Capoeira Tradition

BATIZADO (baptism) -is a ceremonial roda where new students will get recognized as capoeiristas and earn their first graduation. First cord (belt or cordão) means entering the Capoeira family. Students enter the roda against a high-ranked capoeirista (a teacher, master or graduated student) and normally the game ends with the student being taken down. It’s a time of celebration.
 You can only be baptised once! Subsequent belts are known as troca de corda. The ceremony however remains pretty much the same except the Mestres may apply increasing amounts of pressure as a student moves up the cords. The higher level you get, the agressive game it is. Also more experienced students may go up in rank, depending on their skills and capoeira culture.

APELIDO (nickname)-
Traditionally, the batizado is the moment when the new practitioner gets or formalizes his or her apelido, but it can come naturally throughout the course of life.
This tradition was created back when Capoeira practice was considered a crime. To avoid having problems with the law, capoeiristas would present themselves in the Capoeira community only by their nicknames. So if a capoeirista was captured by the police, he would be unable to identify his fellow capoeiristas, even when tortured.
Apelidos can come from many different things. A physical characteristic (like being tall or big), a habit (like smiling or drinking too much), place of birth, a particular skill, an animal, trivial things, anything.
Nowadays, even though apelidos are not necessary anymore, the tradition is still very alive not only in Capoeira but in many aspects of Brazilian culture.

 MUSIC-
Music is integral to Capoeira. It sets the tempo and style of game that is to be played within the roda. Typically the music is formed by instruments and singing. Rhythm, controlled by a typical instrument called berimbau, differ from very slow to very fast, depending on the style of the roda.

Instruments

Capoeira instruments are disposed in a row called bateria. It is traditionally formed by three berimbaus, two pandeiros, one atabaque, one agogô and one ganzá, but this format may vary depending on the Capoeira group's traditions or the roda style.
The berimbau is the leading instrument, determining the tempo and style of the music and game played. Two low pitch berimbaus (called berra-boi and médio) form the base and a high pitch berimbau (called viola) makes variations and improvisations. The other instruments must follow the berimbaus rhythm, free to vary and improvise a little, depending upon the Capoeira group's musical style.
As the capoeiristas change their playing style significantly following the toque of the berimbau, which sets the game's speed, style and aggressiveness, it is truly the music that drives a Capoeira game.

Songs

Many of the songs are sung in a call and response format while others are in the form of a narrative. Capoeiristas sing about a wide variety of subjects. Some songs are about history or stories of famous capoeiristas. Other songs attempt to inspire players to play better. Some songs are about what is going on within the roda. Sometimes the songs are about life or love lost. Capoeira songs can talk about virtually anything, being it about a historical fact, a famous capoeirista, trivial life facts, hidden messages for players, anything. Improvisation is very important also, while sing

Samba de roda

 

Performed by many Capoeira groups, samba de roda is a traditional Afro-Brazilian dance & musical form that has been associated with Capoeira for many decades. The orchestra is composed by pandeiro, atabaque, berimbau-viola (high pitch berimbau), chocalho, accompanied by singing and clapping. Samba de roda is considered one of the primitive forms of modern Samba.

Maculelê

 

Originally the Maculelê is believed to have been an indigenous armed fighting style, using two sticks or a machete. Nowadays it's a folkloric dance practiced with heavy afro-Brazilian percussion. Many Capoeira groups include Maculelê in their presentations.

Puxada de rede

 

Puxada de Rede is a Brazilian folkloric theatrical play, seen in many Capoeira performances. It is based on a traditional Brazilian legend involving the loss of a fisherman in a sea-faring accident.