Many martial arts use colored belts to show progress. Capoeira uses a cord, called a corda or cordão, tied at the waist, and the moment a student receives one is among the most memorable in their capoeira life.
The cord shows a student's level and time in capoeira. Each group sets its own system of colors and its own requirements, so the same color can mean different things in different groups. What every system shares is that a cord is earned through training, attendance and growth as a capoeirista, not only through technique.
Batizado means "baptism". It is the ceremony where new students are welcomed into capoeira and receive their first cord, usually by playing a short game in the roda with a teacher or mestre. Many groups also give a student their apelido, a capoeira nickname, at their batizado.
Students who already have a cord receive their next one at a troca de cordas, a cord exchange, often held at the same event. Teachers and players from other schools are frequently invited, so a batizado is as much a celebration of the wider capoeira community as of the students.
There is music, singing and a full roda, and a lot of encouragement. The game with the teacher is not a test you can fail; it is a welcome. Families usually come to watch, and for many children it is the highlight of the year.
Progress in capoeira is measured in years, not weeks, and the cord follows the training rather than the other way round. Students are encouraged to enjoy the game they have now.
Conejo Valley Capoeira is part of Arte Reviver Capoeira, founded by Mestre Cocada. Ask Instrutor Grande about the group's cords and its next batizado.
Every capoeirista starts with a first class. Request yours, or read the capoeira terms you will hear.
