Charleston's beginner-friendly Capoeira community is here.
Beginner-friendly capoeira classes are running now in the Charleston area — and your first class is free. No experience, rhythm, flexibility, or martial arts background required.
Your first class is free. No experience needed.
Not ready to join? Get class updates by email:
We'll only email you about class updates, schedule changes, and community events.
- Beginner-friendly
- No experience required
- Charleston, SC + Lowcountry
- Affiliated with CDFC Long Beach
You don’t need experience to start.
Affiliated with CDFC Capoeira Long Beach.
Beginner-friendly capoeira, every week.
Classes run weekly in the Charleston area, in Summerville. Come as you are, learn the basics, hear the music, and play. Start with one class a week or go unlimited.
What you get
- Beginner-friendly classes — no experience needed
- Live music, songs, and the roda
- All levels and ages welcome
- One-a-week or unlimited memberships
- A welcoming, founding-student community
Weekly schedule
All classes are capoeira and beginner-friendly.
- Wednesday · 8:00 PM
- Friday · 8:00 PM
- Saturday · 3:00 PM
What is capoeira?
Capoeira is an Afro-Brazilian art form that blends movement, music, rhythm, play, and community. It is practiced through call-and-response music, partner movement, and the roda — the circle where capoeira comes alive.
You do not need to be flexible, athletic, musical, or experienced to start. Curiosity is enough.
Movement
Flowing, grounded, and playful body movement rooted in tradition.
Music
Call-and-response songs led by instruments like the berimbau and pandeiro.
Rhythm
Every movement follows the rhythm set by the music and the circle.
Roda
The circle where capoeira comes alive through play between two people.
Culture
An Afro-Brazilian art form carrying centuries of history and resilience.
Community
Built on shared learning, respect, and the people around you.
No experience required. Really.
Capoeira can look intimidating from the outside, but every experienced practitioner started as a beginner. Future intro sessions will be designed to help new students understand the basics, move safely, and learn the rhythm of the practice step by step.
- You do not need to be flexible.
- You do not need martial arts experience.
- You do not need to be athletic.
- You do not need to be musical.
- You do not need to know how to flip.
- Curiosity, consistency, and respect matter most.
You can start as a complete beginner.
You do not need to be flexible, athletic, musical, or experienced to begin. This studio is being built for people who want to learn with humility, consistency, curiosity, and respect.
- 1
Complete beginners
No background, athletic ability, or rhythm required. Start exactly where you are.
- 2
Movers and martial artists
Dancers, athletes, and martial artists curious about a new practice.
- 3
Music and rhythm learners
Anyone drawn to the songs, instruments, and timing of capoeira.
- 4
People looking for community
A welcoming space built around consistent practice together.
- 5
Charleston locals new to capoeira
Lowcountry residents, transplants, and visitors looking for something new.
Why join the interest list now?
The studio is still being prepared, but the community starts now. The first wave of students will help shape the launch, and interest list members get the first say.
- Be the first to hear when intro class dates are announced
- Founding student opportunities for the first cohort
- Updates on studio location and schedule before the public launch
- Beginner guidance so you know what to expect at your first class
- Hear about pop-up sessions and community events before they fill up
- Help shape what classes look like in Charleston
What happens after you sign up
- 1
Join the list
Drop your email — takes 10 seconds.
- 2
Get launch updates
Occasional emails about intro class dates and studio progress.
- 3
First access to intro classes
Interest list members hear before the public launch.
- 4
Decide if it's for you
Try a beginner-paced intro class. No pressure, no commitment.
What your first intro class will feel like.
Your first class will be simple, welcoming, and beginner-paced. You'll learn the basic movements, hear the music, get comfortable with the rhythm of the class, and meet other people who are also starting from the beginning.
- 1
Warm up + basics
Gentle warm-up and foundational movement. No pressure to keep up.
- 2
Beginner Capoeira steps
Learn the ginga and a few simple kicks at your own pace.
- 3
Simple partner drills
Try low-stakes partner play with someone else who's also new.
- 4
Music + rhythm
Hear the berimbau and pandeiro behind the art.
- 5
Meet real people
Other beginners starting from zero, just like you.
- 6
Decide for yourself
Leave with a better feel for whether capoeira is for you.
Want to know when these intro classes are announced?
See the weekly class schedule, membership options, and what to expect at your first class.
Ready to start? Your first class is this week.
Classes run Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday. Pick a membership to join, or drop your email for class updates.
Your first class is free. No experience needed.
Or get class updates by email:
Monitor Zumbi
Miles Walker
Miles has been practicing capoeira for the past 14 years — growing up in the roda, training under Mestre Mariano Silva, ContraMestre Corpo Fechado, and Professor Grilo at CDFC Capoeira Long Beach.
