Why is capoeira not more popular?

Answer 1

First off, despite what these people are saying, Capoeira is an extremely effective martial art. Part of the reason it's not so popular is because the ignorant people have labeled it a dance. That's a problem with all modern martial arts, though. Many martial arts have turned into people doing fancy kicks instead of learning to fight. If you do a google video or youtube search, most of your capoeira results will be like that: just a bunch of people dancing.

It is also extremely demanding. To do capoeira competently, one has to be in top cardiovascular and physical shape. Capoeira will develop these, but someone who's not used to it will get exhausted after a really short time.

Capoeira has an extremely steep learning curve for a martial art. Though it is an effective combative art, it takes a long time to hone one's body and skills to the point where it is effective. The attacks and defenses are very counterintuitive, but I have personally seen their effectiveness. Capoeira isn't as fast and snappy as other styles and instead relies on deception, tricking you into thinking they're going to do one thing and then doing something else. That's part of why it looks like a dance, all sorts of maneuvers are hidden in the moves.

I have personally sparred with accomplished capoeiristas and they have unleashed things I had been completely unprepared for in years of training in karate.

So there you have it: popular misconceptions, physically demanding, and steep learning curve. That's what's stopping capoeira from being more popular.

Answer 2

Its not an effective style against other styles.

Capoeira only fights Capoeira

If a capoeira user entered the UFC he would get his **** kicked so fast.

Plus it takes way much more room to use in a real fight.
To me its more of a dance too. Its like a boxer fighitng a ballerina.
Ballerina may look cooler (to some) but its less effective.

And mad props Bushido with ur answer.

Answer 3

i think it's slowly growing in popularity. there's a capoeira school that just took up permanant residency across from my kung fu school.

i think it's a culturally specific art, being tied into brasil, so it's exposure and growth in the US will take time.

but with something like martial arts, when only 1.5% of the US population has ever tried a martial art, that growth may seem close to non-existant.

Answer 4

because:

1- martial artists have it pegged as interperetive dance, a dance interpreting martial arts. However, I have heard that capoeira does not use the same techniques to fight as you see in the crap on youtube with boyband dancers doing flips. I will treat this the same way I treat religion, until you can show me some evidence that can be tested and it proves to work, I will continue to regard it as something better left for ice capades.

2- non martial artists who don't know of capoeira would have either not heard of it, or consider it a martial art and not look at it for its obvious fitness benefits.

Answer 5

There are different passionate human beings out right here! My buddy created a club at our college because of the fact he felt the comparable way which you do. he's doing something he loves and spreading capoeira to others (he's even been on our community information... this guy is severe). right here's a clip of him and a few others exhibiting off their strikes.

Answer 6

most ppl just think its a dance..... and dont know it has a ...brutal fighting side to it.. and it ait thier fault i havent heard bout more than 1 person learning the fighting side where u like headbutt ppl and hit them with rocks.....all ppl advertise iss the pretty looking unpratical dance side of the art that was used 2 conceal the real techniques... the fight side has not as much wasted movement and is very confusing... cas the just fall on the ground then all the sudden u just face planted on the cement..... or they beat on the ground like a gorilla then all the sudden the smash in ur temple with a rock that came out of no where... so if u wanna learn it ask about thier "self defence side" as a guy explained it 2 me... plus alot of people just cant do it... i mean i cant do a 1 hand stand while spinning around and kickin a guy in the face with both feet...

Answer 7

There are a few reasons. First there aren't many people that teach it and second, there isn't a lot of publicity around the art and it isn't as well known as Karate or Kung Fu. Also, there aren't very many practitioner that go into professions fighting so it doesn't get as much exposure as other styles.

Answer 8

i 'm, not sure , for americans is very dificult to learn capoeira , the real capoeira you only can learn in bahia (state of Brasil) i tried to learn with americans teachers but was worthless , so i had to give up but i will learn one day

Answer 9

I think the main reason for the popularity of Japanese, Korean & Okinawan Arts is that US military personell stationd in those places brought it home with them. We have never had any large military bases in Brazil.

Answer 10

because it is difficult and beyond the ability of most people-and as tyrone rightly says-it simply would not work in the street.