeness sake, there are Carioca systems that do not use Peneiracao; but they are quite high-level and beyond the scope of this document. And they still are not 'kickboxing'.).
Q: But I do not understand the animal archetypes!
A: Animal archetype theory is the basis of all I teach; without it, my analysis of old Carioca would not be possible.
Still, to learn the basic physical level of Carioca, you usually do not need it that much. I selected techniques that can be applied without complicated archetypes (and omitted those that need profound grasp of archetype theory).
Q: Technique XY does not work for me!
A: You probably have the animal archetype wrong. I know it seems to conflict with my previous answer; but in fact, both are true.
I selected techniques that should be relatively easy to apply. Still, if they do not work, odds are you are applying them using wrong mechanics (ie wrong animal archetype).
Animal archetypes are in reality the only way you can precisely describe the movements of human body.
Q: Why are the iconic techniques of Carioca, such as Cabecada solta, Pantana or Carioca Mldc, not a part of the system?
A: These technique are indeed iconic for Carioca and I feel bad about not teaching them.
However, the problem is that according to my understanding, in the physical, low-level Carioca system taught in this document, they would be too risky to apply. You could still apply them(as counters), of course; but they would be prone to fail and thus it would not be a proper martial art.
BTW, I believe this is what contributed to Carioca's eventual dissaperance - that people started using the original sophisticated Carioca techniques in physical-only way, which made it seem like they do not work properly. See also the short story 'Monteiro Lobato: 22 de Marajo' for an example of this.
Q: What was the purpose of the guardas proposed by Burlamaqui and others?
A: I can only guess - the purpose probably was to give some framework for sport matches; a way to stand in front of the opponent in the ring when not using Peneiracao.
The dynamics of a sport match is different than that of a (mass) street fight; there is a lot of waiting and feeling the opponent out.
As I often write, situation is everything. When you are fighting on the street against three people at once, if you stand in a static 'guard', they will probably quickly encircle you and overwhelm you, which means you get defeated.
Look at this man demonstrating fighting against multiple opponents, for example:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-CFic7z_utU
Do you see any place there for a static 'guard'? Instead, what he does looks a lot like Peneiracao. (Only Peneiracao is better :-)
But of course, once you get rid of the 'street-with-multiple-opponents' situation, you get the luxury of being able to come up with a lot of 'guards'. (That is why I also believe Carioca does not belong into a ring).
And finally, I believe part of it might be an ignorance of the deeper concepts by these gentlemen (Burlamaqui&co.); something like "Why would I jump like a madman in front of the opponent if I can just stand on my two feet" kind of 'wisdom' - because, you know, the old Carioca fighters were idiots, and used Peneiracao even though they could just stand on their feet in a 'guard'.
Q: If Carioca is not a kicking art, then what's the purpose of the acrobatic kicks such as 41 and what role do they play in capoeiragem?
A: First of all, as far as I understand it, in most of the acrokicks(Carioca Mldc, Pantanas, Voo do morcego, 41), the majority of the impact is not from the leg, but from the ground when they throw you down. So they are more throws than kicks in that regard.
But the main reason I stress that 'Carioca is wrestling' is that inwardly, tactically, it feels like wrestling. You do not kickbox the opponent - throwing some hands/feet combos. This took me a long time to realize when trying it out in sparring - there are no 'combos' in Carioca, and once you start trying to fight like a kickboxer, trying to combo one attack after another, you lose everything.
Instead, you fight like a wrestler (of the Royce Gracie kind) - wait at the perimeter, and once there is an opening, go inside with all you have in one big shot (=takedown, including with a 'kick'). If that one big shot fails, run away to safe distance and try again.
Carioca techniques were never meant to be chained into combos. There are no punches, no kicks; just jabs and big whopping takedowns (in general).
Another reason there are no combos in Carioca is that when throwing combos, you are anchored in place and again lose the mobility that is typical for the art.
Q: Why Carioca does not look like MMA, boxing, kickboxing etc.?
A: I love this question ;-) Carioca does not look like MMA because Carioca was never a ring-fighting art.
Carioca was created from the original capoeira (more on that elsewhere) by adapting it to the mass battles fought on the streets of old Rio.
As I write in my other article:
"Suddenly, it was not enough to duel against one opponent; now you had to fight with many opponents at once and move around on the battlefield.
This made ginga to be adapted to Peneiracao in Rio; and to Combat-passo in Recife; giving rise to Carioca and Recifeana."
I repeat:
Carioca was created from the original capoeira by adapting it to the mass battles. No mass battles = no Carioca.
So there was absolutely no reason for old Carioca to look like a ring-fighting art; Carioca is a product of street mass battles; ie the motivation to create it was completely different.
People today believe they know everything just because they can duke it out in the ring (or even worse, just because they see somebody duking it out in the ring on TV/internet). And let them believe that for all I care; just let us not pretend they can tell you anything useful about old Capoeira Carioca.
--
Q: With Arqueada, if the blow comes from the right, do we go towards the right with the right hand on the ground?
A: When doing Arqueada from Peneiracao, you cannot pick a side; so in my understanding, you have to go against the punch if it comes from the same side.
But that should not be a problem, as the evasion is quite flexible.
In fact, picking whether to use partial or full evasion is an art in itself; you have to predict if you would be able to move around opponent's attack and counterjab at the same time; and this takes training and experience.
But if you can already do all four Carioca evasions with LightLegs, you are doing good.
This Web Page was Built with PageBreeze Free HTML Editor