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ABADÁ-Capoeira iNternational 

INTERNATIONAL AFFILIATION

ABADÁ-Capoeira San Francisco shares name and philosophy with the international organization of 40,000 members, which was founded in 1988 by Mestre Camisa, and is based in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The letters ABADÁ-Capoeira, translated into English, stand for the Brazilian Association for the Support and Development of the Art of Capoeira. 


Mestre Camisa developed his own philosophy and methodology for teaching capoeira by following the innovative concepts of his teacher, the great Master of Capoeira Regional, Mestre Bimba. Mestre Camisa's vision for ABADÁ-Capoeira has been to create an organization that strives to move forward by keeping one foot in the past and one foot in the future, maintaining tradition while adapting to society's changes. 

The organization strives to improve and promote capoeira— allowing it to reach its full potential as an internationally respected art, while maintaining its dignity, character, history, and traditions.

On May 28th, 2010, the founder of ABADÁ Capoeira, Mestre Camisa (Jose Tadeu Carneiro Cardoso) received his doctorate degree "Doutor Honoris Causa" from the University of Uberlandia (Universidade Federal de Uberlandia). Check out the certifying document (PDF).


The organization is driven by the life-long commitments of Mestre Camisa, his brother Grão Mestre Camisa Roxa, and the ten highest-ranked ABADÁ-Capoeira artists who have achieved the level of “Mestre” or “Mestrando/a.” Today, ABADÁ-Capoeira is the largest and most successful capoeira organization in the world and is represented throughout Brazil and in Brazil and in more than 40 countries including Angola, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Columbia, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Israel, Italy,  Japan, Mexico, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Russia, South Africa, Sweden, the United States and more.  (For a complete list of countries and ABADA-Capoeira locations, go to abadalinks.info.)

THE ABADÁ STYLE 

Unique, progressive in design, and coveted. 

ABADÁ-Capoeira prides itself on the originality and constant refinement of its style of capoeira, renown for efficiency, aesthetics, and cultural and historical relevance. The original style of ABADÁ-Capoeira seeks to incorporate both Capoeira Regional and Capoeira Angola, and embraces the modernizing innovations of the legendary Mestre Bimba without losing sight of the history and philosophy of the ancient art.

ABADÁ-Capoeira believes that the study of capoeira involves dedication to all the various aspects of the art, including the relentless pursuit of technical mastery of the physical elements of capoeira, constant evolution of the technique to improve efficiency and prevent injury, understanding of and reverence for capoeira's rich history, individual competency and knowledge of the music and instruments of capoeira, preservation and recovery of the instruments, rhythms, and games of capoeira, and participation in the larger capoeira community in Brazil and throughout the world.


Today the ABADÁ style is coveted by other capoeira organizations throughout the world, and serves as a model for other less developed capoeira schools and as an example of the potential of the art. 

ADULT GRADUATION SYSTEM

INICIANTE

  • Natural
  • Natural/Yellow: Transition
  • Yellow: "Gold" signifies the value of the apprenticeship to be developed.

ALUNO

  • Yellow/Orange: Transition
  • Orange: The "Sun" signifies the awakening of the consciousness of the apprenticeship.
  • Orange/Blue: Transition

GRADUATE

  • Blue: The "Sea" signifies the consciousness of the immensity of the path that is ahead.
  • Blue/Green: Transition
  • Green: The "Forest" signifies the lungs of the world. It is in this graduation that the strength of the work is concentrated, as is the solidification of the apprenticeship. In this graduation lies the foundation of the future of ABADÁ-Capoeira.
  • Green/Purple: Transition

INSTRUTOR/A

  • Purple: The "Amethyst" is the reflection of the continuity of Capoeira. In this graduation one works to overcome physical, psychological, and spiritual pains in the search for knowledge of Capoeira and the defense of ABADÁ's ideals.
  • Purple/Brown: Transition

PROFESSOR/A

  • Brown: The "Chameleon" At this level the Capoeirista has assimilated the style of the group. From this graduation comes future Mestrandos, Masters, and Grand Masters.
  • Brown/Red: Transition

MESTRANDO/A

  • Red: The "Ruby" is the stone that symbolizes justice. It is this graduation in which the Capoeirista acquires responsibility towards Capoeira and tries to conduct their work and make decisions with justice.

MESTRE

  • Red/White: At this Mestre level, the Capoeirista develops his or her potential in order to maintain ABADÁ's ideals. It is a phase of transformation, preparing for the next level of Mestre. 
  • White: The "Diamond" is the hardest and most resilient mineral. It reflects all colors and all colors are united in white. The only person who holds this title in ABADÁ Capoeira is Mestre Camisa, President and founder of ABADÁ Capoeira.  At this level of Mestre, it is necessary to make decisions with precision, honesty and, above all, wisdom and impartiality.  It is through wisdom, patience, humility, loyalty and firm bellefs that the Mestre can maintain the organization's philosophy, tradition, and principles. 

GRÃO MESTRE

This title in ABADÁ Capoeira is currently held by Grão Mestre Camisa Roxa, a first-generation Formado of the famous Mestre Bimba, the founder and creator of Capoeira Regional da Bahia. Grão Mestre Camisa Roxa works to support the ideals of ABADÁ Capoeira.

YOUTH GRADUATION SYSTEM 

1- NATURAL

2- PONTA / YELLOW


3- PONTA / ORANGE


4- PONTA / BLUE


5- YELLOW / NATURAL


6- YELLOW


7- ORANGE / NATURAL


8- ORANGE / YELLOW


9 - ORANGE


10- BLUE / NATURAL


11- BLUE / YELLOW


12- BLUE / ORANGE

After a student reaches the level of blue/orange, he/she will remain at that level until the age of sixteen, at which time they will transfer to the adult system. No child under 16 is permitted to attain the "Graduate" level and title because the training program for that level is not appropriate for youth under the age of sixteen.