Capoeira Styles

There are two main Capoeira styles – Capoeira Angola and Capoeira Regional. All Capoeira styles are played within a ring of people called Roda. This ring is usually formed by other Capoeira players, or just people interested in this martial art, clapping with hands and singing traditional Capoeira songs under the sound of Capoeira music.

Capoeira Angola (Jogo De Capoeira Angola)

Capoeira Angola is the base, the traditional style of Capoeira. It has been raised by Mestre Pastinha (Vicente Ferreira Pastinha) who was lately called the father of this style. Capoeira Angola is mainly played in slow and smooth motion, low to the ground. It is characterized with low kicks, head butts and dodges. In Angola, the two players (called Angoleiros) are very close to each other.  Capoeira Angola contains a lot of ritualistic and demonstrative movements and while played it brings the sense of the African rituals and philosophy to the fighters and to the observants. The music of Capoeira Angola is slower than the one played in Capoeira Regional and is calling for less aggressive interaction between the Angoleiros and more positive energy. The first Capoeira Angola School was created in Bahia in 1942 and was called Centro Esportivo de Capoeira.

Capoeira Regional (Jogo De Capoeira Regional)

Capoeira Regional is the other style of Capoeira that appears after Capoeira Angola. It is raised in the early 30’s of the 20th century by Mestre Bimba (Manoel dos Reis Machado) for which he is called the father of Capoeira Regional. During his childhood, Mestre Bimba trained another Brazilian fighting form – Batuque. He often used the Batuque moves when practicing and teaching Capoeira which caused a great influence over the Capoeira Regional style.
The first Capoeira Regional School and actually the first Capoeira School at all, was created by Mestre Bimba in 1932. He called it Academia-escola de Capoeira Regional at the Engenho de Brotas in Salvador-Bahia. Several years later he was invited to proclaim Capoeira as National martial art of Brazil. Capoeira Regional is characterized with more acrobatic moves. It is much faster and aggressive than Capoeira Angola and the players are often using head kicks and strikes, jumping and spinning movements. Capoeira Regional is very grace and admirable style that stops your breath from the first sight. Unlike Angola, the Regional style introduces the capoeira ranks. In the past, those Capoeiristas who have shown sufficient skills in Capoeira have been awarded with colored scarves. Now, the good players are given cords (colored belts).