Cordas
As other martial arts, Capoeira has a system to grade student’s progress. Each group has its own colours and students can only change their cords at a Batizado or Troca de cordão ceremony, which is normally held once a year.
Capoeira União has the following cordas:
| 1st | Azul (Blue) |
| 2nd | Azul/Branco (Blue/White) |
| 3rd | Marron (Brown) |
| 4th | Marron/Branco (Brown/White) |
| 5th | Cinza (Grey) |
| 6th | Cinza/Branco (Grey/White) |
| 7th | Laranja (Orange) – Estagario |
| 8th | Laranja/Branco (Orange/White) |
| 9th | Verde (Green) – Instrutor |
| 10th | Verde/Branco (Green/White) |
| 11th | Amarelo (Yellow) – Professor |
| 12th | Amarelo/Branco (Yellow/White) |
| 13th | Roxo (Purple) – Contra-Mestre |
| 14th | Roxo/White (Purple/White) |
| 15th | Vermelho (Red) – Mestre |