Volta ao Mundo Handbook

About Capoeira (kah-po-way-tta)

 

Capoeira took its shape in the bubbling cauldron of Brazil. Its roots trace from the African peoples enslaved there dating from the early 1500Æs. Its own evolution is testimony to the creative adaptability and will to survive of its people and culture. Still truly evolving, Capoeira has been spreading worldwide in recent decades. It provides a rare modern format to bring together our best human resources – music, vigorous physical interaction, playfulness, community structure and creativity – to develop problem solving capobilities, confidence and respectfulness áin the æun-balance-ingÆ conditions that we are often in. Much more than a ômartial artö, capoeira is an art-of-life.

 

Capoeira is played in a circle (roda ôho-daö) of people that includes several members playing various percussion instruments. Driven by soulful songs and rhythms of diverse intensity, two capoeiristas (capoeira players) at a time engage in a spirited dialogue of body and wit. Nonstop attacks, defenses, and counterattacks suggest a fight while the mood is generally playful. The strategies rely on trickery as much as agility, speed and strenght. Ritual elements and personal expression are infused throughout the uninterrupted pulse of the roda.

 

The batizado is the feature event of a full reunion weekend where we welcome our newer students and recognize our existing ones! The batizado is an event where students receive their cords. They must train hard and know the requirements for the cord they are receiving and are tested on their knowledge before the big day. The capoeirista must play one or many Mestres or teachers, and as a tradition they are to be taken down. The batizado is a celebration not a competition and the Mestres and teachers are there to celebrate with everyone.

 

ô career of the capoeirista begins with the batizado. From the first jogo (game) to the point of fully understanding the art, students will spend many years constantly probing and training their weaknesses, facing the treacherous strive of life with open eyes. During this time, they will be physically, mentally and spiritually challenged as they strive toward a well-rounded study of the art.ö

ôMestre Acordeonö

 

History of Volta ao Mundo

 

In 1996, Mestre Rony Costa moved to Western Florida from California where he was giving Capoeira classes with Mestre Amunka Davila. Mestre Rony soon started his own Capoeira group, Volta ao Mundo, while living in St. Petersburg, Florida, where he had his first small school. In 1999, he moved Volta ao Mundo to Sarasota, Florida where he was gining classes in three different locations adn was anxious to find a permanent location. Within a year, he found a 3000 sq. ft. facility that he could teach and train Capoeira. In 2002, Volta ao Mundo was mored to the location on the corner of Bee Ridge áand Tuttle Ave. Then in 2009, it was moved to the location we train to day on McIntosh Lane. In 2012, He opened our newest location in Lakewood Ranch.

Volta ao Mundo is now in Kentucky, Massachusetts, Mexico, St Petersburg and Miami

 

Gopes (kicks)

 

Bencao: It is a front pushing kick

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YOId3-TF458

Chapa: It is a pushing sideway kick

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5-zlgL35EM

Martelo: is a smacking sideway kick with the top of the foot

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FKVZuHpUV2I

Gancho: is a hooking kick

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FIO96Awmixg

Meia Lua de Frente: is an outside inside circle kick

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hVsVkTCjHE

Queixada: is an inside out circle kick

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eRDzQ584N8w

Armada: is a spinning kick

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KuMNIgxiPSk

Chapeu de Couro: round kick propelled by hands trying to reach behind the player

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FcrLyvKOGl8

Meia Lua de Compasso

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jmVdYcC0NXo

Esquivas https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wXVC0kIl3oA

Au https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhHVytZtPxw

Songs

 

The songs in capoeira are extremely important and the need to be learned. They are in Portuguese and you might find them difficult in the beginning but soon you will get used to them. You will learn most of them in class or you can go to www.capovam.com and learn some of them.

 

You are welcome to go to youtube to find capoeira songs but some of them (there are thousands and thousands) we do not sing in our academies. We are always willing to learn new songs you might find though.

Instruments

Berimbau – A one stringed instrument made up of a gourd, a stick, a rock and a caxixi (rattle).

