Cairo Rocha Scores Beautiful Knockout With Capoeira Kick
by Brent Brookhouse on Dec 18, 2011 2:00 PM EST
in MMA Video
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PrintCairo Rocha (6-2) taking on Francisco Neves (2-4) at BRFC - Desafio dos Imortais wasn't exactly on anyone's radar heading into the weekend. After Rocha unleashed a kick that resulted in one of the best knockouts of 2011, it's now getting some attention.
Here's the video and then we'll talk about the kick:
The kick appears to be a capoeira technique called a Meia-Lua de compasso. Here's a description from Wikipedia:
A Meia-Lua de compasso (lit: half moon compass) is an attack that embodies the true element of Capoeira since it combines an evasive maneuver with a spinning kick. The player while in a semi-crouched stance, swings his forward arm in a downward slanting motion towards the ground. While stepping around, he also bends his non-kicking leg while keeping the kicking one straight. After gathering enough torque from the sudden pivot in his core, he unleashes the kick all the way around until his kicking leg is behind him in the ginga movement.
The power of the kick derives its energy from the same motion as the swing of a golf club or base ball bat. The transfer of power begins with the spin of the hand slamming into the ground and ending with the spin of the kicking heel. It has earned its place in capoeira as being called the "king of kicks". There is even a saying among mestres and other teachers about how a capoeirista's skill can be determined on how well and fast he delivers a Meia lua de compasso. It is still called a rabo do arria by some groups today.
There is even folklore from around the 1910s of a capoeirista named Ciriaco, defeating a jiu-jitsu champion named Sada Mako with this kick. While this has been debated, there is one true account of this occurring. The win was awarded to Valdemar Santana after his defeat of Helio Gracie. Most would attribute this win to the fact that Santana was also student of Helio for over twelve years.
You can see Rocha's hand hit the mat as the body turns and gets the torque for the power.
But the real gem is watching the replay at around 16 seconds on the video. Neves is confused by the movement and drops his left arm to try to block what he seems to think is a body kick only to get caught square on the chin and go out.
Great stuff.
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That was beautiful. The deception is built right into the kick.
What's this war in the heart of nature? Why does nature vie with itself? The land contend with the sea? Is there an avenging power in nature? Not one power, but two?
by Kwisatz Haderach on Dec 18, 2011 2:03 PM EST reply actions
You just described the entire art
Fun fact: Capoeria actually came from Angola and is still practiced there today.
"I'm ready for fight. If I'm win, no win. I don't know. But, I'm ready for fight. This is my working[shrugs shoulders]" - Anderson Silva
"You'll get Lil Wayne in woman pants and like it!" - Krimson
Yeah the real deception is practicing your fighting skills,
while appearing, to your fucking slave masters, to be dancing and having a good time.
What's this war in the heart of nature? Why does nature vie with itself? The land contend with the sea? Is there an avenging power in nature? Not one power, but two?
by Kwisatz Haderach on Dec 18, 2011 4:17 PM EST up reply actions
Yep. On that level, too
I was just saying that capoiera is all about concealing your movements to deceive your opponents.
"I'm ready for fight. If I'm win, no win. I don't know. But, I'm ready for fight. This is my working[shrugs shoulders]" - Anderson Silva
"You'll get Lil Wayne in woman pants and like it!" - Krimson
Gotcha, I just like that we're working on two levels here:)
What's this war in the heart of nature? Why does nature vie with itself? The land contend with the sea? Is there an avenging power in nature? Not one power, but two?
by Kwisatz Haderach on Dec 18, 2011 4:52 PM EST up reply actions
actually Capoeira is 100% Brazilian, it was created in Brazil by slaves that originated mostly from west to central west Africa. each region in Africa already had their traditions and dances (which is the case of Angola), and what happened in Brazil was the mixture of these dances and traditions (indians also contributed a bit, a very small bit), which ended up creating Capoeira, Maculele among others. What can also sometimes be confusing is that there are several styles of Capoeira, such as Capoeira Regional (created in the 60’s to compete with Karate to give students a faster art) and the traditional Capoeira, which is called “Capoeira Angola” (which I did for a while), which is slower and more fluent. This can confuse people to think that since it’s the traditional art and it’s called “Capoeira Angola”, than it must have come from Angola. But this is untrue, it’s just the name given to differentiate the different styles of Capoeira after the 60’s.
but other than that your assessment of art is 100% on point, the game of Capoeira is to deceive the opponent into making an error by using what we would call ‘malice’ and ‘trickery’ in the game, it’s really a beautiful art I still sometimes go to rodas and jump in whenever I can hehe.
I call you, I talk to me - Anderson Silva
by Orcus on Dec 19, 2011 4:53 AM EST up reply actions 2 recs
Commentary -
Mauk a van ska u van scap a van chuap, cau aaavv shka….cau aaavv shka!!! Kiv ska bak uuu wah! blah blah blah blah….blah blah blah… Britney Palmer!!!
by Shadows and Dust on Dec 19, 2011 2:05 AM EST up reply actions
If only that stuff worked against better competition.
Still, this is why regional MMA is fucking awesome in small doses.
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by McKinley B. Noble on Dec 18, 2011 2:05 PM EST reply actions
That's what people said about front kick KOs
until Silva and Machida pulled it off. People continue to say that Jones’ creative strikes shouldn’t work at the top level, but they do.
