| rabo | tail |
| rabo de raia | stingray tail; kick |
| raia | stingray |
| rasteira | a sweeping trip and trademark capoeira move [sweep] |
| rasteira em p | sweep without using hands [sweep] |
| reco-reco | ribbed bamboo scraper, sometimes shaped like a fish |
| recuo | retreat move, usually with one hand on the ground |
| regional | fast athletic style of capoeira developed by Master Bimba |
| relógio | watch; spin on one hand [flourish] |
| roda | circle; circle made of people where capoeira is played |
| roler | "to walk around"; turning movement using hands with feet on the ground [basic movement] |
