University Of Bristol Capoeira Society

I'm going to build up a list of movements as Andre covers them. The descriptions are really short and are intended to just jog your memory, so you can learn some of the names. There are a few names of some more advanced movements here as well, which are moves that you might see or pick up from the more advanced people in the group. If you would like to get a more detailed explanation with pictures, then go to this page here and go to the moves section

Footwork / Evasive Moves
  • Ginga - dance like movement that all Capoeira moves come from. Use this to confuse your opponent and move around the Roda. Try it with different arm movements
  • Cocorinha - like crouching down
  • Esquiva Lateral - down to the side
  • Esquiva Frontal - like above, but with one leg back
  • Negativa - hard to explain, but imagine from Ginga with one leg back, going vertically downwards into a crouched position
  • Au - cartwheel - try doing this with both hands, then move on to just doing one handed, or no handed cartwheels. You can also try going into Au from various moves, or into moves such as Negativa
  • Role - this looks similar to Rabo de Arraia without the kick
  • Handstand - look at your opponent if you can, or he'll do a Cabecada on you! Try walking around on your hands, going over into a bridge, moving your feet around whilst upside down, and hopping on you hands
  • Headstands/headstand cartwheels - if they hurt, your doing them right!!!
  • Queda de Ginga - like the first bit of Queixada
  • Queda de Rins - literally 'stand on your kidneys', yes this one hurts too, but can lead to some kicks, and Tesoura

 

Kicks / Attacking Moves
  • Meia Lua de Frente - 'literally 'half moon to the front'
  • Queixada - from Ginga with one foot back, turn, put one foot forwards, the other one behind that, turn your shoulders to create tension in your kicking leg, then kick!!!
  • Rabo de Arraia - step forwards into a low circular kick, using both hands on the floor as an axis to spin around
  • Meia Lua de Compasso - like the above, but faster, and using only one hand
  • Armada - step forwards as in Rabo de Arraia, but do a standing circular kick
  • Bencao - a frontal pushing linear kick
  • Cabecada - headbutt - make sure you protect your face
 
 
Not covered yet/Advanced
  • Macaco - like an overhead evasive manouvre. from this you can lead on to backflips and things
  • Relogio - From above this movement looks like a clock moving round (hence the translation as 'clock') This is definately and Angola move.
  • Martelo - this is like a fairly linear kick at about head height
  • Rasteira - the classic leg sweep/takedown
  • Tesoura - translates as scissors, another takedown
  • S-Dobrado - a generic term for crazy S-shaped kicks off the floor
  • Martelo Rotado - like Martelo, but you complete this in a circle
  • Parafuso - a jumping circular kick - my favourite!!
  • Au Chebrado
    • - this is a kind of kick, but i have rarely seen it used very effectively. It does look very cool though
  • Folha Seca - A ridiculous overhead kick/backwards somersault
  • Armada Dupla - quite a hard move, which is basically Armada with both legs kicking together. It sounds simple. It isn't.
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