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Sistema de cordões da Mandinga

Sistema de cordões da Mandinga (Mandinga belt system) is the one used by the 90% of capoeiristas all over the world. It was the very first belt system ever to be invented and used. This is the official belt progression according to the Brazilian Federation and Confederation of Capoeira.

We follow the Brazilian Capoeira Old Federation system (12 levels) and we only have one extra level (i.e. 13 levels). This extra level is the belt of 4 colors, created by mestre Suassuna in the 80s, which was known as “profesor” (meaning “teacher,” not “professor”). Nowadays, this four color belt (green, yellow, blue and white) is mostly known in the capoeira world as “contra-mestre”.

The colors progression goes from green to yellow to blue and to white with mixed colored belts in between. These are the colors of the Brazilian flag in order of appearance.


Transition Belts

The mixed color belts indicate the progression within one level. They were created by mestre Marcelo and it is now been used by many different capoeira groups all over the world.

Some of them are “transition belts” (marked with *). The progression and promotion of these belts may happen in different occasions, other than just a Batizado ceremony.

A capoeirista who trains intensely and perhaps is gifted may progress quickly, filling in the pre-requisites for the next belt, and may skip one or two of the transition belts in order to adjust his level.


Mandinga Cordões System

# cordão color level comments
A cru beige white newcomer Cordão cru does not indicate any level in the graduation system, but is required as part of newcomer's uniform.
___ _______________ ___________________________ _________________ _______________________________
B criança bright green* youth First two belts for kids and youth capoeiristas.
2 bright greens + 2 greens*
___ _______________ ___________________________ _________________ _______________________________
1 inciante grass green* introductory First two belts for adult capoeiristas, earned at Pre-Batizado ceremony after at least 2 months of classes.
2 grass greens + 2 greens*
___ _______________ ___________________________ _________________ _______________________________
2 verde green beginner This belt means official initiation into a capoeira school and is received at Batizado ceremony after 6-12 months of classes.
___ _______________ ___________________________ _________________ _______________________________
3 verde/amarelo 3 greens + 1 yellow* These belts are the transition between beginner and monitor levels.
2 greens + 2 yellows
1 green + 3 yellows*
___ _______________ ___________________________ _________________ _______________________________
4 amarelo yellow monitor Monitor is experienced enough to be an example for others and to lead some parts of the class.
___ _______________ ___________________________ _________________ _______________________________
5 verde/azul 3 greens + 1 blue* These belts are the transition between monitor and instrutor levels.
2 greens + 2 blues
1 green + 3 blues*
___ _______________ ___________________________ _________________ _______________________________
6 amarelo/azul 3 yellows + 1 blue* instrutor Instructor level. These high-belt capoeiristas may baptize other students at Batizado.
2 yellows + 2 blues
1 yellow + 3 blues*
___ _______________ ___________________________ _________________ _______________________________
7 azul blue instrutor adiantado Advanced instructor belt is traditionally earned at Formatura ceremony in Brazil.
___ _______________ ___________________________ _________________ _______________________________
8 verde/amarelo /azul 2 greens + 1 yellow + 1 blue* aluno formado / graduado Capoeirista is graduating from the school and is no longer considered a student. Further learning experience is his own responsibility from now on.
1 green + 2 yellows + 1 blue*
1 green + 1 yellow + 2 blues
___ _______________ ___________________________ _________________ _______________________________
9 verde/amarelo /azul/branco 1 green + 1 yellow + 1 blue + 1 white profesor /
contra-mestre		 Profesor is a fully certified capoeira teacher.
___ _______________ ___________________________ _________________ _______________________________
10 verde/branco 3 greens + 1 white mestre Master of 1st degree.
1 green + 1 yellow + 2 whites*
___ _______________ ___________________________ _________________ _______________________________
11 amarelo/branco 3 yellows + 1 white Master of 2nd degree.
1 yellow + 1 blue + 2 whites*
___ _______________ ___________________________ _________________ _______________________________
12 azul/branco 3 blues + 1 white Master of 3rd degree.
___ _______________ ___________________________ _________________ _______________________________
13 branco white Master of 4th degree may open his own capoeira school.
___ _______________ ___________________________ _________________ _______________________________

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