The Capoeira Roda: Roda Etiquette of Capoeira Maculelê

Capoeira is traditionally played inside of the roda, or wheel. Precisely why capoeira is practiced in a circle is disputed by many it seems. Whether its because of the equalizing aspect of everyone standing in a circle, keeps focus on two players and muscians and flow of energy, simply evolved from the idea that blacks carved circles in the sugar cane fields to practice is trivial. Everywhere in the world, regardless of group or style, capoeira is played in a roda.

Capoeira começou
Como roda tradicional
Era dança e defesa
Do negro no canavial

Capoeira began
With the traditional roda
It was a dance and defense
Of the blacks on the sugar cane fields

It can be difficult to keep track of all of the rules of etiquette during rodas, especially when some rules can change from one capoeira roda to the next. Just remember that the rules do flex depending on the levels of formality: From training rodas, the most lax, to formaturas, the most structured.

Why do we have rules?

Capoeira is a relaxed and laidback martial art. However, capoeira also involves a lot of aggressive and sometimes dangerous movements, so it is important to keep structure when we play capoeira to maintain everyone's wellness, physical integrity, and ensure a healthy and safe learning environment no matter what level of formality of the roda.

The idea of a corda system was invented by Mestre Bimba to supplement his instruction; it is part of his pedagogical approach to capoeira that has helped capoeira spread and evolve throughout the world today. The idea is simple: The older student plays with the younger student in a colaborative and cooperative way to challenge the younger student. New students should always strive to play with the person who will challenge them the most and in a safely.

Capoeira roda etiquette

Rules of etiquette in capoeira roda's can vary depending on the type of roda. If you are ever unsure if breaking a rule in a particular roda is okay, simply ask your instructor.

Below is a list of all the rules with which a student needs to be familiar, broken down by section. For more formal rodas, there is a separate list to keep in mind. Otherwise, these rules of etiquette apply to every roda.

General capoeira roda etiquette

If you aren't sure, ask.

Rules of etiquette can change as requirements change. Sometimes these changes are related to new information that we discover about capoeira, and sometimes the changes are meant to help organize the roda and give more people chances to play. Always ask!

We're a community, so remember to always help everyone else follow the rules.

If someone else is breaking a rule, big or small, and you know it, you are also responsible. When the roda has holes in it, everyone in the roda is responsible.

Never have a roda without your instructor.

If your instructor gives you permission to do so, it's okay. He will assign someone to manage the roda. It is important that each roda have a caretaker to ensure that everyone's, especially beginning capoeira students, physical integrity is maintained.

Keep the roda as perfect of a circle as you can.

Even if you only have three people, keep as circular of a shape as possible. The only time you will not create a roda is during demonstrations and shows. These, however, are NOT capoeira rodas.

Never turn your back to the roda, especially the bateria.
It is disrespectful to turn your back on the bateria, traditional to keep your eye on other wily capoeiristas, and dangerous to walk outside of the roda without watching. Always back away if you get bought out.

Always walk around a capoeira roda.

Never cross through the roda, whether music playing or capoeira is playing or not. The roda is symbolic of very fundamental values in capoeira, such as equality and shared-energy. Walking through the roda disrupts these concepts.

Only call for and answer a chamada in Angola; never call a chamada with your back to the bateria.

The chamada is exclusive to Capoeira Angola, and does not belong in Capoeira Regional. It is disrespectful to the image of the type of capoeira Mestre Bimba sought to create. At the same time, it is disrespectful to call a chamada in what many Angoleiros feel is a different type of capoeira. And again, do not turn your back to the bateria.

Music & Bateria-related capoeira roda etiquette

Always clap.

Everyone, no matter their rank, who isn't playing capoeira or playing an instrument, needs to clap. Even if you are in a training roda with a CD, you should clap. The only time you do not clap is in Capoeira Angola. The often slower rhythm makes it more difficult for a roda to keep the beat, Mestre João Grande once told us. Never clap in Angola.

Always respond in the chorus.

The only three people who do not need to respond with the chorus are the two people playing capoeira and the one person who is leading the chorus. Otherwise, you sing. If you don't know the words, make an effort to learn them on the spot, and make an effort to sing as best you can. You don't need to sing if the roda is done to a CD.

Never stand behind the bateria.

If you are waiting to switch out instruments with someone, don't wait behind the bateria. Only move behind the bateira if you have something specific to do or get there. When it's time to switch instruments, walk behind the bateria and make the switch. If you have to get water, for example, for a mestre, do it quickly. Never stay there.

Never switch instruments during a game.

Even if someone is dying to get off of an instrument, he or she needs to wait patiently for the current capoeira game to end. The bateria is the source of energy in the roda, and during a game of capoeira, the two players need all of the focus, pace, and attitude that the bateria dictates. Changing instruments during this can break that energy and consquently break a game. During a jogo de comprar, be sure to switch when someone is buying in to play capoeira.

Switch the gunga and atabaque as rarely as possible.

These instruments are the most important in the roda, and they need to be played by a capoeirista who can play them consistently without interruption. Even when switching the atabaque without missing a beat, the energy changes. It's important to keep the same person on these two instruments as much as possible.

That said, do not switch out of instruments on a whim in any roda. Once you grab a capoeira instrument, stay there for at least five minutes. Often times, that's barely one capoeira song.

Only let the most graduated—or most musically competent—capoeira students play the gunga and atabaque.

Again, these two instruments are fundamental to the capoeira roda. The gunga is the soul, and the atabaque is the heart. They both need to be played by competent and accomplished capoieristas to keep maintain the energy in the roda and to manage the roda properly. If you are unsure of your ability to play one of these instruments, do not even ask to switch out with someone, even if he or she looks tired.

