The Competition
These buttons are shortcuts to the different parts of the competition. You can either use the buttons or scroll to the different sections.
KIDS: BEG. & INTERM.
This competition category is open to all students with up to four years of Capoeira training.
Competitor Classification:
Beginner: Up to one year of training.
Intermediate: Between one and four years of training.
Team Rules:
Each team must be composed of three players and must include at least one Beginner.
Valid team combinations are:
One Beginner and Two Intermediates
Two Beginners and One Intermediate
KIDS: ADVANCED
As children progress, their capoeira becomes more fluid and expressive. Advanced kids start putting movements together into creative sequences, exploring strategy, and developing their own style of play. They also take on more responsibility in the roda, singing, playing instruments, and helping guide beginners. Reaching this level is about more than just technique; it’s about showing discipline, creativity, and a deeper appreciation for the music and traditions that make capoeira unique.
Most kids reach this level after over 4 years of consistent practice.
ADULT: BEG/ & INTERM.
This competition category is open to all students with up to four years of Capoeira training.
Competitor Classification:
Beginner: Up to one year of training.
Intermediate: Between one and four years of training.
Team Rules:
Each team must be composed of three players and must include at least one Beginner.
Valid team combinations are:
One Beginner and Two Intermediates
Two Beginners and One IntermediateOn average, adults spend 1–3 years in this stage before advancing further.
ADULT: ADVANCED
Advanced capoeira for adults is where skill meets creativity. Students at this level move with fluidity and control, able to adapt their game to different partners and situations. Strategy, timing, and the playful energy of malícia become second nature, and the roda transforms into a place to express personality through movement. Advanced practitioners also dive deeper into the music, learning to play different instruments and lead songs. Dedication, persistence, and an open mind are the keys to growing into this stage.
Most adults reach this level after 4–7 years of steady practice.
EXPERTS
Expert capoeiristas live and breathe the art. They are title holders (Treinel, Graduada, Monitor, etc.), up to Professor level. Their movement shows mastery, but their role goes far beyond technique. Experts carry the traditions, history, and philosophy of capoeira, passing it forward through teaching, music, and leadership in the community. To watch an expert play is to see creativity, wisdom, and rhythm come together seamlessly. Reaching this stage is a lifelong journey, one built on years of training, sharing, and living capoeira as a way of life.
Becoming an expert can take 10 years or more, often representing a lifetime commitment to capoeira.
Category Six
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Category Seven
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Category Eight
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The Rules
This is a competition made to celebrate Capoeira as a Creative Art Form/Martial Art. The Name of the event demonstrates what we will be encouraging all competitors todemonstrate: "Solta o Jogo" (release the game). A game that flows well and prioritises a clean game of Capoeira, without the use of violence, force or any attitude/behaviour that jeopardises the Joy of the event or the safety of competitors. Therefore, excessive use of force and some particulars movements/attacks won't be allowed for the safety of ALL competitors and to make sure we all have an enjoyable day.
- The style of the game used during the competition will be exclusively Sao Bento Grandede Angola in a cadenced rhythm.
- Kicks CAN connect but it must be controlled to respect the physical and psychological integrity of all competitors.
- ATACKS NOT ALLOWED during the competition: ponteira, galopante, godeme, joelhada,escala and "estourar" (lifting the competitor and slamming them on the floor).
- Cabecadas can ONLY be applied to the torso (no other part of body).
- No excesive use of force
- Takedowns will be allowed on ADVANCED & TEACHERS level ONLY (vingativa, tesouras, cristo) but no BANDA de costas or trancada
- Takedowns are NOT allowed for beginners/intermediates categories.
- Games must develop for at least more and less 7 to 10 seconds before someone elsebuys the game.
- Roda will be 4 meters of diameter.
- During each game, team members will have to play against other teams (not withamong their own team members). Judges will mark teams down if this rule isn't respected.
- Chamadas de Angola are NOT ALLOWED due to the time allocated to the games.
