Malandragem

​I’ve been reading Robert Drysdale’s second book, and he has a chapter on a concept he credits to Brazil called malandragem. Effectively it’s bending the rules to get ahead. It’s not exactly lying, but it’s also not honest. An example would be playing up the significance of contact in soccer or basketball to penalize the other team. A Jiu Jitsu example is bringing the foot across the hip line to force a reaping call. I would say that Tainan Dalpra getting disqualified against Francisco Lo would also be malandragem. In American society an example we all sort of understand is tax loopholes. There are ways to shelter yourself from tax liability that while not illegal may not be entirely above board. Anyway, I say all of this to say that we must understand part of playing a game is strategy and with strategy comes tactics. Even if you don’t agree with the tactics you must still understand they are part of the game. With this understanding you may even be able to outwit these strategies for your benefit.