Capoeira - Helicopter Wheel - Au Helicoptero
The capoeira helicopter wheel (in portuguese: Au Helicoptero) is a cartwheel with half an extra rotation. Instead of going back down after 180°, you keep spinning your legs and land on the leg that left the floor last. Before you try this, you should work on short cartwheels. Short cartwheels are cartwheels where you don't move forward very much. Long
cartwheels are cartwheels where you reach forward very fa (for example the gymnastic cartwheel). Find more capoeira video instructions here, or click here to go back to capoeira main.
Execution
- This video only shows how to do a left au helicoptero. For the right side of this technique, simply to the whole thing the other way around.
- Start from the ginga and lean to the left.
- Plant your left hand close to your left leg, so that your fingers point back. Keep watching your opponent the whole time.
- Start off like if you were doing a short cartwheel, but don't let your right leg touch the ground first. Instead, you let your right leg pass in front of your face. It will look like your legs are spinning from your hips, but your upper body remains still. That's why you should be able to watch your opponent without interruption. If feels a bit like if you are starting with a cartwheel and then go into a front walkover.
- At the end, you have to arch your back, extend your hands and push your right leg forward up.
- Finally, land on your left leg and go back to the ginga.
Advice
- Warm up and stretch before you practice this capoeira move.
- I recommend you practice the au helicopter on mats at the beginning.
- Don't try this if your cartwheel is not very good.
- Don't practice this capoeira skill if you are having back, shoulder or elbow problems.
Performance
Suggestions