Conventional wisdom continues to get challenged as MMA evolves. I could see this kick working in the UFC in several cases:
-if a fighter freezes Belfort-style
-as part of a Marquardt-Gouviea-esque combo
-as a counter, when you opponent’s strike puts him in a poor position to step away from this
by paythefighters on Dec 19, 2011 6:28 AM EST up reply actions
I always find it silly when someone says this or that can’t work in mma. Over and over we have seen new moves put to use in the cage. Sure some stuff may be lower % but if x technique is used in other combat sports/martial arts it might find its way into mma even if only occasionally.
I am free because I choose to be so-Me
Sure they can work, but they aren’t as consistently effective. A fighter would have to specifically train these techniques to implement them properly in a fight.
by discoandherpes on Dec 19, 2011 10:20 AM EST up reply actions
I thought Pettis pulled off some similar kicks in the WEC?
Anderson Silva, Edson Barboza, Jose Aldo, Charles Oliveira, Thiago Alves = Muay Thai wrecking machines!
by SentientAndroid on Dec 19, 2011 10:43 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Props to whoever put together that video
I mean, really, there were like six or seven replays in 40 seconds. It’s like an extended gif you can’t stop watching. Awesome.
by ( . Y . ) on Dec 18, 2011 2:10 PM EST reply actions 2 recs
Not the first time it's landed
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=VePy7-kPAys
Jean Silva used to throw these against decent-class (Cage Rage/Bushido) competition all the time, but never landed. Then again he never really set it up properly, or threw it so hard. Glad I didn’t waste that year doing capoeira.
So... I guess there were many of us that had the same thought...
"I´ve seen the future of the whole fucking thing and it´s Big Man Clarence Clemons!"
- Bruce Springsteen
The world became a less amazing place on June 18 2011, with the death of Clarence Clemons. R.I.P. Big Man, you will be sorely missed.
Some people don´t like the saxophone, but if you can´t rock to the Jungleland solo, you are dead inside!
Well, here's another one
‘Lelo’ Aurelio again: the guy is a beast.
by CaptainArmbar on Dec 18, 2011 3:32 PM EST up reply actions
Another one, maybe more impressive
Take a look at this one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6oiADjOdFg
Double spin, looks like the hand position might be slightly different, but amazingly brutal result.
Guess you beat me to it.
It´s a great one. This version have some better camera angles…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e0KfQE2-ZqA
"I´ve seen the future of the whole fucking thing and it´s Big Man Clarence Clemons!"
- Bruce Springsteen
The world became a less amazing place on June 18 2011, with the death of Clarence Clemons. R.I.P. Big Man, you will be sorely missed.
Some people don´t like the saxophone, but if you can´t rock to the Jungleland solo, you are dead inside!
I think it´s mandatory to put up "Lelo" Aurelio´s double half moon kick too.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e0KfQE2-ZqA
"I´ve seen the future of the whole fucking thing and it´s Big Man Clarence Clemons!"
- Bruce Springsteen
The world became a less amazing place on June 18 2011, with the death of Clarence Clemons. R.I.P. Big Man, you will be sorely missed.
Some people don´t like the saxophone, but if you can´t rock to the Jungleland solo, you are dead inside!
Crazy!
He did it so damn fast and explosive! He’s like a damn hurricane of spinning kicks, I see why buddy got caught.
Anderson Silva, Edson Barboza, Jose Aldo, Charles Oliveira, Thiago Alves = Muay Thai wrecking machines!
by SentientAndroid on Dec 19, 2011 10:47 AM EST up reply actions
lol lol
look at The Situation flip over the ropes at 3:18!
Anderson Silva, Edson Barboza, Jose Aldo, Charles Oliveira, Thiago Alves = Muay Thai wrecking machines!
by SentientAndroid on Dec 19, 2011 10:48 AM EST up reply actions
Ouch.
An annoying Fitch fan. Also, captain of the inaugural BE Civil War champions, the K-1 Level Predictions Team.
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HOLY CRAP
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It must be a delightful city and possess all the attractions of the next world" - Oscar Wylde
wow..
awesome kick, I would have hate to have been hit by that one!
Sucker for anything Capoeira
"A man who believes that he can do everything, let him dig a grave and bury himself."
by The One Who Wears The Crown on Dec 18, 2011 4:41 PM EST reply actions
Eddie Gordo style!
And they said capoeira wasn’t effective in MMA….
by Bandaka on Dec 18, 2011 5:50 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
I hope Anderson hits it on Chael and KOs him.
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by MicahtheCynic on Dec 18, 2011 8:02 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
Anyone remember the movie Only The Strong?
Gotta love 90s fight movies lol
by fightersvizion on Dec 18, 2011 9:57 PM EST via mobile reply actions
Just read up on it awhile ago, I’m tempted to watch it
"A man who believes that he can do everything, let him dig a grave and bury himself."
by The One Who Wears The Crown on Dec 18, 2011 10:31 PM EST up reply actions
My brother used to be obsessed with that movie as a kid would watch it everyday.
Bad ass moves in that movie
Sheeeeeeeee-it
by Clay Davis on Dec 18, 2011 10:34 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Only Never Back The Strong Down!
greatest movie ever made.
I'm all out of bubblegum
by some schmuck in texas on Dec 18, 2011 11:16 PM EST up reply actions
wow! o_O
..i mean
WOOOW! espectacular!!
"Blow it out your ass."
by IGotBallsOfSteel on Dec 19, 2011 10:48 AM EST reply actions
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