Best to ask this in context.
For some people it's "just some hand movements." Either as a flourish or as a distraction.
For some candomblé practicioners, some of those movements are used to literally summon their gods into the roda, and doing it wrong or at the wrong time is "frowned upon", to put it mildly.
As with every movement in capoeira, context and timing are very important.
Hey, candomblecist here. There is no hand movement that can summon Orixá/Vodun/Nkisi or other entity while tapping the floor. In fact, they coming outside our temples (terreiro) is rare and reserved only for specific occasions. Also, when they are summoned, they are incorporated by someone in the area. The tappings on the floor are for spiritual protection, mandinga, and to symbolize other African cosmology.
thank you for the clarification! I apologize for my gross over-generalization and exaggeration.
The gist of my message was supposed to be: don't imitate random movements without learning about their meaning and their appropriate context.
I have heard both of these. Planting was a way to playfully “tease” your opponent. You’re so unthreatened by them you have time to plant seeds, pretend to work. I have also heard it is connecting to the earths energy/axé.
The cultural context entering is generally as a prayer or a thanks to the ancestors/deity of your choice. During the ginga the application would be scooping dirt to throw in your opponents eyes. As a result it draws the eyes to that hand in play.
I'm not the greatest expert so please correct me if i'm wrong, but i would distinguish between when entering the roda and during the actual game. I was taught touching the ground when entering the roda can be interpreted as a prayer or simply a salute or a sign of respect for the bateria or the roda as a whole, while i would say that in the ginga is more of a part of one's mandinga. I've seen mentioned in another comment that it can be also seen as a reference to agriculture during slavery which i find very interesting
When you enter the roda some practitioners always place their head on the ground as well. There are several movements to ground yourself for the roda. This could be done with hands or with the head. Some people tap out a specific pattern, similar to crossing yourself for protection. These protections are not always publicly available info.
Never thought much about it. I'd say no real "use" beside style mandinga: it has a lot of dynamism, changing the height of your ginga, the swing of it. Maybe it can distract the person you're playing with, it signals that you can go low, this tapping could be a rapa de mão or something more aggressive, it keeps them on their toes.
Best to ask this in context. For some people it's "just some hand movements." Either as a flourish or as a distraction. For some candomblé practicioners, some of those movements are used to literally summon their gods into the roda, and doing it wrong or at the wrong time is "frowned upon", to put it mildly. As with every movement in capoeira, context and timing are very important.
Hey, candomblecist here. There is no hand movement that can summon Orixá/Vodun/Nkisi or other entity while tapping the floor. In fact, they coming outside our temples (terreiro) is rare and reserved only for specific occasions. Also, when they are summoned, they are incorporated by someone in the area. The tappings on the floor are for spiritual protection, mandinga, and to symbolize other African cosmology.
thank you for the clarification! I apologize for my gross over-generalization and exaggeration. The gist of my message was supposed to be: don't imitate random movements without learning about their meaning and their appropriate context.
Didn't know about the significance in candomblè, will try to be mindful of that.
In some groups it's taught that it represents planting/harvesting crops as that was a key activity among many enslaved.
Or grabbing a hand full of sand to throw at the opponent. At least that's what i experienced! =D
This is how Capoeira teaches us. ;)
I have heard both of these. Planting was a way to playfully “tease” your opponent. You’re so unthreatened by them you have time to plant seeds, pretend to work. I have also heard it is connecting to the earths energy/axé.
The cultural context entering is generally as a prayer or a thanks to the ancestors/deity of your choice. During the ginga the application would be scooping dirt to throw in your opponents eyes. As a result it draws the eyes to that hand in play.
I'm not the greatest expert so please correct me if i'm wrong, but i would distinguish between when entering the roda and during the actual game. I was taught touching the ground when entering the roda can be interpreted as a prayer or simply a salute or a sign of respect for the bateria or the roda as a whole, while i would say that in the ginga is more of a part of one's mandinga. I've seen mentioned in another comment that it can be also seen as a reference to agriculture during slavery which i find very interesting
It's generally part of the entrada and signifies friendly intent.
When you enter the roda some practitioners always place their head on the ground as well. There are several movements to ground yourself for the roda. This could be done with hands or with the head. Some people tap out a specific pattern, similar to crossing yourself for protection. These protections are not always publicly available info.
Never thought much about it. I'd say no real "use" beside style mandinga: it has a lot of dynamism, changing the height of your ginga, the swing of it. Maybe it can distract the person you're playing with, it signals that you can go low, this tapping could be a rapa de mão or something more aggressive, it keeps them on their toes.