If your teacher asks you to play the gunga in a roda, he is doing so because he is confident that you can play correctly and manage the roda well. It's OK to take the gunga in some rodas if your teacher asks you to.

Finally, in consideration of the other rule "Switch the gunga and atabaque as rarely as possible," do not take these instruments if you cannot play them for an extended period. The minimum amount of time to remain on any of the other instruments is five minutes. For the gunga and atabaque, this is considerably longer.

Never stand in front of a capoeira instrument, unless you are playing capoeira.

This rule of etiquette applies to buying in as well as the instruments. If you want to buy-in to play capoeira and you are waiting your turn, wait at the edge of the roda. Technically, in front of the instruments constitutes being inside of the roda. In capoeira, only two people are allowed to play at a time. Not only is it disrespectful to stand in front of the capoeira roda's energy source, it's dangerous.

Buying in to play capoeira

Enter at the boca of the roda.

The capoeira roda's boca, or mouth, is at the gunga. Be sure to meet the other capoeira player in front of the gunga, not the medio or atabaque. The gunga manges the roda, so it's important to enter there.

If you are buying in, you need to buy in from the bateria. Be sure not to walk around the inside of the roda before buying in. If you attempt to buy in at the bateria, but can't get in position between the two playing capoeira, wait. Never try to walk around the edge of the roda to buy in.

After two players finish their game, two more step up immediately.

Once two player finish their game and start walking back to the edge of the roda, keep the flow up by moving in front of the gunga to enter the roda. If you are next in line to play capoeira, don't hesistate, just go.

Never buy out your own teacher, a graduado or higher.

Unless specifically permitted to do so, you should never buy out a graduado or higher if you are a student. You should also never buy out your teacher. You should only do this when specifically instructed to do so. In training rodas, for example, this rule still holds true, unless your teacher specifically says it is OK. In general, if you are not sure, assume that you should not.

Never buy out a professor, mestrando, or mestre.

Even if you are in a training roda and the gunga player says you can go in, do not buy out a professor, a mestrando (contra-mestre), or a mestre.

Never buy in with a professor, mestrando, or mestre.

When a professor, mestrando, or mestre buys in to play with a student—even one who is a lower corda than you—do not buy in to play with the professor, mestrando, or mestre. These higher cordas generally buy in to play specifically with a student to teach some specific capoeira lesson. If you would like to play with the higher corda, just wait anxiously near the capoeira roda's boca, a professor will see you.

This rule also applies to your own teacher, unless he or she sets the precedent for that particular capoeira roda, for the same reason outlined above. Your own teacher, whether graduado, monitor, instrutor, etc, has your development in mind. When he or she buys in to play with students, it is typically with a purpose.

Always buy in during the chorus of a chula.

When the capoeira song is a corrido, feel free to buy in any time that you are permitted to do so. If the song is a chula, however, you should not buy in until the chorus. Even if the gunga player tells you that you can go in, wait until the chorus to actually move in.

Assume that you should ask permission to buy in.

Except in a jogo de comprar, you should always assume that you need permission to enter the roda. If you are told that you do not need to ask permission, feel free to go in when you like—within the other rules of etiquette, of course. Otherwise, assume that permission is required. The gunga player, who should be the most experienced capoeira player at the roda, is tasked with managing the roda for all capoeira students. This ensures that when you, and other capoeira students, get to play, you can do so for a sufficient amount of time.

Never buy in during an Angola roda.

In Capoeira Angola, wait for every game to end, always. Only one of the capoeira players or the gunga players can stop or interrupt a game of Capoeira Angola.

Event rodas

Do not buy out a corda that is higher than you.

During a formal event, it is best to only buy out people who are lower cordas then your own.

Do not play the gunga, unless you are a mestre or Mestre asks you to take over.

Even when Mestre Fran goes to another event, he will not pick up the gunga. If as above, if Mestre or your teacher asks you to take over on the gunga, it's a sign that he or she feels you can play the gunga well enough and manage the capoeira roda properly. In this case, it's okay.

Only let students of Maculelê or professors, mestrandos, or mestres of other groups play the gunga and atabaque.

These two instruments determine the attitude and flow of a roda. To maintain a Capoeira Maculelê roda's character and integrity, these two instruments should only be played by those who know how to play them according to our group's specifications.

That said, when great and old mestres are visiting, they have first preference. The experience of greater mestres takes precedence over our own group's ideals.

General tips for the roda

Below are some tips which are not rules of etiquette that help maintain a good roda with good energy. The idea is to make sure that everyone has a fair chance to play a lot, without compromising energy or anyone's experience.

• Try not initiate a volta ao mundo if you are tired. Initiate a volta ao mundo if you are buying in and the person you want to play is tired. If someone buys in to play with you, and you are absolutely too tired to go on, ginga a few times, do a movement, then shake hands. Let someone else play.
• Face the capoeira player you are buying in to play with. "Facing" in capoeira means more that looking. When buying in, it's important to face your opponent with the front side of your body. Don't turn your back to the person you are trying to buy in with. It might confuse one or both of the players, creating a risk to yourself or others.

Presentations & Demos

Note that many of the rules above do not apply in quick demonstrations. For example, and many capoeira demos, it doesn't make sense to create a full roda. That way, other people can watch more easily.

Other rules also become more lax. You can buy out people who you otherwise should not in a regular roda of capoeira. It's also OK to switch out the instruments more regularly.

That said, remember some of the other core fundamentals of capoeira:

• Clap and sing
• Don't stand in front of or behind the bateria
• Keep the games flowing, and don't let others get tired
• And clap and sing!