Mangalot Capoeira - Miami

Mestre Cabeção

For many centuries, capoeira had no ranking system. Mestre Bimba (we will learn more about him and his contributions to capoeira later) opened the first official capoeira school and created the first ranking system in the mid-1900s. The belt system in our school is based on combinations of the colors of the Brazilian flag.

Adults Belt Progression and Program Structure:

  • A batizado is a graduation ceremony where new students receive their first capoeira cordão, after playing with visiting masters. This is a “baptism” when you are officially welcomed into the art form of capoeira. This is a very exciting time in a capoeirista’s journey.

    The batizado is usually celebrated with a whole weekend of events, with invited guests and participants from other capoeira groups.

    This allows students to experience different aspects of capoeira and Brazilian culture, and to make new friends. Students play capoeira with the guest teachers and receive their new capoeira belt.

  • The first six belts are considered “aluno,” or student, ranks. When the student has solid foundations in the basic movements, acrobatics, music, history, culture, and language of capoeira, they are ready to go to the next level.

    Advanced students continue to progress through several instructor-level ranks, each of which carries a specific title.

  • Adults Belt Progression and Program Structure

    Intro Program (Adults):

    • Minimum of 6 months before progressing to the Fundamental Program.

    Belt Progression:

    1. 1st Belt (White Belt):

      • Requires a minimum of 6 months of Capoeira training.

    2. 2nd Belt (Half Green & Yellow):

      • 1 year after obtaining the 1st belt (approximately 1 year & 6 months total).

    3. 3rd Belt (Green & Yellow):

      • 1 year after the 2nd belt (approximately 2 years & 6 months total).

    4. 4th Belt (Half Yellow):

      • 1 year after the 3rd belt (approximately 3 years & 6 months total).

    Intermediate Program:

    • Open to students with a 4th belt, but structured for those with a 5th belt and up.

    1. 5th Belt (Half Yellow & Blue):

      • 1 year after the 4th belt (approximately 4 years & 6 months total).

    2. 6th Belt (Yellow & Blue):

      • 1 year after the 5th belt (approximately 5 years & 6 months total).

    Instructor Course (Blue Belt):

    • Students who have earned the 6th belt (Yellow & Blue) can begin the Instructor Course, which takes 2 years to complete.

    1. 7th Belt (Half Blue - Formado):

      • 1 year after the 6th belt (approximately 6 years & 6 months total).

    2. 8th Belt (Instructor - Blue):

      • 1 year after the 7th belt and completion of the Instructor Course (approximately 8 years in Capoeira).

    3. 9th Belt (Professor):

      • 6 years after achieving the Instructor level and completing the Professor Course (approximately 14 years in Capoeira).

    4. 10th Belt (Contra-Mestre - CM):

      • 6 years after becoming a Professor (approximately 20 years in Capoeira).

    Mastery Levels:

    1. 11th Belt (Mestre - 1st Degree):

      • 5 years after obtaining the Contra-Mestre belt and contributing to Capoeira (approximately 25 years total).

    2. 12th Belt (Mestre - 2nd Degree):

      • 5 years after the 1st-degree Mestre belt (approximately 30 years total).

    3. 13th Belt (Mestre - 3rd Degree):

      • 5 years after the 2nd-degree Mestre belt (approximately 35 years total).

    4. 14th Belt (Mestre - 4th Degree):

      • 5 years after the 3rd-degree Mestre belt, demonstrating continuous development (approximately 40 years total).


**IMPORTANT**

While called “requirements” below, consider this a guide. You do not need to master 100% of the list to advance. A reasonable goal is to be comfortable with at least 60% of the skills for each level. For all belts, time training and consistency in class will be the most important factors taken into consideration for you to move up.

Keep tracking and testing your skills

Your development is a process of consistency, proper guidance, and dedication.

Improvement does not happen overnight: it takes place every class, all year long.

At batizado time, we will take a day to go through all the things you have learned, so we are on the same page about where you are and what we need to do keep improving and growing together.

