Cordas
A capoeirista’s corda signifies far more than just technical skill. It reflects their entire journey — their dedication to capoeira traditions, immersion in Brazilian culture, and active role within the community.
Each year, the Centro Cultural Arte Capoeira family gathers for the Batizado, a special event where new members are formally welcomed and initiated. It is also an opportunity for existing members to demonstrate their progress and, when ready, advance to the next corda.
Explore the meaning of each corda below, and be sure to visit our Family Tree to learn more about the current rankings of our senior members.
Students
Crua
The beginning, the void ready to be filled.
Yellow
Gold: Our rough stone to be worked, our treasure.
Orange
Fire: A flame that has to be fed.
Crua and Yellow
Transition
Yellow and Orange
Transition
Orange and Blue
Monitor / Monitora
Transition
Graduados
Blue
Graduado / Graduada
Sea: Water that must travel the world to be able to understand different sources.
Green
Instrutor / Instrutora
Forest: The lungs breathe capoeira, it begins to want to understand the mysteries.
Purple
Professor / Professora
Amethyst: Stone that symbolizes enlightenment and mystery. This is where knowledge begins to take hold.
Blue and Green
Transition
Green and Purple
Transition
Purple and Brown
Transition
Contramestres e Mestres
Brown
Contramestre / Contramestra
Earth: The capoeirista is connected to capoeira by deep roots, able to spread its seeds and the ideals of the group.
Red
Mestre / Mestra
Blood: We've seen the treasure, we've been through the fire, we've drunk, we've eaten, we've contemplated. Now, capoeira runs through our veins as our blood.
Brown and Red
Transition
