A Guide To Capoeira Kicking
Capoeira has its roots in the 16th century when the African slaves in Brazil invented this form of selfdefense disguised into a dance to escape the Portuguese prohibition. By preserving their aboriginal traditions African ethnic groups expressed their corporal mental and spiritual manifestation to ensure their survival and transmit their tradition from one generation to another. Over the centuries Capoeira evolved into a martial tradition that combines dance music art philosophy spirituality and strategy.
Mingling its dancelike elegance with exceptional agility mystifying music and complex acrobatics Capoeira elaborated into a game and a fight technique that includes kicks takedowns escapes and hand strikes.
Capoeira kicks are used both for defense and offense in the roda game and its a matter of strategy which one the Capoeirista will choose to execute. Generally Capoeira kicks are divided into straight kicks and spinning kicks. The common element among them as among most of Capoeira techniques is that the players finish in the ginga position in order to be ready to execute another attack or to defend from an attack.
Straights kicks are executed directly towards the opponent. In particular:
Ponteira: the Capoeirista kicks straight up towards the opponent. The kicking leg nails the opponent while the standing leg bends a bit at the moment of contact. Arms are harmonized so that the kick is balanced.
Martelo: literally meaning hammer martelo is an explosive cross kick. The player hits the opponents head or side with the top of the foot. The key is to stretch the leg very well kick quickly and come back while maintaining a good sense of balance when pivoting.
Chapa: the Capoeirista uses the flat bottom of the foot to hit the opponent at the groin or face and push him away. Resembling to a mule kick Chapa typically starts from a negativa.
Gancho: the player brings up the knee and thigh across and diagonal of the body to produce the kick. The kicking leg is outstretched to the body and pushed out like a hook striking with the heel or sole. Gancho is often used as a fake martelo or a fake chapa.
Bencao: literally meaning blessing bencao starts by taking a step forward from the ginga. The player lifts one knee and bends his torso as if he tries to grab the opponent. The lifted knee is slowly stretched and the player pulls as if he tries to drag the opponent behind. The kick aims at the opponents chest and is executed to push him back.
Spinning kicks are executed in a spin or in a circular motion and they differ in speed direction and position. In particular:
Armada: the Capoeirista rotates 270 degrees from the ginga on the back leg and then 180 degrees on the front leg and twists his body around until he can see the opponent. Then he lifts the back and releases the kick. The key is to turn the top of the body first then look and then let the rest of the body follow through to kick. Armada can be performed with the head falling down below the waist known as Rabo de Arraia or with the body upright known as Meia lua De Costas.
Meia Lua De Compasso: the Capoeirista bends the upper body and twists his arms down between the legs until his hips cannot twist no more. The kick is produced by the back leg and the energy of the move is similar to the swing of a golf club. After the kick is released the unleashed power brings the player back to the ginga position. Literally meaning half moon compass meia lua de compasso is one of the main Capoeira kicks and considered one of the most deadly kicks. Mingling a spinning kick with an evasive maneuver it is known as the king of Capoeira kicks.
Meia Lua de Frente: literally meaning front half moon the meia lua de frente uses the arms and hips to produce enough force to bring the foot of the kicking leg across the face of the opponent. Often this move can be used to trick the opponent while some experienced Capoeiristas combine meia lua de frente with cartwheel and other acrobatic moves in order to use it as an esquiva escape.
Queixada: the Capoeirista twists his body so as to create enough force to pull the leg and steps forward to execute the kick with the leg out. The kick aims at the opponents cheek or head. In effect queixada is the inverse of the meia lua de frente. Another variation suggests that the player pushes his leg forward and then twists his body a bit so as to land to the ginga position.
Although it introduces a large variety of different techniques that can be complicated and overwhelming especially for a beginner Capoeira emphasizes a lot on kicking. Often many of its kicking techniques are mistaken for acrobatic play because of their flexibility and impressive balance. However it takes a lot of practice and patience to master these kicking moves and most importantly to be able to combine the elegance of dance with the power of martial arts.
About the writer:nbsp;nbsp;I work as a financial and investment advisor but my passion is writing music and photography. Writing mostly about finance business and music being an amateur photographer and a professional dj I am inspired from life.Being a strong advocate of simplicity in life I love my family my partner and all the people that have stood by me with or without knowing. And I hope that someday human nature will cease to be greedy and demanding realizing that the more we have the more we want and the more we satisfy our needs the more needs we create. And this is so needless after all.
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