Capoeira Conditioning: How to Build Strength, Agility, and Cardiovascular Fitness Using Capoeira Movements

by Gerard Taylor, Anders Kjaergaard (Photographer)

The popularity of capoeira continues to rise as more people discover how useful—and fun—it can be for increasing agility and flexibility, as well as strength and endurance. Capoeira Conditioning is an illustrated guide to whole-body training based on this increasingly popular Brazilian martial art. Designed for all ages and all levels of experience, the book is a step-by-step training manual with photographs that guide users through every movement and sequence. Accompanying text gives special pointers and describes the fitness benefits of each individual technique. Capoeira Conditioning offers no-frills advice about nutrition, regularity of training, capoeira in relation to other sports, and capoeira conditioning for children, along with a simple Q&A section.

Genres: Martial Arts, Fitness, Health

144 pages, Paperback

First published December 8, 2005

Reviews

[Marissa Genta Pineda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I normally don't look into exercise and diet books, but since I've recently taken up practicing capoeira (a Brazilian martial art/dance/game,(think karate meets yoga meets cirque du soleil)and I'm a sorry, inflexible, little weakling, I figured I could use all the help I can get. This book is beautifully clear in explaining and illustrating various conditioning exercises based around the art of capoeira. The exercises can be done on your own, at home, in your bare feet, no resistance bands, balls, treadmills, or winches required. Workouts are laid out in 7, 15, and 30 minute routines. Hey, I can handle 7 minutes!

[Damjan Pavlica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book for me as a capoeira beginner. There are lots of ways to work out my back and wrists.

[Hank · Rating 3 out of 5]

Generally, this book treats vast numbers of reps and everything else as if they were matters of course. It does not really lay out a progression or plan, but simply offers various contained "workouts" that assume the movements involved are already easy for the practitioner.

I'm all for the recognition that martial artists (of any stripe) ought to have excellent endurance, and that building both skill and endurance requires repetition. My issue is that my experience has taught that, for general overall leg strengthening, working through a pistol squat or shrimp squat progression (or even lifting some weight) makes more sense than doing 500 standard bodyweight squats (for most people, most of the time) and for capoeira-specific endurance, it makes more sense to play more games (or at least "shadowbox" by mixing ginga with known techniques and movements as if one had another player). Herschel-Walker-style rep ranges are usually not used by S&C coaches in most sports or athletic activities precisely because for most people who are not Herschel Walker, they're not the ideal method.

With that said, I like a lot of the ideas and general frameworks in this book. I have no reason to doubt the author's knowledge, athleticism, or capoeira skill - it just seems like a book that really could be a little less one-dimensional in its approach and a little more of a step by step "program."

[Tori · Rating 4 out of 5]

My only problem with this book is that it does not help someone get to the level these exercises require. Some of the exercises are beyond my ability and there is no path on how to get there from the author. At the same time the author claims this books is for everyone and I would say it is more intermediate to advanced. Otherwise great exercises

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first half of this book if full of very useful information about how the body works and what it needs. This is followed by great step by step descriptions of Capoeira moves with pictures to guide you. Some of the moves are advanced but you do have the option to start at a beginner level and gradually progress.

[maxie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I went for a Capoeira intro session today and decided to borrow this book from the library. A lot of the moves look very challenging although beginners are supposed to be able to follow.

[Tanvir Muntasim · Rating 3 out of 5]

A handy reference book with lots of photographs where complex Capoeira moves have been simplified for use in metabolic conditioning.

[Mills College Library]

793.31981 T2418b 2005