Martelo
Kick as capoeira technique
Martelo (hammer) is the name for roundhouse kick in capoeira. The kick targets the head of the opponent with the top of the foot.
Martelo was not used in traditional capoeira Angola. The kick was introduced to regional capoeira in the 1930s by mestre Bimba, likely from Asian martial arts.
There are several variations of martelo kick, and it is often combined with other techniques.
Other Capoeira kicks
- Meia lua de frente
- Roundhouse kick
- Scorpion kick
- Bênção
- Meia lua de compasso
- Chapa de costas
- Armada
- Queixada
Japanese terms for kicks
| Term | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 回し蹴り | mawashigeri | roundhouse kick; turning kick |
| 飛び蹴り | tobigeri | dropkick; flying kick |
| ハイキック | haikikku | high kick |
| マルテーロ | maruteero | martelo; roundhouse kick in capoeira |
| ネリチャギ | nerichagi | axe kick; ax kick |
| かかと落とし | kakatootoshi | axe kick; ax kick |
| ケイシャーダ | keishaada | queixada (capoeira kick at the opponent's jaw); outward crescent kick |
| サイドキック | saidokikku | side kick |
| 後ろ回し蹴り | ushiromawashigeri | spin kick |
External links
Facts from Wikidata Q1902977 (CC0); text quoted from English Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Data retrieved 2026-10-22.
Data: Wikidata (CC0 1.0); Wikipedia (English) (CC BY-SA 4.0). Retrieved 2026-10-22.