Eritrean Testa!

Discussion in 'Other Styles' started by Adam, May 28, 2003.

  1. Adam

    Adam New Member

    Does anyone know anything about this fighting art? It's supposed to consist ALMOST ENTIRELY OF HEADBUTTS! Sounds like a fun style to take up. :p

    Any info?
     
  2. YODA

    YODA The Woofing Admin Supporter

    It's a Muslim art I believe - that's pretty much all I know!
     
  3. pgm316

    pgm316 lifting metal

    Sounds good!

    Very popular in Scotland I believe, go in any Glasgow pub and demand they show it you, I think you'll be surprised!

    :p
     
  4. khafra

    khafra New Member

    Y'know, I was in Eritrea once, and I wouldn't mess with 'em--but I didn't know they had their own fighting style. I know one of the guys that worked at the embassy there, I should ask him if he's heard of it.
     
  5. Adam

    Adam New Member

    Please do. If what I've heard about it is true, then - GOD, I want to learn this style!

    Edit: I found this article: http://stickgrappler.tripod.com/52/testa.html

    Seems to be related to Capoeira in some way. Maybe because they're both african fighting styles.
     
    Last edited: May 28, 2003
  6. GKP

    GKP New Member

  7. Bigorna

    Bigorna Valued Member

    Testa is a north african art specifically found in Eritrea and Ethiopia, that as you mentioned, focuses on headbutting. A source I came across also mentions that strikes, some grappling, gouging and biting the windpipe (eesh) are all used to set up the coup d'grace, the head butt.

    We see it quite often in Capoeira. A Capoeira Mestre out here by the name of Dennis Newsome teaches it at his school, along with other African diaspora. Here's a link to his site and an article on Testa: http://www.malandros-touro.com/testa.html
     
  8. dormindo

    dormindo Active Member Supporter

    See what quite often, Testa or headbutting? Headbutts are a common part of capoeira, but I've never seen anyone who professes to bo doing Testa in the roda.

    paz,

    dormindo
     
  9. Mangosteen

    Mangosteen Hold strong not

    i wants to learn testa.

    in scotland - i know, sounds weird
     
  10. Bigorna

    Bigorna Valued Member

    Testa

    Headbutting in the roda (Cabecada) was what I was referring to. However, the above link that I posted to Mestre Newsome's school gives a rundown of a variety of African-based martial arts that is integrated in his curriculum, not just Capoeira.

    Years back when I was training, I asked some people that trained in San Diego if they'd ever had an inter-school roda w/Newsome's students, and they said they were a bit bizarre in the roda, typically wanting to go straight into fighting rather than just playing a game. What they were doing was not purely Capoeira; they were synthesizing all of the African arts they were taught by Newsome and using them in the roda. After a while, they quit extending invites because they were getting tired of these guys showing up acting like valentoes (tough guys) and killing the Axe in the roda.
     
  11. Bigorna

    Bigorna Valued Member

    Testa

    Yep, it's a butting style called FUGGYOO!!!
     
  12. dormindo

    dormindo Active Member Supporter

    Thanks for the response. I've not had the chance to go out to San Diego (though I have met Mestre Newsome before). I'm familiar with the group in Dallas and some of our group members have played them without incident, though I've not had the pleasure yet myself. I'll eventually get up there--I play capoeiristas from Austin as often as I can and, of course, have played many of the capoeiristas here in Houston--angola and regional. And Rand and Frodo owe me games as well, :), so I'm building up a list.

    paz,

    dormindo
     
  13. Mangosteen

    Mangosteen Hold strong not

    WOW.

    Newson is the reason i know about testa.
     
  14. Hannibal

    Hannibal Cry HAVOC and let slip the Dogs of War!!! Supporter

  15. Rand86

    Rand86 likes to butt heads

    Are these the guys in question?

    [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0ji4NsYznE"]Os Malandros de Mestre Touro Los Angeles - YouTube[/ame]

    Because if so, I fail to see anything too far out of the ordinary compared to myriad other capoeira vids. :confused::thinking:
     
  16. Mangosteen

    Mangosteen Hold strong not

  17. Kwajman

    Kwajman Penguin in paradise....

    I'm putting my cash on Big Mikey then. He looks like he'd knock you through a door.
     
  18. Mangosteen

    Mangosteen Hold strong not

    everytime
     
  19. Hannibal

    Hannibal Cry HAVOC and let slip the Dogs of War!!! Supporter

  20. Mangosteen

    Mangosteen Hold strong not

    is JHR for real?

    the guy is a big HR fan but if you scroll down theres a long scan in of a testa book.

    what do you think?
     

Share This Page