Crua – Initiante

This is your first corda. It holds up your abadas (capoeira pants) and has no colour…yet. This corda welcomes you to our Capoeira eXcelência team

Time: 1 year.
Presence: Attend class, buy your first uniform, get this corda
Technical skills: The willingness to learn capoeira! Will learn balance, stability, strength, and how to control a “flow” of your body via the ginga
Musical Knowledge: None required to start. Will learn the magic of the call & response of capoeira music, and learn basic rhythms on the pandeiro (tambourine) & atabaque (drum)

Crua-Amarelo – Aluno(a) 1º Grau

Your very first obtained corda is unique because Capoeiristas receive it during a special event known as a batizado (baptism). Your batizado is your introduction into the larger world of capoeira as a student (aluno). It’s when you will typically receive your capoeira nickname (apelido) and is a symbolic transition to being a true capoeirista and starting on the path to exploring Capoeira.

Time: 1 year (minimum of 1 year training)
Presence: Attend classes, eXcelência rodas and 1 external group event
Technical skills: Introduction of the capoeira game Benguela and the more competitive aspects of Regional
Musical Knowledge: Start learning to play the berimbau , and playing the pandeiro & atabaque within capoeira training rodas

Amarelo – Aluno(a) 2º Grau

The colour of this corda represents gold and your value as a student of capoeira.

Time: 1 year (minimum of 2 years training)
Presence: Attend classes, eXcelência rodas and 1 external group event
Technical skills: Continuation of the capoeira game Benguela and the more combative aspects of Regional
Musical Knowledge: Start learning to sing the “call” of some simple capoeira songs and to play the various rhythms on the berimbau within capoeira training rodas

Amarelo-Laranga – Aluno(a) 3º Grau

This corda represents your transition from a beginner to an intermediate student within Capoeira eXcelência.

Time: 1 year (minimum of 3 years training)
Presence: Attend classes, eXcelência rodas & events and 1 external group event
Technical skills: Continuation of the capoeira game Benguela and the more acrobatic aspects of Regional
Knowledge: Start learning sing the “call” of some more complex capoeira songs and learn to lead these songs within capoeira rodas while playing various instruments. Start learning some simple Brazilian-Portuguese phrases used within capoeira classes & workshops.

Laranga – Aluno(a) 4º Grau

The colour of this corda represents the sun and your conscious awakening of the deep roots and sacrifices within capoeira.

Time: 2 to 3 years (minimum of 4 years training)
Presence: Attend classes, eXcelência rodas & events and various external group events
Technical skills: Introduction of the capoeira game Angola
Knowledge: Start diving in to the Afro-Brazilian history of capoeira while learning some of the more complex Brazilian-Portuguese phrases used in capoeira songs.

Laranga-Azul – Aluno(a) 5º Grau

This corda represents the continuation of your capoeira journey and the realization of the patience require for the path ahead.

Time: 2 to 4 years (minimum of 6 years training)
Presence: Attend classes, eXcelência rodas & events and various external group events
Technical skills: Introduction of the capoeira game Iuna
Knowledge: Start diving into the psychoanalytical aspects of capoeira while learning and honing of the more complex Brazilian-Portuguese phrases used in capoeira songs. You’ll begin to learn the complexities required to lead a capoeira roda.

Graduado(a)

This corda represents your transition from an intermediate student to a “graduate” advanced student within Capoeira eXcelência .The colour of this corda represents the sea and the awareness of your path ahead, and that your journey within capoeira has only now truly begun.

In traditional martial arts, this corda would be considered the “black belt” level.

Time: 2 to 4 years (minimum of 8 years training)
Presence: Attend classes and serve as an example to all students. Attend and lead eXcelência rodas & events and various external group events.
Technical skills: Introduction to the concepts of analyzing capoeira games & movements, and the fundamentals of teaching capoeira within the Capoeira eXcelência martial art system.
Knowledge: Practice and hone the skills required to lead a capoeira roda and be a leader at capoeira events held by other groups.

Formado(a) 1º Grau

The title Formado (also meaning “Graduate”) designates a student who has reached the apex of student ranks within Capoeira eXcelência .The colour of this corda represents the green of the forest and the world’s lung. You are now part of the fundamentals of what gives breath and life to the capoeira world .

After this, you will decide to to contribute to capoeira by sharing your expertise within the “Legacy Path” and/or give back to capoeira via your leadership presence via the “Formado Path”.

Time: 2 to 4 years (minimum of 10 years training)
Presence: Attend classes and serve as an example to all students. Attend and lead eXcelência rodas & events and various external group events.
Technical skills: Solidification of the concepts of analyzing capoeira games & movements, and of teaching capoeira within the Capoeira eXcelência martial art system. Learn the techniques on how to develop and prepare capoeira workshops for other national and international capoeira groups.
Knowledge: Practice and hone the skills required to lead a capoeira roda and be a leader at capoeira events held by other groups.

Within the Capoeira eXcelência system, you may choose to continue the growth within your capoeira journey as a Formado (graduated student), without the requirement or expectation to pass down your knowledge to others. This choice brings you down the Formado Path.

