Table of Contents

I find capoeira to be a beautiful, challenging, and fulfilling activity. However, it is somewhat factious, not well documented, and difficult for a beginner to pickup. In particular, I struggle with the non-unified naming of the various moves between capoeira groups. (Give example). The goal of page is to document most every capoeira move (defense, attack, movement, etc) and present them in a way that makes it easier for a beginner to better learn the moves and the names associated with them.

Capoeira basics

Movements
Esquivas (Escapes)
Strikes
Counters and take downs

Legend

Movement/Acrobatics

Defense

big list

Kicks

Crescent kicks

Spinning heel kicks

Front/straight kicks

Round kick, martelo

Side kick (chapa)

Au kicks

Misc

Handstand

Misc advanced kicks

Arm strikes / punches / close range

big list

Take down / sweeps

Unsorted patterns

Unsorted beginner moves

Unsorted advanced moves

Ranking

Every group has their ranking or even emphasis on ranking. Most fall roughly into the four following bins (some with finer delineation).

  1. Aluno - Student
  2. Aluno Graduado - Advanced student - Help teach the less advanced students.
  3. Instructor or Assistant instructor - Helps run classes but does not lead a group.
  4. Professor - Runs their own group.
  5. Mestre - Master.

Terminology

Similar lists (with videos) of movements