Customer Reviews

Capoeira 100: An Illustrated Guide to the Essential Movements and Techniques

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book does a great job of breaking down the mechanics of beginner, intermediate & advanced capoeira movements. However, understand that the book alone will not teach you capoeira! I take 1 - 2 classes a week here in Los Angeles & there have been some movements in class that I just didn't understand. Being able to come home & look up the movements in the book, where they are broken down step by step in photographs with instructions has helped me a great deal when I've hit a block. In addition, it covers both Angola and Regional styles of capoeira so you can tailor it to your practice. Finally, one of the coolest elements of the book is that for every move, it gives you pointers on when you could use the move, and others moves that can precede or follow it. That's helped me a lot in learning how to "chain" my moves with more fluidity. The only way to make this book better is if there were a companion DVD that allowed you to see the moves in real time. (hint, hint) I also have the Capoeira Conditioning book by the same author. Together they're like the text & workbook to go with the classes I'm taking.

I like this book it was great for showing many variations of the same moves. I've recomened it to others in my roda and they loved it. The book gives you several photos to illistrate the moves. It doesn't stop there it gives advice on good points to use a move and several exercises. It's pretty streight forword about everything and skips philosophy so that it is more accessable to those that don't want others to define and art that each individual needs to find for themselves.

This is a great beginners book for those who are just starting out in Capoeira. this progresses with you as you go from beginer to advanced. I reccomend going to an actual class to fully understand and execute these movements and techniques. Also pick up the Capoeira conditioning book. It will definteley help you with the intermmediate and advance sections of the book.

This book is very helpful and one of a kind. I gave it five stars but i guess there is room for improvement. I think the pictures could look prettier or have arrows but then again maybe there is a functional value to it.
I would tell anyone to buy it if they are a beginner. It demonstrates moves and transitional moves. And when i get confused I use it as a reference. It is also provides some philosophy behind capoeira. I use it a lot when i am playing at home. It even gives combinations to try after breaking moves down. It is very reader friendly. also has a sturdy binding so you can throw it around and it stays intact. Overall, I was pleased with the purchase.

I discovered capoeira by accident 35 years ago while watching the film "Back Orpheus" on television. In one scene, the protagonist is attacked by the Devil, who entres the scene with a cartwheel and two front kicks. I was studying kung fu at the time, but this clearly was not Asian! The film was shot in Brazil in 1959 so I figured that Brazil figured into my search for what i later found out was an ancient Afro- Brazilian martial art. I am now 56 years old and a Capoeirista still. This is an excellent book for the beginner but even an old dog like me can use it. The photos and text are fantastic and explain everything quite well. I am losing weight, becoming more flexible and fast...even for my age! This book really is responsible for this. Attention all capoeirestas and wanna- be's: buy this book!

The Sweet Detective

This is a very good book for anyone doing Capoeira. There may be some stances that everyone does not agree with but not all capoeira students train in the same stance. But all the moves are acurate and are very well explained and photographed. This book also explains when you would use a move to counter or attack. There are training solo and partner instructions for beginners and some background information of the sport as well.

The book has pictures and instructions on how to execute the movements. As a beginner, I can follow some of the movements, but others are more difficult and require more pictures and instructions. You can get more out of it by searching for YouTube videos as a supplement. This book should be in every capoeirista's library.

The good: This book is good for demonstrating fundamentals, and some advanced techniques. It provides generally good descriptions of the techniques with clear colour photos and how these techniques can be used and combined with other techniques.

The bad: Some of the pic sequences need an extra pic to illustrate exactly how they are getting into the position. If you knew nothing of martial arts and particularly capoeira you may not be able to tell exactly how they got into all the positions - but then, the book is recommended as a guide to be used with an instructor, not as a complete capoeira course.

This is a pretty good book if you are a beginner. I think anyone with an intermediate level wouldn't learn to much from it.

If you're getting started with capoeira, this is a great book that could help you develop your "jogo"

Although you have to remember that the true way to learn capoeira is practicing it.

This book is great for helping the beginner to advanced capoeira student. There is great help for learning individual moves plus challenging training exercises for interactive learning and fitness conditioning.