The berimbau is used to call what type of game is to be played. Three berimbaus

are used to create a capoeira orquestra: Gunga (bass), Medio (medium) and

Viola (high pitch one).

 

Pandeiro – áááááá(or tambourine). A percurssion áinstrument with goat skin and rattle

 

Atabaque – áááááá(or Drum). A percussion instrument normally handmade tall drum.

 

Agogo – ááááááááááá(or double cowbell)

 

Reco-reco – ááááHollow, ribbed percussion instrument .

Etiquette in the Roda of Capoeira

 

* Always come to the Rodas, wherever they may happen

* If you absolutely canÆt come to the Roda, let Mestre know you have a reason not to go.

* Always be there at least 10 minutes before the roda starts so you can stretch and warm up.

* Come in white abadas (Capoeira pants), your cord and a Volta ao Mundo shirt. You can wear street clothes if we are having a street roda but not an academy roda or a demo or presentation.

* When buying in the roda (going in the circle to play), always kneel at the boca and wait for the áááááááMestre, teacher or the person in charge of the roda for a signal you can go in, then give respect áááto the berimbaus and buy in the game.

* To buy in correctly, always look at the person you want to play with, ignoring the other player and keeping your hands up to protect your face for any unexpected blow. Make yourself noticed by both players as you come in. Do not ôkarate chopö your way in the roda. Just raise your hand between them and wait to get noticed.

* Sing each and every chorus. If you donÆt know the lyrics, make them up or ask somebody who knows them. We are not looking for accuracy, we are looking for a good sounding roda. The energy the music brings is important to help you to play your best. ItÆs the job of the person in charge of the roda to make sure you know the words. DonÆt be embarrassed to ask about it!

* Play in th the roda as many times as you can. ItÆs better to play more than less. Always respect the person in charge of the roda but be assertive about getting in to play with someone. Take charge. The more you play the more you learn. Shy people take longer to learn capoeira.

* Never cut a Mestres, Contra-Mestre or a professor out of the roda, except if your Mestre tells you to do so.

* Always have fun when you play. If you want to play hard, play hard. You donÆt have to apologize for it. But remember to be respectful at all times, even if you are beating someone up or you are getting beat up. Keep in mind that you donÆt have an enemy in front of you, We are all trying to learn Capoeira as well.

* Finally remember who you are playing with. Never play hard with a person who is playing less time than you. If you can get away from their trick and moves, go back to train hard so it doesnÆt happen again. DonÆt let your emotions and ego stay in the way of learning capoeira and become a world class capoeirista. The roda is there to do just that. AXEÆ

Cord System (adults)

 

1st cord: Raw/green

2nd cord: Green

3rd cord: Green/yellow

4th cord: Raw/yellow

5th cord: Yellow

6th cord: Orange

7th cord: green/blue

8th cord: yellow/blue (monitor)

9th cord: blue (instrutor)

10th cord: purple (professor)

11th cord: purple/brown (professor graduado)

12th cord: Brown (contra-mestre)

13th cord: Black (mestre)

Requirements of all Students

 

* Always come to class in uniform.

* always arrive 10 minutes prior the class.

* Always check in at the front desk and make sure the teacher signed you up on the computer.

* Always come ready to improve yourself and to be better than you were last class.

* Capoeira deserves respect and reverence, so always come to rodas and classes in whites.

* Always come with the goal to have fun.

* Attitude is everything, if you think you can, you will.

* Commitment should never be practice in moderation. We are committed to every student, the only thing we ask is that you will be committed to Capoeira.

* Come to class at least twice a week. Have discipline.

Our Philosophy

 

We work and train hard so every student will be able to play Capoeira in any roda around the world and have fun doing it!

We know that what we all want to improve and be better human beings and make this world a better place in the process. Here we use Capoeira to make it happen.

Every student we have is extremely important to us and we treat them as family.

We believe to be happy and successful you have to be bold, generous, persistent, disciplined and you have to believe in yourself and Capoeira can help you develop every one of them.