“Meia-lua-de-compasso” kick in capoeira

One of the identifying marks of capoeira is a circular kick, called "meia-lua-de-compasso". From Portuguese its name is translated as "crescent by the compass". But the capoeiristas call it shortly "compasso".

The technique of carrying out the kick is rather unusual, that’s why this kick becomes unexpected even for experienced fighters. Catch some gif-pictures to imagine the kick view :-)

The kick is beaten with a leg or rather with a heel. The hand is put on the floor for balance, but experienced capoeristas can make compasso without hands.

At high speed and with the exact hitting the target this kick, without exaggeration, can be fatal. In the Internet you can find a lot of video, where the fighter makes knockout using this kick. Like this…

Depending on the rhythm of the game in roda this kick can be quite diverse. For example, using the compasso in a slow rhythm it`s possible to get a partner to move in a right direction, to dodge lower or just use it as movement without giving a partner the chance to come closer. But in a fast rhythm compasso becomes a serious threat – it is fast, abrupt and heavy kick. The height of the strike can also be different, but the main target is the head. By the way some capoeira schools train low compasso, almost above the floor. But this doesn`t make it less scary))))

To make compasso correctly and quickly, you should train a lot!!!

by Katerina Bilodid