Capoeira

What Is Capoeira?

Capoeira was developed, probably from the sixteenth century onward, by enslaved Africans in Brazil — with roots traced to the Mbundu people of the Kingdom of Ndongo in present-day Angola — who disguised their martial practice as dance and play. The earliest documented reference dates to 1789. In 2014, UNESCO added the "capoeira circle" to its Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, formal recognition of its cultural significance.

It combines flowing acrobatic movement, kicks, sweeps and evasions performed in dialogue with an opponent within a ritual circle (the roda), accompanied by live music including the berimbau, atabaque and pandeiro.

The two main styles are Capoeira Angola — the older, more traditional, ground-level style associated with Mestre Pastinha — and Capoeira Regional, created by Mestre Bimba, which is faster and more acrobatic, with its own belt-like ranking system (cordões). Both are practiced in London with strong communities around each tradition.

Capoeira vs Breakdance

Capoeira and breakdance developed independently — a century and an ocean apart — but share a striking real parallel: both are acrobatic, circle-based practices built around a game-like exchange between performers, rather than fixed choreography.

Benefits of Capoeira

Who Is Capoeira Suitable For?

Learning Capoeira in London

London has a well-established Capoeira community with multiple groups practicing both Angola and Regional styles. Classes and treinos (training sessions) run weekly across the city, with regular rodas (games) open to practitioners of all levels.

Capoeira Academy UK, led by Professor Bombril, is part of Capoeira Muzenza — described on its own site as one of the largest capoeira organisations in the world — and runs classes for children, adults and private groups alongside educational charity projects. London School of Capoeira Herança describes itself as the first capoeira school established in the UK, offering beginner courses, memberships and studio hire from its North London base. Capoeira Bemvindo Angola teaches specifically in the traditional Angola style, running adult and children's classes with frequent visiting-teacher workshops. Capoeira Nativos London, led by Contramestre Japão (Samir Nunez, 25 years of practice) under the guidance of Mestre Aranha, teaches across three community venues and hosts its own annual festival, Estrela Guia, with batizados, rodas and workshops.

Capoeira classes in London are offered at various studios and community spaces. Beginners learn the ginga (the fundamental swaying base movement), basic attacks and evasions, and the musical instruments alongside the physical practice.

Training is typically conducted partly in Portuguese, and cultural immersion is considered part of the learning process.

Capoeira FAQ

• Is capoeira more a dance or a martial art? +
  Both, genuinely — it combines martial technique, acrobatics, dance and live music, framed as a playful "game" (jogo) between two players rather than a fight or a purely aesthetic dance.
• What's the difference between Capoeira Angola and Capoeira Regional? +
  Angola is the older, more traditional style — slower, played closer to the ground; Regional, created by Mestre Bimba, is faster and more acrobatic, with its own belt-like cord ranking system.
• Do I need to be fit or have martial arts experience to start? +
  No — beginner classes build fitness and technique progressively from the ginga (basic movement) upward; no prior martial arts or dance experience is expected.
• What is a "roda" and what happens inside it? +
  A roda is the circle of participants, music and clapping that surrounds two capoeiristas as they play — the central social and performance space of capoeira, not just a rehearsal exercise.
• What should I wear to my first capoeira class? +
  Comfortable, loose sportswear that allows kicks and floor work is fine to start; capoeira is traditionally practiced barefoot, and most groups move to a group uniform once you join.
• Are there capoeira classes for children in London? +
  Yes, several London groups run dedicated children's classes alongside their adult programmes.
• What is a "batizado"? +
  A graduation ceremony marking a student's progress, typically involving a roda where students play with senior instructors and often receive their first cord (belt).
• How much do capoeira classes cost in London, and how often are they held? +
  Most groups run weekly or twice-weekly classes, with pricing broadly in line with other martial arts and specialist dance classes across the city — check individual groups for exact rates.