Capoeira Basics

Rolê: This 'rolling'
motion is -together
with the Ginga and
the Au- the basic
method of moving
around in the Roda.
The diagramm to
the right shows the
Rolê from the Negativa into the Ginga. Start from the Negativa. Lean to the side you're going
to rolê to (image: left, always the side with the stretched leg) and shift your weight a little
forwards. Push yourself up by stretching your bent leg while rotating along the axis of your
left leg until your chest faces the ground. Left hand gives support. Now put your other hand
on the floor and swing your right leg around; look through between your legs to keep your
partner within your field of vision. Finally take off your left leg and swing it around as well;
rotate for 180 degrees and put it down behind. Better keep your upper body low until you
finished the rolê, else you could eat an Armada. Keep your eyes fixed at your partner for the
entire movement; when your body is facing away, let your head hang down.
P.S. You need not rolê into the Ginga stance. It's perfectly right to rolê closer to the ground
into Negativa position again.
Here we have the Rolê combined
with the Martelo. Easy and useful.
Just stand up from the Negativa
but keep your hand on the ground.
This creates tension around the
hips on the side of your rear leg.
If you now take off your rear leg,
it should soar through the air; hit
with the instep and put it down after rotating 180 degrees. Continue the Rolê movement as
described above.
To put it in other words: do the Rolê but lift your rear leg a little higher and keep it stretched
when turning.
If you do the same
movement with
jumping off, it's
called S-Dobrado.
This is basically an
ordinary Rolê but
with a Meia Lua de
Compasso tossed in. Easier to do if you are further away, so you can role towards your partner
instead of escaping him. Just think of a Rolê where you strike with the heel of the leg that was
stretched in the Negativa. Here's the description for the proper execution of a Meia Lua de
Compasso.