Conor McGregor, Thiago “Marreta” Santos & Elizeu Zaleski doing the Most Powerful Kick in Capoeira

Tribute to the most powerful kick in Capoeira, Meia Lua de Compasso often also called Rabo de Arraia (Stingray’s tail)), is a unique spinning kick of capoeira. It’s one of the most powerful and beautiful kicks in the art, and sometimes due to its unpredictability used even in MMA. Famous UFC athletes that have been seen training or using this kick include Conor McGregor, Anderson Silva, Thiago “Marreta” Santos, and Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos.

Conor McGregor uses a lot of capoeira -style movement and spinning attacks in his fighting style. He can often be seen training movements similar to the ginga, the basic movement groove of capoeira, from which attacks and defenses are initiated. Conor has said of capoeira, that it’s “phenomenal to see the movements that these guys can do and the balance and fluidity.”

Thiago “Marreta” Santos is a muay thai black belt but also has extensive background in capoeira. He is known for his aggressive style with “sledgehammer” -like power punches and kicks but also utilizes spinning attacks and has even knocked out opponents in the UFC with spinning kicks similar to the Meia Lua de Compasso.

This spinning kick scores really high on the coolness factor, but requires total body control and takes a lot of practice to master.

Filmed in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil with Mestre Cocoroca https://www.instagram.com/mestrecocoroca/

Music: Basa Basa Beat – Nana Kwabena