Axé Capoeira is one of the largest capoeira groups in the world today. The group’s schools teach in more than thirty countries, from Canada to Brazil and from Europe to Asia. The Axé Capoeira groups in Türkiye are part of this family. The group’s story begins in Recife, a port city in north-east Brazil, with...

Looking at the history of capoeira, two founding figures stand out: Mestre Bimba, who developed the Regional style, and Mestre Pastinha (Vicente Ferreira Pastinha, 1889–1981), who institutionalised the traditional game. Pastinha brought the traditional game, until then played in scattered form on the streets, under one roof, and through the academy he founded passed the...

Everyone who starts capoeira hears two names at some point: Angola and Regional. These are capoeira’s two main styles. They share the same roots but developed in different directions in the 20th century. In this article we explain where the two styles come from and how they differ. A short history Capoeira was developed by...

The most distinctive thing that sets capoeira apart from other martial arts is music. The roda doesn’t start without it. Instruments and songs set the speed, style and mood of the game. In this article we explain the instruments used in capoeira and their role in the roda. Bateria: the capoeira orchestra The group of...

Many people who join a gym and quit a few weeks later say the same thing: ‘I got bored.’ Minutes on the treadmill drag on and weight routines become repetitive. Capoeira offers another way to stay fit: moving with music, play and a group, often forgetting that you’re exercising. What does capoeira train? Endurance In...

There’s one word everyone who starts capoeira hears sooner or later: batizado. Groups prepare for months, masters arrive from other cities and countries, and students wait excitedly for their first cord. In this article we explain what a batizado is and how the cord system works in capoeira. What does batizado mean? Batizado means ‘baptism’...

Capoeira moves have Portuguese names that sound unfamiliar in the first classes. In this guide we briefly explain the moves beginners hear most often, what they mean and what they are used for in the game. How the moves are performed can vary slightly from group to group; always learn the correct technique from your...

When people think of capoeira, they usually picture young people spinning in the air. That image puts many older people off before they even start. Yet capoeira groups have students who started in their 30s, 40s and even 50s and have kept going for years. In this article we answer the questions of adults thinking...

Many people who see capoeira in videos and get curious ask the same questions before their first class: ‘I’ve never done sport, is that OK?’, ‘I can’t do a cartwheel, is that a problem?’, ‘What should I wear?’ In this article we explain step by step what awaits you in your first class. What to...

If you are thinking of signing your child up for a sport, there are plenty of options: football, swimming, gymnastics, karate. Capoeira is rarely at the top of that list. Yet because it brings movement, music and play together, it is a sport well suited to children. Below you will find what it is, what...