Tutorials, Step By Step guide, Tips & Follow Along Video
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Pronounced “a-oo” the Aú is the capoeira cartwheel. This capoeira cartwheel is done differently than a cartwheel in gymnastics.
Move Background
An aú, in its base form, is performed very slowly, with arms and legs bent in order to keep a low target profile. Players sometime pause midway during an aú holding it for a handstand position, from which they can execute a wide variety of moves.
Step by step guide
The aú can be seen as a handstand variation and gives you experience entering and exiting your bananeira in a basic manner - sideways.
Its good to practise the aú until you are totally comfortable before you move onto more advanced acrobatic movements such as the macaco.
The gymnastics cartwheel starts in a forward facing lunge position.
The au starts with the toes pointing forward and the body performing the cartwheel to the side.
The head stays in line with the shoulders, looking forward towards the person you are playing Capoeira with.
You should always have your chest facing the other person as you do a cartwheel.
There are many variations to doing a cartwheel, however the most fundamental variation is with the legs and arms fully extended throughout the movement.
The au can be done for many reasons, including evading kicks and gaining a better position in the roda.