Capoeira Movements

There are an infinite number of movements and only so many names to go with them. Different Capoeira movements can have different names, the same name or several names at once depending on the region and the teacher.

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Types of Movement

There are many diverse movements and it can be overwhelming for a beginner to learn them all.

Capoeira moves can be divided into basic groups. The majority of moves can be classified as basic movements, escapes, arm strikes and takedowns.

Basic Movements provide the foundation to playing Capoeira. They are used to manoeuvre round the roda while playing Capoeira. These include basic moves such as ginga and aú.

The most common attacks in Capoeira are kicks. These are generally offensive movements using a leg or legs to attack. There are an enormous number of kicks of varying speed, position and use. 

Escapes or Esquivas are just as important as attacks. They are essential for avoiding another player’s attacks and for getting into position to set your own attack.

As a beginner, it’s easy to miss the takedowns but there are a number of takedowns used to bring capoeiristas to the ground and should be used with care.

There are a wide range of punches and arm strikes ranging from simple slaps to elbow strikes.

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Moves

Ginga

The Ginga is the standard movement from which all Capoeira moves are performed. The Queda de Rins is a stance where the legs are positioned over the body, with the elbows and head supporting the weight. The Queda de Tres is an Angolan position with both hands on the ground and one leg straight. It is a position used to land to escape a banda or other attack and go into an evasive move. The Queda de Quatro is another Angolan position with the legs straight in front on the ground and the weight on the hands. This position is used to escape or back away from and opponent. It can also be used as a position to fall back onto to escape takedowns such as the queda de tres.

Defences

Evasive moves and rolls are the main form of defence in Capoeira.

The Esquiva Baixa is a low dodge with one leg back, one hand blocking the head and the other supporting the weight. The Esquiva Lateral is like the Esquiva Baixa but to one side with one arm overhead.

The Cocorinha is a crouching position and the Ponte is a backbend or low backbend with the arms and legs bent but the back not touching the ground. The Resistencia is like the Cororinha but one leg can be forward, to help you lean back as you escape. The Resistencia is used to go to a low ponte, role or rasteira to the side.

An Entrada is a sidestep dodge and a step forward. The Entrada step is used to lead into spinning moves like the Armada, Mei Lua de Compasso and Meia Lua Solta. A Balanço is an evasive move to the side with the legs spread, the momentum is used to bounce back into other moves. A Rolé is a way of moving low to the ground with the legs sweeping short in front. The Escala is a defensive move falling back onto one leg, from here it is usual to spring forward to attack, a sweep or Chapeu do Couro.

A Reverse Planche, to the left, and Manna, to the right, are strength holds and are sometimes seen in the roda being used by very strong capoeiristas.

A Vingativa is a counter that uses the weight and leverage to topple an opponent. A Cruz is a counter that ‘uproots’ the opponents. The Boca de Calca is a simple takedown where the opponent’s ankles are grabbed and yanked. An Arrastã is a takedown where the player moves in close, a shoulder to the opponent’s chest, grabs their thighs and heaves their skull to the ground. An Acoite de Braco is a body slam, throw or takedown. One arm is grabbed, the other arm is put between the opponent’s legs, to heave him up, onto and over the shoulder to drop him on the ground.

The Cintura Desprezada is a series of four acrobatic partner exercises developed by Mestre Bimba to help students learn how to land on their feet and to help them with moves such as back flips, forward flips and au sem mao.

Attacks

The primary attacks in Capoeira are with kicks, sweeps and head strikes. Attacks with the hands are taught in some forms of Capoeira but this is not usual, these are normally replaced with elbow strikes. Acrobatic and athletic movements are used to move round the opponent.

Punches and arm strikes include Arpão are spinning hand slaps; an Asfixiante is a forward punch; a Godeme is a backhand elbow or a backhand or overhead strike; a Galopante is a swinging palm strake; a Cutelo is any hit with the outer edge of a stiff hand, like a chop; a Dedeira is an eye gouge, a Telefone is smacking both sides of the head with the hands and a Cutevelada is any elbow strike.

A Banda is a standing sweep, used to place the foot for one of the following takedowns.

A Banda de Costa is a takedown where the player moves in, puts one leg behind his opponents and pushes him over. A Banda por Dentro is a takedown where the player sweeps the inside leg rather than the outer one.

An Aú is a cartwheel. There are many variations on this, for example, legs tucked, aú into a hand or headstands, one-handed, legs together, and so on. An Aú Agulha is a cartwheel where in the middle the player hops off his hinds into the landing. An Aú Leg Switch is a cartwheel but the legs switch position midway through so as to land on the opposite foot. An Aú Cortada, also known as a Slanted Aú is a cartwheel slanted with the legs coming down over the head rather than sideways. An Aú Queda de Rins is a really low, over-slanted cartwheel with the legs travelling more around than over. An Aú Esquisito is an inverted cartwheel with the legs bent behind. An Aú Giratória is a spinning cartwheel or hand spin. A Hand spin is a spin on only one hand, it can be started in several ways – from a sweep, from a handstand or from a rotating step-in like the Aú Giratória. A Biriba is a variation on the Aú Giratória but ends in a walkover. And there are many more.

Combinations

Some of the movements are a combination of attack and defence.

The prime example of this is the Au Batido. This literally means broken cartwheel and starts as an evasive cartwheel which then becomes a kick or a blocking movement against the opponent.

This is only a very small selection of the many Capoeira moves. Learning these moves won’t be easy but with the right motivation and focus they can be learnt.

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Tips for Learning Movements

Before attempting any Capoeira moves, the player should warm up. Stretching is an especially good warm up for new movements. This will give the range and flexibility needed to attempt the moves.

Train with a good teacher as they will have a lot of personal experience and know-how to help with the techniques.

Practice is essential. You need to be able to do the moves without thinking. Your body needs to learn the moves and it takes many tries before you can be really confident in a movement.

Many Capoeira moves have subtle shifts in position or weight that are the key to success in performing the movement, so you need to pay attention. Missing out on the differences can really slow down learning or could lead to injury.

Belief is extremely important. If you don’t believe that you can perform the movement, you will stop yourself from ever learning it.

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