  • We advise you to keep track of the moves you learn in class. Everyone learns and develops differently, and we do not expect you to perform every move with perfect technique all the time. Our goal is for our students to fully experience capoeira and feel comfortable and confident along the journey.

    Option 1: Get our training books for each level. The books explain each move and its technique and allows you to track what you have learned, with space for notes.

    Option 2: Get our capoeira journal to keep track of the moves, songs, rituals, etc. that you learn inside and outside of class.

    Option 3: Use your own notebook, of the Notes app on your phone or computer, to keep track of the what you learn.

Different directions to grow

The 1st belt is focused mostly on movement. As you advance, you will have more responsibility, but also more opportunity to focus on learning and developing the aspects of capoeira that make the most sense for you and that you are most passionate about.

In your development, you have the choice to grow in 4 ways:

  • As a player

  • As a performer

  • As a musician

  • As a teacher

Belt requirements

3rd belt: 2 green, 2 yellow (2 verde, 2 amarelo)

Connections: Creating volume in the game

  • At least 2 years in capoeira.

    If from another school, at least 6 months training with us.

  • Be able to:

    1. Do 20 push-ups

    2. Hold ponte for 20 sec

    3. Play capoeira for 3 min without stopping

    4. Touch your toes with straight legs

  • Ginga:

    Be able to escape using fases da ginga.

    Escapes:

    1. Esquiva do martelo

    2. Esquiva da benção

    3. Esquiva com balanço

    Negativa variations:

    1. Negativa avançando

    2. Negativa lateral

    3. Negativa in diagonal to meia lua de compasso

    4. Negativa de costas

    Attacks:

    Kicks from different bases:

    1. Queixada avançando

    2. Armada from back

    3. Meia lua de compasso from back

    Hand attacks:

    1. Galopante

    2. Espelho

    Kicks traumatizantes:

    1. Benção pulada

    2. Chapa

    Acrobatics:

    1. Queda de rins

    2. Entrada da ponte

    3. Carneirinho to au

    4. Bananeira de cabeça

    Moving around:

    Apply ginga, au, negativa, and rolê to move in the game.

    1. Finta armada come back with queixada

    2. Finta meia lua de compasso chang for negativa

    1. Armada, esquiva baixa, and martelo

    2. Armada, esquiva recuada, and martelo

    3. Negativa lateral, rolê, and benção

    4. Be able to combine 3 kicks without ginga

  • Fundamental sequences with a partner:

    1. Armada + passagem + martelo

    2. Armada + passagem + meia lua de compasso

    3. Sequencia da meia lua de frente de tras

    4. Sequencia da meia lua avançando

    5. Sequencia da queixada recuada

    6. Sequencia da queixada avançando

    7. Sequencia da armada

    8. Sequencia da meia lua de compasso

    Fundamental sequences solo:

    1. Meia lua de frente + au + negativa

    2. Queixada + au + negativa

    3. Meia lua de frente + armada + au + negativa

  • Be able to connect moves and create a conversation.

    Movement position:

    Based on your partner’s distance and movement, known how to move:

    1. Forward

    2. Backwards

    3. Laterally, and around

    Movement direction:

    Which moves you can do at a diagonal or with your back to your partner, and how to apply them.

    1. Be able to connect movements from sequences in the game.

    2. How and when to use volta ao mundo.

    3. Play fast capoeira with a lot of kicks.

    4. Be able to buy fast games.

    Roda structure

    Be able to change among different formats of rodas: for example, multiples games going on at once, to one, to small, to compra compra, to only music in the end

  • • Behave with respect for yourself, your teacher, and your training partners.

    • Avoid drama: don’t create problems that interfere with the harmony and balance of the group.

    • If something is affecting you, handle it with ethics, honor, sincerity, humility, integrity, and good intentions.

    1. Be able to play pandeiro solo.

    2. Know the chorus of 10 corridos.

  • Participation

    1. Complete 3 trainings outside class.

    2. Participate in 1 event from another school.

    3. Participate in 3 outside rodas.

All belts requirement: