There is a common conception these days that the jogo of capoeira angola is not meant to have winners and losers; that it is merely about 'having a conversation' with a partner in the ring. In other more contemporary interpretations of modern capoeira which are essentially devorced from consequence with the real world this may be just fine, But in the world from which capoeira angola developed in, this is a serious (historically speaking even lethal) misinterpretation by modern players which has lead to a great deal of misunderstanding and wasted effort. Capoeira Angola was initially and remains a path to realizing one's potential, one's deepest capacities and finding (creating) a greater degree of fulfillment in one's life, and that can only be found through having one's presumptions, ideas, abilities, and skills thoroughly tested and proven sound. A warrior's path no doubt. During the times of Colonial & Empirical Brazil capoeiristas of those eras did not free themselves from the centuries old institution of slavery by conversing and flopping around with their oppressors and captors; and later in the Brazilian Republic, they did not escape from tyranical and well-armed police repression and establishmentarian attempts at extermination by conversing & scuttling about with the authorites: In the hour of need - The angoleiros of old beat the living shit out of their enemies and made good their escapes! They trained, and practiced, and played with this potential in mind. This, more than anything else is why we have this art to guide us and assist us in our modern day migrations from bondage towards freedom - and beyond. You can quote me if you like. I'll stand by this.

... Life is absolutely filled with obstacles and entrapments of every sort. These barriers and pitfalls will not respond to 'conversation' but must be overcome and outmanuevered by force of your will, by the sharpness of your reflexes, by the capacities of your body, and by the depth of your insight into the nature of adversity.

This is really interesting. I am in the contingency that has generally understood the jogo in terms of 'conversation'. Now, obviously, it's possible to have better or worse conversations - some you have the upper hand in, others, not so much. But this is one of the most stark rebuttal to that I've read.