The Art Of Capoeira Angola: A Beginner's Guide

Capoeira Angola is a traditional Afro-Brazilian martial art that combines elements of combat, dance, acrobatics and music. It was developed in Brazil in the 16th century by enslaved Angolans working on sugar cane plantations. It is characterised by slow and smooth movements, performed close to the ground, and incorporates headbutts, kicks and dodges.

The practice of Capoeira Angola is to cultivate chants, music and culture in addition to the martial art, and to keep capoeira as close to its African roots as possible. It is considered strategic, with sneaking movements, and values malícia (cunning), malandragem (street smarts) and unpredictability.

In the 1940s, Mestre Pastinha founded the Centro Esportivo de Capoeira Angola in order to preserve the traditional Capoeira form.

Learn the ginga (rocking step)

The ginga is the fundamental movement in capoeira, and is the base of almost all capoeira techniques. It is a never-ending step that forms all Capoeira movements and stimulates the entire body. The ginga is a rocking step, usually the focal point of the technique, and is important for both attack and defence purposes.

To begin the ginga, start from the paralelo—a strong squat position where the arms defend the face and body. Stand in your deepest flat-footed squat, then raise your hips until you're horizontal, lift your arms and imagine holding a beach ball in front of your face. Step back with your right foot, ending in a lunge position. Keep your right hand up near your face and use your left arm like a wing to maintain balance. This is the básica position.

To complete the ginga as a whole, step into the paralelo and then step back with your left leg, reversing your hands. You're now in the básica again, but on the opposite side. Repeat this flow while maintaining a sense of control and balance.

The ginga is a sidestep that can be a prance or a shuffle, and it sets the rhythm of the game. It is a marker of someone's skill, with many experienced capoeiristas being able to gauge the strength or ability of another capoeirista based on their ginga. The ginga is also what distinguishes capoeira from other martial arts. It holds the diverse parts of the capoeira game together, enabling capoeiristas to hide, dodge, feint, and attack.

Practice kicks and headbutts

Capoeira Angola is a traditional Afro-Brazilian martial art that combines dance, acrobatics, music, and spirituality. It is characterised by its slow and smooth movements, performed close to the ground, and incorporates elements such as kicks, headbutts, and dodges.

To practice kicks and headbutts in Capoeira Angola, it is important to understand the fundamental techniques and movements that characterise this martial art. Here are some tips to improve your kicks and headbutts:

• Cabeçada (Headbutt): This is an offensive movement where the attacker pushes the opponent with their head or forehead. It is often performed when the opponent is executing an open cartwheel (aú) but can also be used against any move that exposes the opponent's belly. When executing a headbutt, aim for the head, stomach, or groin, and remember to duck under the opponent's kick or punch first.
• Chapa de Frente (Front Push Kick): This is a straightforward frontal push kick, usually aimed at the abdominal or chest area. You can use your whole sole or heel to strike, and vary the impact from a soft tap to a more powerful jumping stomp.
• Chapa de Costas (Back Push Kick): As the name suggests, this is a back push kick. It can be performed from a low position, pushing with your hips to increase force and reach.
• Meia Lua (Crescent Kick): This is an outside crescent kick, using your hips to generate force and bring your foot across the opponent's face. While it can be used as an attack, it is often used as a poke or trap for another attack.
• Cutilada de Mão (Hand Chop): A blow applied with the hand, similar to a karate chop, usually targeting the face, temple, or base of the neck. This technique can cause serious damage and is considered one of the principal techniques by Mestre Pastinha.
• Ponteira (Snap Kick): Lift your knee and quickly extend your leg, pulling your toes back and tilting your torso slightly backward to strike the opponent's abdomen, chest, or face. This kick is intended to be fast and powerful.
• Gancho (Hook Kick): Start this kick in the same way as a roundhouse or martelo kick, but instead of thrusting outward, bring your leg across your body in a diagonal direction and strike with your heel or sole. It is a deceptive attack that can be used as a bait tactic.
• Aú Batido (Cartwheel Kick): During this move, go into a handstand, followed by a twist with your hips and a split, performing a downward martelo kick. One arm protects your face while the other supports your body. This is a defensive move, used when your opponent attempts a headbutt while you are performing a cartwheel.
• Aú Batendo (Kicking Cartwheel): Similar to the Aú Batido, but in this variation, your hands stay on the ground, and the cartwheel continues without stopping during the kick. This can be a powerful downward strike.

Remember that Capoeira Angola emphasises slow, ground-level movements and a strategic, cunning approach. Practice your kicks and headbutts with control and always be respectful towards your opponent and the art form.

Try a cartwheel (aú)

Trying a cartwheel (aú) is a great way to get to grips with the basics of Capoeira Angola. The aú is the Capoeira term for a cartwheel, and it's a valuable skill for any capoeirista to have.

