My first batizado - What to expect?
You have been training Capoeira for a year or less now and you are facing your first Batizado. What is a Batizado? Why take a belt? What to expect? These are all questions you might ask. This article will try to answer them from the point of view of Contemporary Capoeira (the meaning and traditions of a Batizado in Capoeira Angola and Regional are different).
In Contemporary Capoeira the Batizado is usually an annual grading event for the group held in the local area where the classes are based. It is a very important and large event for which teachers and students prepare many months in advance (however, the scale of it does depend on the size of the group and a teacher who organises the Batizado). These events are aimed at Baptising and welcoming the new students (that have joined the group since the previous Batizado) to the group by giving them their first belt or corda and also changing belts (troca de cordas) for the experienced students, depending on their progress and readiness to wear and defend the new belt.
Batizados are large events that go over 2-7 days, depending on the group and the teacher who organises it. They are events full of Capoeira movement workshops, music workshops, acrobatic workshops, many rodas, displays and shows culminating with the grading and the obligatory party after the event. These events are great places to meet many renowned capoeiristas, widen your capoeira network circles, meet new friends, learn new and different capoeira moves and to gain more knowledge about the martial art and so much more.
As you advance in your Capoeira you will find yourself attending Batizados of other groups (if you have not already) either locally or internationally. In a short period of time you will have lots of Capoeira friends all over the world and it will be very easy to travel to such events with the help of your teacher. Aside from physical and cultural richness, Capoeira in its core is a community and as such most people and teachers look out for each other. For example, when Capoeiristas attend other events, there is always a place to stay, sleep, change, have a shower and eat. Equally, when other Capoeiristas attend your Batizado it is kindly expected that you also try to help out as much as you can with accommodation, food and transport.
To receive a Corda a new student must play at least one game in the Batizado Roda or circle with a teacher; the teacher is not necessarily the teacher you are training with as these events have many national and international teachers who are invited to grade students. The new students form a semi-circle near the Bateria (the instruments) and are called one by one to play with a teacher or Master. It is a nerve-wracking and exilirating moment for any new Capoeirista. At some point in the game your opponent will take you down which symbolises the humility that a student has and can be humble and accept a minor defeat. It sounds serious, but in practice it is fun and the part of the Batizado the new students talk about most.
As with all martial arts, in Capoeira too, all students are expected to ware a uniform at the grading event. A uniform consists of white trousers and white t-shirt with a logo of your group (Nago in our case) and your teachers name on them. This way when many capoeiristas meet at events such as Batizados they for one show their respect to capoeira and all capoeiristas and second everyone else knows which group they are from and who is their teacher.
While for an experienced Capoeirista playing in large Rodas is a cherry on top of the event and possibly a main reason for attending it, most beginners are very nervous and it usually is their first time playing in such a big Roda in front of so many people. Here are what some of our advanced students had to say about their first Batizado:
My first Batizado by Faisca
My first Batizado by Jess
My first Batizado by Beija Flor
Hopefully this has given you some insight as to what to expect from your first Batizado… Enjoy it, it is lots of fun!
In Contemporary Capoeira the Batizado is usually an annual grading event for the group held in the local area where the classes are based. It is a very important and large event for which teachers and students prepare many months in advance (however, the scale of it does depend on the size of the group and a teacher who organises the Batizado). These events are aimed at Baptising and welcoming the new students (that have joined the group since the previous Batizado) to the group by giving them their first belt or corda and also changing belts (troca de cordas) for the experienced students, depending on their progress and readiness to wear and defend the new belt.
Batizados are large events that go over 2-7 days, depending on the group and the teacher who organises it. They are events full of Capoeira movement workshops, music workshops, acrobatic workshops, many rodas, displays and shows culminating with the grading and the obligatory party after the event. These events are great places to meet many renowned capoeiristas, widen your capoeira network circles, meet new friends, learn new and different capoeira moves and to gain more knowledge about the martial art and so much more.
As you advance in your Capoeira you will find yourself attending Batizados of other groups (if you have not already) either locally or internationally. In a short period of time you will have lots of Capoeira friends all over the world and it will be very easy to travel to such events with the help of your teacher. Aside from physical and cultural richness, Capoeira in its core is a community and as such most people and teachers look out for each other. For example, when Capoeiristas attend other events, there is always a place to stay, sleep, change, have a shower and eat. Equally, when other Capoeiristas attend your Batizado it is kindly expected that you also try to help out as much as you can with accommodation, food and transport.
To receive a Corda a new student must play at least one game in the Batizado Roda or circle with a teacher; the teacher is not necessarily the teacher you are training with as these events have many national and international teachers who are invited to grade students. The new students form a semi-circle near the Bateria (the instruments) and are called one by one to play with a teacher or Master. It is a nerve-wracking and exilirating moment for any new Capoeirista. At some point in the game your opponent will take you down which symbolises the humility that a student has and can be humble and accept a minor defeat. It sounds serious, but in practice it is fun and the part of the Batizado the new students talk about most.
As with all martial arts, in Capoeira too, all students are expected to ware a uniform at the grading event. A uniform consists of white trousers and white t-shirt with a logo of your group (Nago in our case) and your teachers name on them. This way when many capoeiristas meet at events such as Batizados they for one show their respect to capoeira and all capoeiristas and second everyone else knows which group they are from and who is their teacher.
While for an experienced Capoeirista playing in large Rodas is a cherry on top of the event and possibly a main reason for attending it, most beginners are very nervous and it usually is their first time playing in such a big Roda in front of so many people. Here are what some of our advanced students had to say about their first Batizado:
My first Batizado by Faisca
My first Batizado by Jess
My first Batizado by Beija Flor
Hopefully this has given you some insight as to what to expect from your first Batizado… Enjoy it, it is lots of fun!