Basic Capoeira Moves

The best basic Capoeira moves relate to this Afro-Brazilian art form that was the brainchild of the descendants of African slaves. Capoeira involves both complicated and quick movements that are characterized by leg sweeps and kicks. It incorporates aspects of sports, martial arts, dance and music.

1. Queda de rins. The Queda de rins is the best basic Capoeira move because some other Capoeira moves are based upon it! Though it seems like a pretty basic move, you may have to practice somewhat to get the hang of it. First, you rest the side of your body onto the elbow and also create a tripod with your head and hands at the same time. You rest your head on the ground by making the side of it touch the ground, not the center of it. From this basic move, you will find that you can incorporate other essential Capoeira moves like the Au de Cabeca.
2. Au de Cabeca. Simply put, the Au de Cabeca is just a cartwheel performed on your head. More specifically, it involves beginning the move when you are low to the floor. You want all your fingers and both of your palms touching the floor. You must then look forward at your opponent, which is pretty standard in Capoeira, and then you go into the cartwheel. As you come out of your cartwheel, this is where your familiarity with the Queda de rins movement will come in handy as you are required to finish your Au de Cabeca in the Queda de rins. The final trick to getting the Au de Cabeca done right is pushing off with the hand you landed on.
3. Role. The final basic Capoeira move on this list of the best basic Capoeira moves is the role, which is an essential movement that is close to the ground and employed to move around a roda or, alternately, even escape a kick. Another use of the role could be to simply aid in getting up quickly from another Capoeira move like the negativa. A fundamental roll movement, the role can be used to avoid low enemy attacks like the chapa. Like the other preceding moves on this list, the role is the foundation of more complicated moves.