Capoeira: Au Batido

The Au Batido can also be called Amazonas, Au Malandro, Au Quebrado or Bei Flor. It is a broken cartwheel kick and is one of Capoeira’s signature moves. It is the move that you first think of when you think of Capoeira and it is the one Capoeiristas do when someone asks for an impromptu demonstration and wants to take a photograph.

Image by JoelZimmer via Flickr

An Au Batido is not actually an Au as the momentum is stopped in the middle and does not continue as with other Au movements. It looks like an au and can be done from an au for a surprise attack or defence. The Au Batido looks like a side kick but it is actually a front kick. The performer must twist a little so that is back is almost facing the ground and the leg kicks as if they were standing and kicking the leg straight out in front of them as if they were trying to kick themselves in the face.

The Au Batido is a side stretch kick executed from a handstand position. The performer kicks back one leg while putting the opposite corresponding hand on the ground. As they become inverted, they place the other had on the ground to remove the initial base hank, kick the leg pushed off the ground towards the opponent’s ear. The handstand has to be maintained throughout.

This is the performer’s position when the kick makes contact. This looks like a frozen, one-handed cartwheel. So there are many ways to perform this trick.

The Au Batido can turn into a very powerful kick that is virtually identical to a popular breakdancing movement, the L-kick.

The Au Batido is basically an over-the-top stretch kick. It displays dynamic active flexibility, so the player needs enough dynamic flexibility to execute a front lift above head height comfortably.

Image via Wikipedia

Instructions

Step 1: It is very important to warm up and stretch properly before trying to perform the Au Batido. Like most Capoeira moves, it places a good deal of strain on the legs and inner thighs. It throws the weight of the lower body into the air. It will improve your chances of completing the move and preventing injury if the legs are warmed up and thorough stretching is done.

Step 2: Plant the hand. Firstly the player goes into a cartwheel like motion. Instead of following through with the cartwheel and planting the second hand, the first hand only is left on the ground and the legs come up to the side.

Step 3: Twist the hips. As the lower half gets into the air, the hips are twisted so that the player can kick the leg on the opposite side of the planted hand in front of them. This stops the player from going over sideways into a one-handed cartwheel.

Step 4: Split the legs. After the leg is kicked out in front, the player must balance both legs against each other so that the stay in the Au Batido position for as long as possible. This will improve the balance and control over the position.

Step 5: Return in the direction of ascent. To complete the move, the legs should re-take the same path they took to get into the Au Batido position. The legs should be snapped back towards the floor keeping them straight so that the player lands standing up and not in a crouched position.

Tips

The left leg should be lifted up high and directly behind. When switching hands the hips and torso must face the front and Au Batido is all about timing, practicing in front of a mirror can be very helpful.

This is a really easy trick to learn. If the player is frustrated with tricking difficulties or simply wants to add something to their trick lift that looks better than a front handspring, the Au Batido is a good trick to learn.

Image via Wikipedia