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HISTORY · FIGURES
The Bahian Who Wanted to Test Himself Against Carioca Capoeira
6 MIN READ
Artur Emídio accepted a bout against the 'king of capoeiragem' because he believed carioca capoeira far more effective than the one played in Salvador.
WHY THIS ARTICLE
Bahian capoeira is assumed to be the strong, authentic form. The thesis records a Bahian champion who thought the opposite — and sought out carioca capoeira to measure himself.
A journalist's proposition
A journalist wrote in 1953 that there was no longer any doubt as to the absolute, overwhelming superiority of jiu-jitsu over all other methods of self-defence. Yet the technical qualities of the capoeira Artur Emídio, rarely seen in the capital, gave the reporters of Ultima Hora the idea of proposing him a combat against the 'king of capoeiragem', Rudolf Hermanny.
A thirst to learn
The Bahian capoeira willingly accepted, for he had heard of carioca capoeiragem: in his eyes it was far more effective than the one practised in Salvador, and the fight would be his chance to judge his own effectiveness. Artur Emídio — who became, at the end of the 1950s and in the following decade, a major figure of capoeira in Rio — thirsted to learn and perfect himself alongside the best. The challenge against Hermanny was officially launched on 2 May.
Why it matters
That a Bahian champion judged carioca capoeira the stronger art overturns the reflex that makes Salvador the seat of effectiveness. The hierarchy of forms looked different to those who actually fought.
SOURCES
La capoeira et les arts de combat noirs : histoire effacée, techniques invisibles (1905–1984), thèse de doctorat, Université des Antilles, 2020 (Part II: Artur Emídio vs Rudolf Hermanny; Ultima Hora, Rio, May 1953).
IN THE CORPUS
→ The Defeats of 1949 Were Rigged by an Unequal Start
→ How Bahia and Capoeira Became the Same Word
HOW TO CITE THIS ARTICLE
MALO, Olivier. The Bahian Who Wanted to Test Himself Against Carioca Capoeira. In: Black Combat Arts Institute — Articles [online]. No. 90. 2026 [accessed date]. Available from: https://www.blackcombatarts.com/articles/the-bahian-who-wanted-to-test-himself-against-carioca-capoeira. Adapted from the author's doctoral thesis, Université des Antilles, 2020.