Capoeira Glossary

From the J. Lowell Lewis book Ring of Liberation

academia - capoeira school

aluno - student of a capoeira master; same as discipulo

Angola - a traditional style of capoeira

Angoleiro - a practitioner of the Angola style

arame - metal string on the berimbau

arrastao - capoeira takedown, pulling both legs from under an opponent

ataque - attacking move or movement initiative

aú - cartwheel

aviso - a berimbau rythmn, formerly used to warn players of a police raid

balanço - part of the basic capoeira move (ginga); torso rocks forward and back as the weight shifts

bamba - someone adept at verbal or physical sparring; capoeira expert

banda - movement to trip or flank an opponent

barravent - a berimbau rythmn; refers to a prepossesion trance state

base - base, the ginga, the fundamental movement

batizado - the capoeira initiation ceremony; baptism

bênção - blessing; a front kick

berimbau - lead instrument in capoeira, a musical bow

bôca de siri - 'crab's mouth' movement

brincar - to play like a child

cabaça - gourd used as the resonator on the berimbau

cabeçada - head butt

camará - comrade; capoeira college

capoeirista - a capoeira player

cavalaria - 'cavalry,' a berimbau rhythm formerly used to warn of a police raid

caxixí - woven rattle played with the berimbau

chamada - 'call,' a named subroutine of capoeira play,the basic kind of inner game

chula - special introductory song, always follows ladainha

cocorinha - squatting movement

comprar de jôgo - to buy a game, entering the circle by cutting in on another player

contragolpe - counterattack - to respond to an initiative

contramestre - an instructor working under a master's guidance in an academy

cordão - colored belt awarded to mark grades of advancement in some academies

corridos - call and response songs accompanying action in the circle

dá volta ao mundo - 'take a turn around the world', a named subroutine of play that involves circling the ring

defesa - defensive move or movement response

desequilibrante - movement that unbalances the opponent

discípulo - disciple, student of a capoeira master

dobrão - coin used to play the berimbau

esquiva - escape movement

fechar o corpo - to close the body

floreios - acrobatic movements

formatura - graduation ceremony for a new capoeira master

fuga - flight, a catagory of defensive movements

ginga - the fundamental capoeira movement

golpe - strike or blow; attacking movement

iaiá, ioiô - terms used by slaves for daughters and sons of the master

jogador - player

jogar - to play games

jôgo - game

ladainha - litany, and introductory solo, usually sung by a master

ligeiro - swift, quick; nimble, agile; slippery, dishonest

maculêlê - another martial arts dance to music, involving rhythmic stick play

malandragem - hooliganism, shady activities; synonym for capoeira play

malandro - street tough, hoodlum, scoundrel, con man,bad guy

malícia - deception, trickery, cunning, double-dealing, indirection

mandigueiro - sorceror; healer; synonym for capoeira player

mangangá - medicine man

martelo - 'hammer' kick; a rhymed song form

meia-lua de compasso - 'half moon in a compass,' a spinning kick

mestre - master, senior capoeira teacher

mocambo - fugitive slave community

moeda - coin used to play the berimbau

moleque - street urchin

nome de guerra - nickname given to a player in the course of his training, sometimes as part of a batizado initiation

pandeiro - tambourine

passada - footwork, especially in the ginga

patuá - protective amulet

pé - 'foot', position in front of the berimbau

pião - 'spinning top,' headspin (no hands)

queda - fall, basic way to lose advantage in the game

quilombo - fugitive slave community

rabo de arraia - 'stingray's tail' kick

rasteira - sweep; the basic takedown

reco-reco - ribbed bamboo scraper in capoeira musical ensemble

recuo - retreat move, usually with one hand on the ground

Regional - innovative, modern style of capoeira, associated with Mestre Bimba

roda - circle; space for playing capoeira

saída - exit, most formal way to enter ring; one 'exits' from the foot of the berimbau

samba duro - hard samba, involves tripping people while dancing

seqüência - sequence of moves learned by players in Regional style

rocar - to play music

vadiação - loafing, hanging around; synonym for capoeira

vaqueta - stick used to strike the string of the berimbau

vara - wooden pole that is the body of the berimbau

vêrga - wooden pole that is the body of the berimbau

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