Meia Lua de Compasso
Meia Lua de Compasso
Literally: compass half-moon
Also known as: Rabo de arraia
A low spinning capoeira kick performed with the hands on the ground, in which the heel travels in a wide arc, mainly at the opponent's head.
Quick Facts
⚠️ Common Mistakes
The kick without hand support (meia lua solta), which is faster but increases the risk that the opponent sweeps the kicking leg.
About
Meia lua de compasso, literally compass half-moon, is a low rotational capoeira kick, kicked with the hands on the ground. It starts from ginga or negativa: the hands rest on the ground, the body turns around the supporting leg, and the heel arcs widely towards the target with a force like a centrifugal swing. Technically it is a crouching rotational back kick, also called rabo de arraia, stingray's tail. According to sources, the kick originated in the African martial art of engolo and was popular in 19th-century Brazilian capoeira carioca. Aimed mainly at the head, it can also target the chest, ribs or abdomen, and is among capoeira's most powerful kicks. In 2009 Marcus "Lelo" Aurélio used it to knock out an opponent in MMA. The meia lua presa variant is kicked with one hand on the ground and the other guarding the face; meia lua solta has no hand support at all, which is faster but lets the opponent sweep the kicking leg more easily. Meia lua de compasso dupla is done without the feet touching the ground, and meia lua pulada is the jumping variant.