capoeira beginners' frequently asked questions

Yes. Capoeira is for everyone regardless of age, size or fitness level. As with any kind of exercise you will find the training challenging at the beginning, but our Capoeira lessons are structured to help you build up your fitness gradually. The more you train and the more regularly you train, the quicker your fitness level improves.

That’s not a problem. At our school, you will not only learn the art form and build up your fitness level as you train, but also learn how to warm up before and cool down after the class, how to stretch and improve your flexibility and balance. You can just practise Capoeira with us in the class, but we will teach you how to continue improving your fitness level outside the class in a way that would help you with your training in the class. It’s never too late to start practising sport and it’ recommended by health authorities.

During our short course you will learn basic Capoeira steps and sequences, you’ll try some acrobatics, such as handstand, cartwheel or macaco (monkey jump) as well as have a go at playing basic Capoeira instruments, such as agôgô or reco-reco and singing simple corridos (Capoeira songs). Don’t expect to be a Capoeira Master after your beginners’ course. You’ll be hurting and your body might find all the spinning and upside-down movements bit challenging, but don’t give up, give your body a chance to adjust. You’ll feel great after regular training and experiencing it is worth the challenge.

If you are happy to continue learning with us you can join as a member and take advantage of cheaper Capoeira classes, flexible passes and have access to members only classes and events. If you are not sure of joining just yet, you can buy your second course (to train on the same day, or you can choose another day). The second course will be a continuation of your first course, you will learn more Capoeira moves and more sequences, as well as continue building up your strength, flexibility and agility.

Yes. We realise that living and working in London is challenging itself and sometime other commitments have to come first. Don’t worry, just let us know and you’ll be able to come to another class in the given week or next. However, please make up for the missed lesson before your Capoeira course finishes, as the class won’t be carried over to the next month.

You can get your money back, less £10 administration fee, if you cancel 30 days or more before the course starts or if you have a medical certificate that you are unable to participate because of the health condition. If you did no more than 1 class you can re-enrol on another course less £12. Otherwise the courses and classes are non-refundable.

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We practise Capoeira usually barefooted and blisters might appear during the training at some point, but your feet will eventually get used to the spinning around. You can protect your toes with a plaster or you can wear some martial arts or canvas shoes on a thin light-coloured sole for your training (no heavy trainers are allowed).

As with any exercise, if you do it properly, the answer is yes. Next day after exercising is you’ll be sore but the day after will be even worse. Don’t be alarmed though.

According to sportsmedicine.about.com, "delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) describes a phenomenon of muscle pain, muscle soreness or muscle stiffness that is felt 12-48 hours after exercise, particularly at the beginning of a new exercise program, after a change in sports activities, or after a dramatic increase in the duration or intensity of exercise. This muscle pain is a normal response to unusual exertion and is part of an adaptation process that leads to greater stamina and strength as the muscles recover and build hypertrophy (the growth and increase of the size of muscle cells)".

If you train Capoeira regularly three times a week or more, you’ll improve naturally and feel significantly physically stronger and more confident with your Capoeira knowledge.

If you want to train just once or twice a week, you will still learn and improve, but it will be a much longer process, as your body won’t remember what it learnt and every time you’ll be almost starting from beginning. You’ll improve your coordination and your knowledge will be grater, therefore picking up sequences will be easier, however if the body isn’t ready or if you have some old habits, it will take time to improve in this area if you just train once or twice a week.

Capoeira is for everyone, whether they want to train once a week, once a month or every day, but remember that how much one puts in, this much one gets, so don’t expect miracles if you train regularly 1-2 a week for a year and you haven’t yet learnt a certain move. It’s normal and it’s not just your case, most of the people will have similar results.

You will learn various Capoeira acrobatics. The movements will be broken down for you to understand the movement. You will practise many supporting exercises to help you build up to the level when you can challenge the acrobatic move.

Sometime, if possible, we use sports mats, but most of the time we practise on a wooden or dance floor, therefore we train in a way and to a level when it is safe. If you want to learn more advanced acrobatics, which we think are not safe to practise in the studios we hire, you’ll be advised where to go for safe additional training.

By all means, it is recommended. When you come to our Capoeira beginners’ class, you will still be challenged regardless of your fitness level. We train as a group, but our Capoeira teacher recognises the individuality of the students. We do exercises together, but when the teacher notices you find it easy to do, you’ll be shown the next level to challenge or advised to improve all the important details.

Throughout our beginners’ course you’ll also have the opportunity to see how our classes are run, meet our member, experience the energy in the school and try our style. You can do up to two courses before joining as a member. There are many schools in London, playing various Capoeira styles. Find one where you feel happy and where you like the teacher. To improve in Capoeira you should stay with one teacher and school/style throughout your Capoeira journey, so it’s important to find the right one for you at the beginning of that journey.

Please visit our membership page for details.

For us, every student is a potential Capoeira Master, therefore you will learn all aspects of the art form – movements, music, history, will be encouraged to study language and Brazilian culture. With time, if you wish to go to the next level, you will learn aspects of teaching the art form and working with Capoeira. As a member you will have also opportunity to take part in our projects, workshops and performances.

Yes. Capoeira Agora is a school of equal opportunities and we proud ourselves on treating everybody fair. You will be invited to do projects and performances with us, your involvement, will depend on you as well as on how you engage with Capoeira Agora throughout the year. People who attend our classes more often and regularly will be given more important tasks and roles in performances and priority if the numbers of performers is restricted, but nobody is excluded from our projects and all members, also those who appear in the school only every now and then, are still our members and we care for them and give them opportunities, if they arise.

Your abilities don’t matter in a way that you don’t have to do a perfect macaco to perform. Capoeira has so many aspects, that there is always something you can do in the performace to add to its energy and beauty.

You will learn Capoeira, which follows traditions of Associação de Capoeira Senzala de Santos of Mestre Sombra. Our roots reach far beyond when Capoeira Regional was created and first Capoeira Angola school was open.

We work closely with Associação de Capoeira Senzala de Santos of Mestre Sombra and we are associated with many schools around the World with similar roots.

Upon joining as a Capoeira Agora member, you will have lots of opportunities to participate in many a workshop organised by Capoeira Agora with Mestre Sombra and other various teachers from our Capoeira association, as well as in workshops organised by associated schools where Capoeira Agora is invited.