- There will be no order to buy the game however the referee will hold a competitorback if this competitor jumps in front of someone already buying the game.
- The game can only stop by decision of the referee. If someone gets injured, the refereewill stop the game so the competitor can be treated by paramedics if needed. In thiscase, the referee can pause the current game and ask for the following teams to playtheir game so the timetable of the competition is not too impacted.
- In the case the injured competitor can't resume the game, the referee will ask theteam's coach if the game can resume with only the 2 remaining competitors or if theyprefer to forfeit their game.
- 3 judges will be seating in the roda, one on each part of the roda. 1 referee will be inthe middle of the roda making sure competitors are following the
- If judges have a conflict of interest for the game, they will be swapped with anotherjudge. Eg. When Mestres(as) have their own students in that round, we will make sureanother Mestre/Mestra to judge the round to remove any conflict of interest
- If a competitor breaks any rules, the game will be stopped by the referee, the team wille warned. If the team breaks the rule a second time, the game will be stopped by thereferee and the team will lose 5 points straight away and the team notified to notrepeat the mistake. If the rule is broken a third time team will be disqualified.
Rules Videos
Bellow are videos describing the rules for Solta O Jogo in both English, on the left, and in Portuguese, on the right.
Rules
REGRAS
Scoring
At the end of each game, points will be attributed to each team by the 3 judges in thefollowing format (which should be used as feedback to next round):
- Needs Improvement - score from 0 to 2
- Standard - score from 3 to 5
- Good - score from 6 to 8
- Excellent - score of 9 or 10
Volume & Expression
These videos explain the criteria by which each competing team is judged, in this case by the 'Volume' and 'Expression' of their game. The video on the left is in English, and the video on the right is in Portuguese.
Technique & Objectivity
These videos explain the criteria by which each competing team is judged, in this case the 'Technique' and 'Objectivity' each team employs in their game. The video on the left is in English, and the video on the right is in Portuguese.
Teamwork & Strategy
These videos explain the criteria by which each competing team is judged, in this case the 'Teamwork' and 'Strategy' each competitor employs in their game with their fellow teammates. The video on the left is in English, and the video on the right is in Portuguese.
Competition Rounds & Structure
- It is a Collective Competition, meaning capoeira groups/schools willing to participate must make teams of 3 (trios)
- 8 teams per category on first come first serve basis are available.
- The competition will be judged by a panel of 8 Mestres(as) from the wider Capoeira Community in the UK and Europe
- The Competition will be divided into categories: Kids; Adults; Absolute (Graduados(as) to Professores(as)
Competition Fees
Adults £50 / €55 (per competitor)
Kids £35 / €40 (per competitor)
Therefore a team of three competitors pays: Adults (£150 / €165) or Kids (£105 / €120)
Accommodation
Free Accommodation Offer!
Secure Your Stay in Style!
The first six teams from outside the UK to complete registration and payment will receive free accommodation in our incredible, newly renovated team house!
Your Team House: The Perfect Home Base
Forget cramped hotel rooms! Your team will stay in a large, luxurious, six-bedroom house that has recently undergone a complete, high-standard renovation. This spacious property is designed to provide a comfortable, memorable, and stress-free stay for your entire group.
Key Features Include:
- Six Bedrooms and Four Bathrooms
- Spacious Open-Plan Kitchen and Dining Area
- Large Garden for relaxing and unwinding
- Plenty of space, a large flat-screen TV, and essential kitchenware provided.
- Ample Parking with a large driveway for up to three cars, plus an electric charging point.
The Venue
Solta O Jogo 3 returns for the third year to London’s iconic Kingston Town Hall, an award-winning venue celebrated for its striking design and even featured on Netflix. As the home of the world’s only international collective Capoeira competition, this state-of-the-art space provides the perfect stage to showcase culture, movement, and community. Its prime location connects Brazilian heritage with a global audience, reflecting the event’s continued success and the strong partnership with Kingston Council.