In beginning to appreciate Capoeira one should be familiar with some basic elements:

The Ginga is the basic movement in Capoeira. It is a side-to-side stride that should be done as one fluid motion. The ginga can be thought of as walking in an exaggerated step. Ginga translates as "swing," and it should be loose as though you were dancing. Below is an animation of the Ginga.

Esquivas are "escapes." They are movements to a defensive position. An esquiva is a way of escaping a potential blow by moving with the blow. There are several different esquivas used depending on the situation.

Kicks are, on the surface, offensive motions. A kick, however, should only be used as a counter to the aggression of an opponent. The entrada, or entrance, for a kick is the most important part of the kick. Many times an entrada is simply the extension of an esquiva. In this way a kick is merely the product of an escape.

An Au is basically a cartwheel. It is a way of moving quickly around another person. It is also often entered from a certain type of esquiva. The au is used mainly to escape an attack or to postion oneself for an offensive move.

These are just some of the moves in Capoeira. There are many more advanced movements involved. Click here to visit a site with great instructions complete with illustrations for Capoeira moves.

Berimbau

The Bateria is a group of instruments, consisting of the pandeiro, agogo, heco heco, and berimbau. The bateria accompanies the jogo.

The Roda is, literally, the "wheel" in which the jogo is played. The wheel is made up of other Capoeiristas (people who play Capoeira) and the bateria. The berimbau controls the rhythm and conduct of the game.

The Berimbau is a one-stringed African instrument with a gourd resonator. It looks like a bow and plays only three distinct notes but in varied rhythms.

Capoeira Angola & Regional are the two main types of Capoeira. Angola is basically a slower, more calculated and expressive game. Regional is faster and more aggressive. It involves more acrobatic movements and upright stance. Both styles have their strong points. Click here for more information on the differences between Angola and Regional.

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