Capoeira
An Afro-Brazilian art that blends martial technique, acrobatics, dance and music — practised in a circle (roda) to the beat of the berimbau.
What is Capoeira?
Capoeira was created by enslaved Africans in colonial Brazil in the 16th and 17th centuries. Disguised as a dance, it preserved combat techniques under the eyes of slaveholders and later evolved into a martial art / cultural expression practised in a circle called the roda, always accompanied by live music. Two practitioners ('capoeiristas') enter the roda and engage in a fluid, flowing 'jogo' — a game of kicks, sweeps, dodges and acrobatics timed to the rhythm of the berimbau. Since the mid-20th century capoeira has been formalised into two main lineages: Regional (created by Mestre Bimba) and Angola (championed by Mestre Pastinha). UNESCO inscribed capoeira on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2014.
Quick facts
Category
Combat Sports
Type
Individual
Players
The 'jogo' is 2 vs 2 in the roda; a full class or 'batizado' has anywhere from 10 to 100 participants.
Duration
~5 min
Where played
both
Field / court
roda
Country of origin
🇧🇷 Brazil
Estimated origin
16th–17th century
Olympic
No
Popularity
regional
How it works
Objective
There is no 'winner' in a traditional capoeira jogo — the goal is to demonstrate technique, control, musicality and respect for one's partner while dodging (esquiva), attacking with kicks, and 'answering' the other player's movements.
Match structure
The roda opens with the berimbau setting a rhythm. Two players 'buy' into the game (compra), enter with the ginga (the base swing) and begin the jogo. Any capoeirista may interrupt to enter the roda; two players exit as new pairs come in.
Rules
Basic rules
Ginga
The fundamental swaying step — every capoeira exchange begins and returns to the ginga.
The berimbau rules
The berimbau dictates whether the game is fast, slow, playful, aggressive, low to the ground (Angola) or upright (Regional).
Respect the roda
No stopping mid-jogo without an exit gesture; new players may only enter by buying the game from a musician or player.
Musicality
Kicks, dodges and floreios (flourishes) are timed to the music — a capoeirista out of rhythm is out of place.
Advanced rules
Chamada
A ritual pause — one player extends an arm in invitation; the other approaches respectfully. The chamada can be a trap or an act of trust.
Volta ao mundo
A shared walk around the circle to reset the energy of the game.
Malícia
Trickery and misdirection — a fundamental capoeira virtue, valued higher than raw power.
Scoring
No formal scoring — the roda is judged by mestres and peers on musicality, control, technique and axé (energy).
Win condition · There is no explicit 'winner'; a well-controlled sweep or a beautifully answered attack draws the loudest cheers from the roda.
Playing area
Called
roda
Dimensions
Circle 5–10 m across, formed by participants.
The 'roda' (wheel) is the sacred circle in which capoeira is played. Musicians (the bateria) sit at one point of the circle; two capoeiristas enter and play at a time.
A capoeira roda
The roda is the circle. At the top sits the bateria — three berimbaus, an atabaque and two pandeiros. Everyone else claps and sings while two players jogam in the middle.
Equipment
Berimbau
The single-string musical bow — the 'chief' of the roda; the berimbau's rhythm dictates the speed and style of the game.
Atabaque, pandeiro, agogô, reco-reco
Supporting percussion instruments of the bateria.
Abadá
The white uniform trousers worn by capoeiristas, cord-belted by rank.
Positions & roles
Aluno / Aluna
Beginner student — bare or beginner cord.
Formado / Graduado
Graduated student — middle cords.
Contramestre / Contramestra
Advanced student, close to teacher rank.
Mestre / Mestra
Master — usually 15+ years of practice and community-recognised authority.
Officiating
The mestre and the berimbau together control the roda; there is no sports-style referee.
- Mestre presiding over the roda
- Bateria (musicians) collectively regulating pace
Terminology
- Ginga
- The base rocking step that connects every movement.
- Roda
- The circle in which capoeira is played.
- Jogo
- A single game between two capoeiristas.
- Bateria
- The ensemble of berimbaus, atabaque, pandeiro and other percussion.
- Esquiva
- A dodge or evasive movement.
- Meia-lua de compasso
- A spinning back-kick — one of capoeira's most iconic strikes.
- Malandragem
- Streetwise cunning — a cultural virtue in capoeira.
- Axé
- The living energy of the roda; a well-tuned roda is 'com axé'.
Major competitions
Games of the World Capoeira Federation
annual · worldwide
Batizado & Troca de Cordas
annual · per group
The graduation ceremony in which students are baptised into capoeira or promoted to new cords.
Where it is played
Governing bodies
Confederação Brasileira de CapoeiraCBC
Founded 1992 · Brasília, Brazil
International Capoeira FederationFICA / FICAP
Famous names & records
Famous athletes
- Mestre Bimba
- Mestre Pastinha
- Mestre Suassuna
- Mestre Camisa
- Mestre Acordeon
Learn this sport
beginner
- 1What is capoeira?
An Afro-Brazilian art blending martial technique, dance, music and community.
- 2The ginga
The base swaying step — every capoeirista starts here.
- 3Angola vs Regional
Two lineages: Angola (slow, close to the ground) and Regional (upright, faster).
- 4Enter your first roda
How to buy a game, greet the berimbau and play with respect.
Frequently asked
Is capoeira a martial art or a dance?+
Both — capoeira was developed by enslaved Africans as martial technique disguised as dance. It has always been both.
Do you compete in capoeira?+
There is no traditional winner in a roda. Some modern federations run scored competitions, but this is not universal.
Is capoeira on the UNESCO cultural heritage list?+
Yes — the capoeira circle was inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2014.
Sources & provenance
- UNESCO — Capoeira Circle— UNESCO
- Confederação Brasileira de Capoeira— CBC