He’s now bringing the same tradition, music, and movement to Charleston, SC and the surrounding areas — opening a new home for this Afro-Brazilian art form on the East Coast.
Today
Monitor Zumbi
Early days
With his teacher
CDFC Capoeira Long Beach
Long Beach, CA
Lineage
- Mestre Mariano Silva
- ContraMestre Corpo Fechado
- Professor Grilo
Established roots, new home in Charleston.
Charleston's new Capoeira community is being built with a connection to CDFC Capoeira in Long Beach, bringing established training, culture, and community roots to the Lowcountry.
Our instructor, Monitor Zumbi (Miles Walker), trained under this lineage and is bringing the same tradition, music, and movement to the Charleston community.
The roda is bigger than any single studio. What we’re building in the Lowcountry is part of a larger community that has carried this Afro-Brazilian art form forward for generations.
See what Capoeira feels like.
Movement, music, rhythm, community, and challenge — all at your own pace. Some of these clips show advanced play; your first intro class will be much simpler and slower.
What students say about training with Miles.
Charleston classes haven’t started yet — these reviews are from students who trained alongside Monitor Zumbi over his 14 years in capoeira. They speak to the welcome, energy, and growth you can expect when classes begin here.
You will learn the Capoeira culture, language, dance and best of all — you will get a hardcore, out of this world workout! If you don’t know Capoeira, think of it as a mix between Jiu jitsu and acrobatics; trust me, you will discover muscles that you had no idea existed. You will be doing handstands, cartwheels, Spider-Man runs, kicks, and anything to do with using your own body weight. It’s a nice, friendly, welcoming environment; I highly recommend everyone try this place.
This is a space where a community grows and flourishes. Nobody is competing against anybody. The instructor sees the strengths and potential of each student and works with them, motivating us to get better and not to be afraid to explore and keep trying. I am a fairly new student who joined out of curiosity to explore capoeira. I am what is labeled as “a senior citizen” and I have a fear of being upside down. Guess what — capoeira is a lot of upside down, and I am getting more and more comfortable with the idea. The approach to capoeira is a holistic one, with respect and reverence to the historical and cultural context. Mostly, the instructor created this safe space, free of drama and gossip.
My kids (8 and 5) look forward to Capoeira class. Not only has it helped build their endurance and strength but also their confidence and assertiveness. The instructor is very patient with the kids — he knows how to make it a fun and safe place to learn. My husband and I attend the adult Capoeira class. It’s a great workout, for the body and soul. You learn how to play different instruments, sing songs in Portuguese, how to perform in front of crowds, body awareness, core and back strength, to name a few things. It’s also a warm and welcoming community, truly hard to find these days, a true gem.
An inclusive space that offers an amazing workout and experience. The instructor provides support and guidance that makes capoeira fun and approachable. The class was welcoming to all levels. There was also an amazing sense of community among students during class.
My child and I take capoeira together. The classes are great where you get full knowledge of the martial art — from music to play. A great all-in-one studio where you never leave without a good sweat!
I take the Capoeira classes here, and the teacher is great. Very patient with all the students. The studio has a friendly and inclusive atmosphere.
Great classes to choose from. The instructor breaks everything down. Great workout. Capoeira class — the instructor will definitely push you, but in a good way. It’s definitely a must-try.
Great Capoeira classes. The workouts are intense and the instruction top of the line. The classes are multilevel and the instructor is very good at managing everyone. The studio has real good energy.
So great! A dynamic workout that you must try! Had so much fun. It warrants the exclamation points.
Questions, answered.
Don’t see your question? Email hello@charlestoncapoeira.com.
- Yes. Your first class is on us — come try it before you commit, no card needed.
- No. Classes are beginner-friendly and welcome first-timers. You can start with zero capoeira experience.
- No. You can start where you are. Classes build movement, rhythm, and confidence over time.
- Capoeira classes run Wednesday at 8:00 PM, Friday at 8:00 PM, and Saturday at 3:00 PM.
- At 117 N Creek Dr, Summerville, SC 29486 — serving Charleston and the Lowcountry.
- Memberships are $89/month for one class a week, or $150/month unlimited (two or more classes a week). See the Membership page to join.
- Classes are beginner-friendly for adults and teens. Family and kids classes may follow based on interest.
- Comfortable clothes you can move in. Loose pants or athletic wear work well. Capoeira is typically practiced barefoot or in lightweight shoes.
- Capoeira blends martial arts, movement, music, rhythm, culture, and community. You can come to it for any of those reasons.
Your first class is free. No experience needed.
Start training Capoeira in Charleston.
Pick a membership and join a class this week, or drop your email for class updates and community events.
Your first class is free. No experience needed.
Or get class updates by email:
We'll only email you about class updates, schedule changes, and community events.
Questions? hello@charlestoncapoeira.com