Rabo de arraia (stingray tail) or meia-lua de compasso (compass crescent) is a distinct technique found in the martial arts of engolo and capoeira, that combines an evasive maneuver with a reverse kick.
It is considered one of the most powerful and efficient capoeira kicks and one of its most iconic movements, along with the rasteira. It is even considered that a capoeirista's general skill level can be determined on how hard and fast they are able to execute a meia-lua de compasso.
The kick is done with the heel. It is extensively used in the "low game."
Names
In literature, this kick is called both meia lua de compasso and rabo de arraia. Rabo de arraia (stingray tail) is a parent term used in capoeira for inverted kicks over the head, including meia lua de compasso and scorpion.
In engolo, the class of spinning kicks with hands on ground is called okuminunina or okusanene komima in Bantu.
Origin
Meia-lua de compasso, along with many other movements that are now considered the trademark of capoeira, was developed within Angolan martial art engolo. The inverted positions of engolo and capoeira, including the handstand, aú and rabo de arraia, are believed to have originated from the use of handstand by Bantu shamans imitating their ancestors, who walked on their hands in the spirit world.
One myth describes how the African slaves who created capoeira were forced to develop their techniques while having their hands chained, which gave birth to golpes rodados (spinning attacks) in which hands were put on the ground to support their bodies.
History
In the 19th century, the "rabo de arraia" was a popular kick in Rio's capoeira carioca. There are also illustrations from the same period depicting French sailors, savate fighters, using the same strike.
In 1909, there was a famous match when a capoeirista Ciríaco da Silva, defeated a Japanese jujitsu champion Sado Miyako with the rabo de arraia kick. Although it is often interpreted that he used a meia lua de compasso, he used different rabo de arraia version known as the scorpion today.
Meia lua de compasso was introduced in mixed martial arts in 2009 by Brazilian fighter Marcus "Lelo" Aurélio (also known as Professor Barrãozinho), who knocked out his opponent Keegan Marshall with it. He was followed in 2011 by Cairo Rocha, who knocked out Francesco Neves with a meia-lua de compasso.
Technique
Rabo de arraia can be executed from the ginga or from the ground negativa position. The head and torso swinging down from the ginga generate the additional momentum for the kick. Before kicking, it is important to place the hands on the floor and look at the target through them. Meia lua de compasso can be performed with both hands on the floor or with one on the floor and the other protecting the face.
The kick movement is a whip-like rotation. The kicking leg is forcefully thrown in a wide arc, with the heel pointed at the target. The kick passes through the target and ends on the ground at the same point as it began. The kicking leg should be very straight, although the support leg can be bent. To allow the kicking leg to move freely, the body rotates around the supporting leg. As the body turns, the one arm and leg naturally lift off the ground. After the kick, the player comes back to ginga position again.
The kick generally aims at the opponent's head. The contact area could be the lateral part of the foot, or the heel of the kicking foot. Rabo de arraia can be applied to various areas of the body, thus making it more complex than it appears at first glance. It can be aimed at the various areas of the opponents's body, including face, chest, ribs and belly. The kick has numerous modalities depending on where it is applied. The kick is highly adaptable and can spin toward the opponent from various angles, with rapid changes of direction.
If the kick starts from the standing or semi-crouched position, the capoeirista twists his body towards one side, downing one or both hands onto the ground for balance, and launches the opposite leg into the air in a semi-circular motion that ends with his heel striking the opponent, usually in the head, or completing the spin into a ginga position. The power of the kick derives its energy from the similar centripetal force of a golf club swing.
Variations
With one hand
Some players performs meia lua de compasso with one on the floor and the other protecting the face. This version is known as Meia-lua presa (locked crescent).