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Ultra-Orthodox Brothers Bring Brazil’s Capoeira to Israel

Nearly 200 people have signed up to train at their Bnei Brak dojo

by
Hannah Dreyfus
January 31, 2014
Miki and Yehuda Hayat, who are bringing the Brazilian martial art Capoeira to Israel.(Nati Shohat /FLASH90)
Miki and Yehuda Hayat, who are bringing the Brazilian martial art Capoeira to Israel.(Nati Shohat /FLASH90)

Yossi Eilfort, the 22-year-old ultra-Orthodox rabbi turned Mixed Martial Arts fighter, seems to be sparking a trend.

Two Israeli brothers, Miki, 24, and Yehuda Hayat, 20, hailing from the ultra-Orthodox community of Bnei Brak near Tel-Aviv, have taken up the Brazilian martial art of Capoeria, and are teaching others in their community. Capoeria, a martial art dating back to the 16th century, combines dance, acrobatics, and music to create an intensive, full-body experience. It was developed by slaves who used the intricate dance moves to disguise their true motive: learning how to fight.

The Hayat brothers have set up a dojo, or training room, in Bnei Brak in order to teach their ultra-Orthodox brethren how to flip, kick, and spin. Nearly 200 men have signed up already.

Whether this new unconventional pastime will cause a stir in their insular ultra-Orthodox community remains to be seen, though it’s not likely. Martial arts, designed for self defense, is designed to be artful rather than aggressive, an athletic outlet more than a way to simply fight.

The fringes of their tzitzit flying as they jump and flip in the air throughout Jerusalem, the Hayat brothers are certainly changing things up.

Hannah Dreyfus is an editorial intern at Tablet.