The aú is an important move for mobility, offence, and evasion. It's similar to a handstand (bananeira) in Capoeira, but the body rotates laterally with an energetic impulse. The aú is a great way to defend and attack, and it's one of the unexpected movements that can disorient opponents, disrupt their balance, and open their guard.

The aú is also a fantastic way for beginners to learn how to maintain balance while upside down and in motion. It's one of the first steps in helping beginners handle real-life fight situations, like slips, being thrown, or grappling.

Here's a step-by-step guide to performing the aú:

• Start "almost" like an au, but remember to stop your momentum.
• When you get airborne, twist your hips so you can kick to the front.
• Kick the leg out, keeping it as straight as possible.
• The non-kicking leg can stay straight or bend, or it can follow the other leg for a dual kick.
• Your knee should rest on the side of your chest.
• To end the move, your leg should snap back to its original position. Keep your leg straight when landing to avoid crouching.

Once you've mastered the basic aú, you can try variations like the double cartwheel kick (aú batido duplo), closed cartwheel kick (aú batido fechado), or the L-kick, where both legs are straight to form a right angle.

Understand the malícia (cunning)

Capoeira Angola is a Brazilian martial art that combines elements of combat, dance, acrobatics, and music. It is characterised by its slow and smooth movements, performed close to the ground, and incorporates low kicks, headbutts, and dodges. The art form exudes ritualistic and demonstrative movements, originally developed as a form of dance.

The basic term of capoeira philosophy is malícia (malice). Malícia is the capacity to understand someone's intentions and make use of this understanding to misdirect them as to your next move. It is a system of signs and signals, like casting a spell to build a specific reality during the game and in day-to-day life.

In the context of capoeira, the meaning of malícia has expanded over time to include cunning, suspicion, alertness, readiness, flexibility, and adaptation. It is good-natured, contrary to what the word may suggest.

Malícia is a key aspect of the ginga, the fundamental movement in capoeira. The ginga is a constant, fluid, triangular footwork—a rhythmic dance step that confuses opponents as it looks unlike an orthodox fighting stance. The ginga places the capoeirista in constant motion, making them a difficult target, and allows them to continuously maintain enough torque to strike while synchronising arm movement to avoid and slip under attacks.

Chamada, or 'call', is a ritual within the game where one player, usually the more advanced one, calls their opponent to a dance-like ritual. This is a test of the opponent's awareness and a trap where the caller watches for their guard to drop, so they can perform a takedown or strike. It is an essential part of learning the subtleties of anticipating another person's hidden intentions.

Capoeira Angola is characterised by its sneaking movements and values the tradition of malícia, complementing the two players' movements, and the absence of violence. It is a cunning and unpredictable art form.

Play in a roda (circle)

Playing in a roda (circle) is a crucial aspect of Capoeira, where the game comes to life. The roda is formed by capoeiristas (players) and capoeira musical instruments, with participants singing and clapping along to the music. It is within this circle that two capoeiristas play the game, surrounded by onlooking participants who cheer them on. The roda can be held indoors or outdoors, and its energy depends on the style played, the number of participants, and their collective energy.

Leadership and Permission:

It is important to know who is leading the roda, usually the mestre (master) of the group. If you are new, introduce yourself to the mestre and ask for permission to play. Observe the game, and if you are playing an instrument, you can then ask for a round with another participant. It is also customary to check with the mestre each time before entering a game.

Entering and Exiting the Roda:

The capoeiristas enter the roda through the boca-da-roda, the space in front of the instruments. They stop at the opening and then cartwheel simultaneously into the centre, signalling the start of the game. When playing with another mestre, only another mestre can interrupt the game. To end the game, players extend their hand to their partner and leave through the same gap they entered.

Buying into the Game:

A participant can "buy" their way into the game to interrupt or play with one of the current players. They must squat at the boca-da-roda and wait for the right moment to interrupt and challenge one of the players.

Music and Rhythm:

The berimbau, the main musical instrument, leads the rhythm and determines the start and end of the game. The style and speed of the music dictate how you should play. The roda usually begins with a ladainha (a solo sung by the mestre or most respected capoeirista), followed by a louvação (a call-and-response pattern). The rhythm played will influence the pace of the roda and the exchange between the players.

Rules and Etiquette:

The roda has rules that govern the behaviour of the players and the dispute itself. Players must adhere to the rules of the capoeira style being played and follow the rhythm of the music. It is important to learn the songs and join in the chorus to build the energy of the roda. Additionally, be mindful of your position in the roda to maintain its circular shape and avoid accidents.

The Game Itself:

Capoeira moves include high flying kicks, aerial acrobatics, and takedowns. However, punches and elbow strikes are usually avoided unless the game is very aggressive. The focus is not on knocking down opponents but on body dialogue and showcasing skills. The game ends when a musician determines it, when one of the players decides to leave, or when another capoeirista interrupts to play.

Remember, each roda is unique, and every group has its own way of doing things. Respect the roda you are entering, observe and learn its ways, and most importantly, have fun!

Frequently asked questions