- Academia
- A school where capoeira is taught.
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- Aluno
- A student of a mestre, also known as
discipulo.
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- Angola
- A traditional style of capoeira.
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- Angoleiro
- A capoeirista who practices the style of Angola.
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- Arame
- The metal string attached to the berimbau.
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- Arrastao
- This is a
capoeira takedown by pulling the legs from under your opponent.
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- Ataque
- Attack or
movement initiative.
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- Aú
- Cartwheel.
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- Aviso
- A berimbau rhythm which was formerly used to warn players of a police raid.
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- Balanço
- This is part of the
ginga; torso rocks back and forward as the body weight shifts.
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- Bamba
- A capoeira
expert; either verbally, physically, or both.
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- Banda
- A movement to trip or flank an opponent
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- Barravent
- A berimbau rhythm.
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- Batizado
- The capoeira initiation ceremony;
otherwise known as a baptism.
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- Bênção
- A front kick.
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- Berimbau
- Leading
instrument in capoeira. It is shaped like a bow with a string
attached. (Picture on music page!)
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- Cabaça
- This is the
gourd which acts as the resonator on the berimbau.
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- Cabeçada
- Move in
capoeira known to us as the head butt.
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- Capoeirista
- Somebody who
plays capoeira.
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- Cavalaria
- This is another
berimbau rhythm used to warn players of a police raid.
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- Caxixí
- The woven
shaker or rattle used to help play the berimbau.
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- Chula
- The special introductory
song to capoeira which always follows ladainha.
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- Cocorinha
- Movement when
the player squats in order to dodge an opponent's attack.
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- Comprar
de jôgo - "To
buy the game" - To enter the game by cutting somebody else.
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- Contragolpe
- Counterattack.
To steal the opponent's initiative.
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- Contramestre
- An instructor
who is under the teaching of a mestre. Like an apprentice.
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- Corridos
- A call and/or response
song accompanying action in the circle.
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- Dá
volta ao Mundo - Take a turn around the
world; A named subroutine which involves creating the roda.
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- Defesa
- A defensive move or movement response.
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- Desequilibrante
- A movement that unbalances the opponent.
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- Discípulo
- A disciple; student of a capoeira mestre.
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- Dobrão
- A coin used to play the berimbau.
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- Esquiva
- An escape movement.
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- Fechar
o Corpo - To close the body.
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- Floreios
- Acrobatic movements.
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- Formatura
- A graduation ceremony for a new capoeira mestre.
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- Fuga -
Defensive movements which involve flight.
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- Ginga
-
The
fundamental capoeira movement.
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- Golpe
- A strike or blow used for attacking.
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- Iaiá
or Ioiô - Terms used by slaves for daughters
and sons of the master.
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- Jôgo
- Game; Most players refer to Capoeira as Jogo.
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- Ladainha
- A litany or introduction to the jogo.
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- Ligeiro
- Swift, dishonest, and slippery.
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- Maculêlê
- Another capoeira dance involving rhythmic stick
play.
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- Malandro
- A hoodlum or scoundrel; street fighter.
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- Malícia
- Deception, trickery, cunning.
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- Martelo
-
Hammer kick; offensive attack.
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- Meia-lua
de Compasso - Half moon in a compass (spinning
kick).
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- Mestre
- Master to the capoeira art.
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- Moeda
- The coin used to help play the berimbau.
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- Nome
de Guerra - Nickname given to a capoeirista, usually
given at the batizado ceremony.
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- Pandeiro
-
Tambourine
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- Passada
-
Footwork, especially
used
in the ginga.
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- Pé
- Foot; position in front of the berimbau
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- Pião
- Head spin while using no hands.
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- Rabo
de Arraia - Stingray's kick; offensive attack.
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- Rasteira
- Sweep, trip; commonly used takedown.
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- Reco-Reco
- Ribbed bamboo scraper; used in the music of capoeira.
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- Recuo
-
An
escaping
move; usually with one hand on the ground.
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- Regional
-
Newest style of capoeira created by Mestre Bimba in the
1930s. See our Angola/Regional page!
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- Roda
- Circle where the jogo, or capoeira, is played.
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- Saída
-
Formal way of entering or exiting the roda; exit from
the pé.
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- Samba
duro - Involves tripping players while dancing.
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- Seqüência
- Sequence of moves learned by players in Regional style.
Commonly known sequences include Mestre Bimba's Eight Sequences.
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- Rocar
- To play music.
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- Vaqueta
-
The
stick used to strike the
metal
string of the berimbau.
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- Vara o Vêrga
- The bow shaped stick which is the body of the berimbau.
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