''Aú batido'' (cartwheel kick) is a traditional capoeira cartwheel kick, known under various names in

breakdancing Breakdancing or breaking, also called b-boying (when performed by men) or b-girling (women), is a style of street dance originated by African Americans and Nuyorican, Puerto Ricans in The Bronx borough of New York City. Breakdancing consist ...

MMA Mixed martial arts (MMA) is a full-contact fighting sport based on striking and grappling; incorporating techniques from various combat sports from around the world. In the early 20th century, various inter-stylistic contests took place t ...

and other disciplines. The cartwheel kick originated as a combat kick, but has become very popular as an acrobatic decoration (''floreio''). This is likely the most photographed capoeira move. Like many other core techniques of capoeira, ''aú batido'' originates from engolo.

Names

The Buntu name for this technique in engolo is ''okusana omaulo-ese'' (cartwheel or handstand kick down). In capoeira, this kick has many names, including ''aú batido'' (cartwheel kick), ''aú quebrado'' (broken cartwheel), ''aú malandro'', ''beija flor'' (hummingbird), ''bico de papagaio'' (parrot's beak) or ''aú Amazonas''. In

, a showcase version of the cartwheel kick is known as the L-kick.

History

Engolo, an

Angola Angola, officially the Republic of Angola, is a country on the west-Central Africa, central coast of Southern Africa. It is the second-largest Portuguese-speaking world, Portuguese-speaking (Lusophone) country in both total area and List of c ...

n martial art considered as ancestor art of capoeira, using multiple cartwheel kicks, including ''aú batido'', as part of its offensive repertoire. One of Neves e Sousa’s drawings clearly shows this technique.Matthias Röhrig Assunção, Engolo and Capoeira. From Ethnic to Diasporic Combat Games in the Southern Atlantic
/ref> Many inverted positions of engolo and

capoeira Capoeira () is an Afro-Brazilian martial art and game that includes elements of dance, acrobatics, capoeira music, music, and spirituality. It likely originated from enslaved Mbundu people, of the Kingdom of Ndongo, in present-day Angola. The ...

, including the

handstand A handstand is the act of supporting the body in a stable, inverted vertical position by balancing on the hands. In a basic handstand, the body is held straight with arms and legs fully extended, with hands spaced approximately shoulder-width apar ...

, ''

aú Aú is the capoeira term for a Cartwheel (gymnastics), cartwheel. The purpose of the "''aú''" in capoeira includes mobility, offense and evasion. The ''aú'' has similarity to handstand in capoeira (''bananeira''), but it differs because the bo ...

'', '' rabo de arraia'', and others, are believed to have originated from the use of handstand by Bantu

shamans Shamanism is a spiritual practice that involves a practitioner (shaman) interacting with the Spirit (supernatural entity), spirit world through Altered state of consciousness, altered states of consciousness, such as trance. The goal of th ...

imitating their ancestors, who walked on their hands in the spirit world. The ''aú batido'' was introduced successfully in

mixed martial arts Mixed martial arts (MMA) is a full-contact fighting combat sport, sport based on strike (attack), striking and grappling; incorporating techniques from various combat sports from around the world. In the early 20th century, various inter-s ...

by Anthony Pettis, who has a capoeira background and showed the move against

Shane Roller Shane Derrick Roller (born July 14, 1979) is a retired American mixed martial artist who is perhaps best known in his career for competing as a Lightweight for the UFC and WEC. Background Roller was born and raised in Bixby, Oklahoma, along wit ...

in WEC 50.

Technique

One arm is used to support the body in the air while one leg performs a high kick directed at the opponent's head or torso. The cartwheel kick is executed by throwing the body into a cartwheel motion, but rather than completing the wheel, the body flexes, while supported by one hand on the ground. One leg is brought downwards and forwards in a kicking motion, while the other remains in the air (giving rise to the name). A common mistake when performing ''aú quebrado'' is trying to kick the leg sideways. Instead, the leg should kick forward and inward; otherwise, the joint where your thigh meets your hip will restrict the motion.

Application

This movement can be used as both offensively and defensively, the latter usually when attempting to perform a cartwheel and the opponent attacks. The cartwheel kick can be also used for downward strikes against a low opponent. Finally, it can be used in the game as a ''floreio'', to showcase physical dexterity and agility.

Variations

There are many variants of this kick, including: * double cartwheel kick (''aú batido duplo''), performed with both legs. * closed cartwheel kick (''aú batido fechado''), where both legs are bent into a squat. * L-kick, where both legs are straight, forming a right angle.

L-kick

, The L-kick is usually considered a freeze before returning to standing. Variations include a ''pike freeze'', in which the non-kicking leg is bent dramatically towards the body so that the legs resemble a shotgun shape, an ''elbow L-kick'' where the kick is supported by the elbow and forearm placed on the ground rather than just a hand, and a ''capoeira switch'' where L-kicks are performed with first one leg then the other, in different directions and without landing the cartwheel motion.

Literature

* *

References

External links

Neves e Sousa drawing of L-kick in N'golo
{{DEFAULTSORT:L-Kick Capoeira techniques Breakdance moves Kicks Martial arts techniques Engolo