Your leadership in and out of the capoeira roda will be valued as a Formado, and if the choice is made to move to the Legacy Path, all that changes is your requirement to contribute to capoeira by sharing your expertise in one of the following ways:

– Regularly teaching a class of Capoeira eXcelencia students
– Regularly teaching workshops in other capoeira groups
– Teaching the language
– Researching the history of capoeira
– Writing capoeira music & musical influence

Formado(a) 2º Grau

This corda represents that you have begun to overcome the physical, psychological, and spiritual pain of learning capoeira and defending its ideals. The colour of this corda represents the purple of the amethyst and the value of your capoeira leadership.

Although you have chosen not to take the Legacy Path, you continue to grow capoeira via your leadership presence.

Time: 3 to 5 years (minimum of 12 years training)
Presence: Attend classes and serve as an example to all students. Lead Capoeira eXcelência rodas & events and attend at least 3 external group events annually.
Technical skills: Mastery of the concepts of analyzing capoeira games & movements within other capoeira martial art systems.
Knowledge: Master the skills required to lead a capoeira roda without supervision, and be a leader at capoeira events held by other groups.

Formado(a) 3º Grau

This corda represents that you have devoted (and even sacrificed) much of your life to capoeira. The colour of this corda represents the brown of the Earth and the solid foundation of your capoeira contributions. Although you have chosen not to take the Legacy Path, your valued leadership and wisdom serves as the foundation on which those around you use grow this art form.

Note that this is the highest rank obtained within Capoeira eXcelência without transitioning to the Legacy Path.

Time: 5+ years (minimum of 15 years training)
Presence: Attend classes, lead Capoeira eXcelência rodas & events attend at least 5 external group events annually.
Technical skills: Mastery of the concepts of analyzing capoeira rodas of other capoeira martial art systems.
Knowledge: Can lead a capoeira roda internationally without supervision, and is a well-respected leader at capoeira events held by other groups.

Within the Capoeira eXcelencia system, “teaching” something that leaves a legacy can come in different forms.

– Regularly teaching a class of Capoeira eXcelencia students
– Regularly teaching workshops in other capoeira groups
– Teaching the language
– Researching the history of capoeira
– Writing capoeira music & musical influence

The goal of the Legacy Path is to:

“Discover, execute and pass down something beneficial that leaves a positive and lasting impact on others within capoeira.”

Instrutor(a)

This corda represents that you have begun to overcome the physical, psychological, and spiritual pain of learning capoeira and defending its ideals. The colour of this corda represents the purple of the amethyst and the value of your capoeira leadership.

You have chosen to take the Legacy Path and will grow the legacy of capoeira through the students you teach within Capoeira eXcelência.

Time: 3 to 5 years (minimum of 12 years training)
Presence: Lead Capoeira eXcelência classes (may also start your own class), rodas and events and attend at least 3 external group events annually.
Technical skills: Hone your teaching technique (planning & execution) within Capoeira eXcelência classes, while obtaining mastery of the concepts of analyzing capoeira games & movements within other capoeira martial art systems.
Knowledge: Master the skills required to lead a capoeira roda without supervision, and be a leader at capoeira events held by other groups.

Professor(a)

This corda represents that you have devoted (and even sacrificed) much of your life to capoeira. The colour of this corda represents the brown of the Earth and the solid foundation of your capoeira contributions.

As you have chosen to take the Legacy Path, your valued leadership and wisdom with your students serves as a the foundation on which those around you use grow this art form and leave a lasting legacy.

Time: 5+ years (minimum of 15 years training)
Presence: Attend classes, lead Capoeira eXcelência rodas & events attend at least 5 external group events annually.
Technical skills: Mastery of the concepts of analyzing capoeira rodas of other capoeira martial art systems.
Knowledge: Can lead a capoeira roda internationally without supervision, and is a well-respected leader at capoeira events held by other groups.

Contramestre(a)

The black colour of this corda represents the black skin of the slaves brought from Africa to Brazil against their will, and the same slaves that used capoeira as a means of physical and mental freedom from their oppressors.

This corda represents a the beginning of your understanding of the immense weight and responsibility of a mestre within the capoeira world. You are now expected to strive for justice in conducting your work and an understanding of the lasting legacy of your decisions and actions.

If you are ready, you may start your own group under your own group name, or help to run Capoeira eXcelência.

Time: 5+ years (minimum of 20 years training)
Presence: The leader of your own group or the right-hand of the mestre(a) of the group.
Technical skills: Understanding of the economic and political aspects of running a capoeira group
Knowledge: Deep wisdom of the various aspects of capoeira and your specific area(s) of legacy leadership.

Mestre(a)

The colour of this corda represents the blood shed by the slaves from Africa and the immense struggle to bring Capoeira to the world. It represents all of the responsibility that is expected of you within capoeira.

This is the apex for students of Capoeira; the highest and hardest level to achieve. Mestres are legendary for their skill, wisdom, and tact both inside and out of the roda. You have solidified your Capoeira games by consolidating all of the physical skills, cunning and trickery you’ve learned through years of training and capoeira experiences.

Mestres comprise the top echelon of all Capoeira groups, and it is therefore your right to oversee and supervise the on-goings of the group you lead.

Time: Minimum of 25 years training