12 Basic Capoeira Movements

Head instructor of Capoeira Nagô Milwaukee, Gafanhoto, demonstrates 12 essential movements all beginning students of capoeira should know. Gafanhoto demonstrates these movements in the contemporary style of capoeira while moving through the "ginga", the fundamental side step movement pattern used as the base for all capoeira training. (if you have never practiced capopeira before focus on learning the ginga before anything else!)
The 12 Basic Capoeira Movements demonstrated:
Basic Footwork
- Passagem ("passage", a lateral side step)
- Passagem com mão ("passage with hand", an advancing side step movement that uses the hand to check your opponent and keep them at a distance)
- Troca ginga - ("ginga switch", a hop switch to carry your ginga in the opposite direction than anticipated.
Basic Esquivas ("dodges")
- Esquiva lateral ("lateral dodge", a side step ducking motion used to dodge oncoming strikes.)
- Esquiva recuada ("retreated dodge", a low lunge dodge used to dodge oncoming strikes and set up other movements.)
- Esquiva invertido ("inverted dodge", a retreating dodge movement that is performed by pivoting on your feet while ducking down and away from your oppontent.
- Sequencia de esquivas ("esquiva sequence", use for training purposes and to build a strong base for capoeira.)
Basic Chutes ("kicks")
- Meia lua de frente - ("half moon to the front" - an inside crescent kick in other art forms, a large sweeping kick striking with the inside of the foot.)
- Armada - (a spinning crescent kick in other artforms, this large sweeping kick is performed by the player spinning and throwing his kick from the back leg, striking with the outside of the foot.)
- Queixada ("jawbone", in this variation the kick is set up from the esquiva invertido position followed by the player stepping his back foot up behind the front and using the hip to pull the kick up and around similarly to the armada)
- Meia lua de compasso ("half moon compass kick", this move is similar to a wheel kick in other art forms but is performed with the hands place on the floor for extra stability. the player pulls the straight leg through the kick using his hip, striking with the heel.)
Basic Ground Movements
- Rolé - (this move is performed from ginga by stepping out to the side, placing two hands on the ground and stepping through with the legs, continuing to watch the opponent the entire time.)
- Aú ("cartwheel" - this move is performed from ginga by stepping out placing both hands on the floor and swinging the legs up and over the body while continuing to watch the opponent the entire time.)
Want to make a workout out of these movements? Practice doing 10 of each movement, 5 on each side, WITHOUT STOPPING! This will provide you with a great cardio workout and develop your body to become a great capoeirista.
Once you've become comfortable with these movements start to practice combining them into different sequences, doing one after another, to the point that you can improvise and do these movements on command.
**Please note that thought this video may provide you with a place to start, training by yourself is not substitute for training with other capoeiristas under the supervision of an experienced instrutor, professor, or mestre. Capoeira is an art form that has a deep body of knowledge and to be a true capoeirista you must learn all elements, including language, history, music, dance and culture. This video merely scratches the surface and provides you with a place to start your journey.**
Enjoy! :)

[@tyras_heartlocker]

Smooth movements! Thorough, simple to follow and informative. Thank you so much for this!

[@okccitizen4400]

Good video thanx

[@angem8320]

Very cool~love the movements.

[@MrBandidoBlanco]

ty dude

[@cfvieiracosta]

Send us some more, very good

[@stefanallen9864]

just started my first day today it was fun and a great challenge be 6ft3 285 lbs

[@BBoyBenjaminBBoy]

Hahaha, to easy for me :) im in brazil on exchange, and i have done it for like 3 months and im ready for tomorrow to get green rope :) LETS GOOO

[@bhavesh8107]

like in karate it is belts.
so as u said green rope .
does in capoiera it is rope instead of belts.?

[@cevanert3]

generally it's a "cord system". So capoeira practitioners get a different color cord, referred to a "corda" or a "cordão" (plural - "cordões"), which delineates their level. It's a bit confusing, though, as every capoeira group has a different cord system.

[@ludvigeriksson8406]

Is this made to lure an opponent in?

[@JossinJax]

The whole time I thought it was someone off camera talking.