Capoeira competitions

1.0 – The categories are separated by graduation level, weight and gender.

2.0 – Great Official Games (Brazilian Games, European Games and World Games) are divided into three categories:
Category A: Roxa until Marrom/Vermelha
Category B: Verde and Verde/Roxa
Category C: Azul and Azul/Verde

2.1 – National Games (except the Brazilian Games), State Games and Extras Official Games (Community Games, Female Games, Summer Games, Regional Games, which do not give placement for official competitions) are divided into four categories:
Category A: Roxa until Marrom/Vermelha
Category B: Verde ana Verde/Roxa
Category C: Azul and Azul/Verde
Category D: Amarela/Laranja and Laranja/Azul

2.2 – Internal competitions are divided into three categories:
Category A: Azul and Azul/Verde
Category B: Laranja and Laranja/Azul
Category C: Amarela/Laranja and Laranja
Note: Categories for children’s graduation are allowed from the age of 15.

3.0 – Competitors play 3 (three) games in each stage and with different competitors who are chosen randomly. Those who obtain the highest score within each stage progress on to the next stage.

3.1 – At each stage, the capoeiristas play 3 (three) different rhythms, each is:
- São Bento Grande, Iúna and Benguela (Graduados, Instrutors and Professors)
- São Bento Grande, Iúna and Angola (in the Finals for Graduados, Instrutors and Professors)

- São Bento Grande and Benguela (students)
The sum of the scores of all the games from each competitor is the final score in every stage. The players who accumulate the most points in that stage will advance to the next phase where the points are reset.

3.2 – What is scored in each game:
- Playing in the cadence of each rhythm
- Continuity and technique
- Mainstreamed and synchronized games that make the game richer and interesting to watch
- Characteristics take downs of Capoeira (rasteira, cabeçada, tesoura, etc)
- Games with a goal; dangerous but not violent

3.3 – The tiebreakers are the general points from each individual game calculated together with the highest score obtained by any one competitor. If a tie prevails, the Organization Committee can use one more game, or get the competitors to play a rhythm with the berimbau whilst singing to determine the winner.

3.4 – The game times for each rhythm are:
São Bento Grande – 45 seconds
Iúna – 60 seconds
Benguela – 60 seconds
Angola – 90 seconds

3.5 – Score
The maximum score is 10 per judge, and each judge evaluates:
- Technique and creativity (0-3)
- Rhythm (0-1)
- Objectivity (0-2)
- Continuity (0-2)
- Characterization (0-2)

3.5 – The jury will consist of:
- Mestres and Mestrandos (Great Official Games).
- Mestres, Mestrandos and Professores (National Games except for the Brazilian Games, State Games and Extras Official Games).
- Mestres, Mestrandos, Professores and Instrutores (internal competitions).

3.6 – Professores and Instrutores can only judge competitions in the case of not having enough Mestres and Mestrandos to compose the panel of judges (National Games except for the Brazilian Games, State Games, Extras Official Games and internal competitions).

4.0 – Penalties

4.1 – Hitting the other competitor intentionally and/or grasping- minus 2 (two) points in the individual grade.

4.2 – If the competitor who was hit is unable to continue in the competition, the offender will be eliminated from the competition.

4.3 – Mischaracterization of the game- minus 1 (one) point.

5.0 – Substitutions:

5.1 – A competitor will be replaced if he/she becomes unable to compete due to medical problems (proven by the medical team of the competition).

5.2 – A competitor, who for any reason doesn’t have an opponent to make a game set in that stage, will receive the average grade from the games that he/she played in that stage.

6.0 – Omitted cases
All cases not covered in these regulations shall be reviewed and judged by the Organization Committee of the competition.

7.0 – Bateria (the instruments)
The Bateria controls the rhythm of the Capoeira game. It is formed by three berimbaus – Gunga, Médio and Viola, and also the Atabaque, Pandeiro and Agogô. The instrument which indicates the difference between the games is the rhythm determined by the Gunga (the largest of the berimbau).

The competition ABADÁ-CAPOEIRA is based on four rhythms:

São Bento Grande –Is a quick game with a lot of energy. It requires quick reflexes and objectivity, and is based on continuous blows with creativity and improvisation. This game shows the fighting components of Capoeira.

Benguela – A game more rhythmic and expressive. It is characterized by malicious and interrupted blows. It requires great knowledge of ground movements with the hands and head, and a lot of swing style and continuous movements.

Angola – Is a sly and malicious game which has the possibility of being the most dangerous of the rhythms. It is a fight disguised as a joke. With a cadenced rhythm, it is governed by the Ladainhas. It requires a lot of body expression from the capoeirista, who tries in front of their opponent, to become at some times small and at other times big.

Iúna – Is a rhythm without singing, moved only by the energy of the palms (clapping). This game demands great skill, precision, technique and body control. It is only played by graduated capoeiristas and is characterized by precise strikes and a large number of floreios (acrobatics).