Are there capoeira classes near Charleston, SC?

Yes — CDFC Capoeira Charleston runs beginner-friendly capoeira classes at 3514 S Live Oak Dr, Ladson, SC 29461, serving Charleston and the Lowcountry. Classes meet Wednesday and Friday at 8:00 PM and Saturday at 3:00 PM.

Do I need experience to start capoeira?

No. Classes are designed for complete beginners. You don't need to be flexible, athletic, musical, or have any martial arts background to start — and your first class is free.

How much do capoeira classes cost in Charleston?

Your first class is free. Memberships are $89/month for one class per week, or $150/month for unlimited classes (two or more per week).

Where are classes held?

At 3514 S Live Oak Dr, Ladson, SC 29461 — about 25 minutes from downtown Charleston, serving the whole Lowcountry.

Is capoeira a martial art, a dance, or a workout?

All three. Capoeira is an Afro-Brazilian martial art that blends kicks and escapes with rhythm, live music, and acrobatic movement. Practitioners commonly burn 500+ calories in an hour while learning real technique and culture.

Capoeira Classes in Charleston, SC

Beginner-friendly capoeira is here. CDFC Capoeira Charleston — rooted in the lineage of CDFC Capoeira Long Beach — runs weekly classes in Ladson, serving Charleston and the whole Lowcountry. Your first class is free, and no experience is required.

Class schedule

Wednesday · 8:00 PM
Friday · 8:00 PM
Saturday · 3:00 PM

3514 S Live Oak Dr, Ladson, SC 29461. First class free — see memberships and join, or get class updates by email:

Your first class is free. No experience needed.

What to expect from capoeira classes in Charleston

Capoeira is an Afro-Brazilian art that combines martial arts, acrobatic movement, live music, and Portuguese song. A typical class blends a full-body workout with real technique: you’ll learn the ginga (capoeira’s foundational step), basic kicks and escapes, partner games, and the instruments — berimbau, pandeiro, atabaque — that drive the roda, the circle where capoeira is played.

Classes are built for beginner adults and teens. No flips required, no experience assumed — just curiosity and consistency.

Why train capoeira instead of a typical gym class

Full-body conditioning. Capoeira moves your body in every direction — strength, mobility, balance, and cardio in one practice.
A skill, not just a workout. Every class builds toward playing in the roda: real technique, rhythm, and expression you keep for life.
Music and culture. You’ll learn songs, instruments, and the history of an art born from Afro-Brazilian resistance and community.
Community first. Capoeira is played with people, not against them. The Charleston group is built around welcome and respect.

Membership and pricing

Your first class is free. After that, train once a week for $89/month or go unlimited (two or more classes a week) for $150/month. Join on the membership page.

A real lineage, new to the Lowcountry

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. Classes are led by Instrutor Zumbi (Miles Walker), training under the lineage of Mestre Mariano Silva, ContraMestre Corpo Fechado, Professor Grilo.

Plan your first visit

What to wear: comfortable athletic clothes you can move in — loose pants or leggings and a t-shirt work well. Capoeira is trained barefoot, so no special shoes are needed.
What to bring: a water bottle and a willingness to try. No gear, uniform, or equipment is required for your first class.
When to arrive: come 10–15 minutes early so you can meet the instructor, get introduced, and settle in before the warm-up starts.
Who can come: classes are beginner-friendly for adults and teens. No experience, flexibility, or fitness baseline required — the class scales to you.
What happens: a gentle warm-up, the ginga (capoeira’s base step), one or two simple kicks and escapes, low-stakes partner play, and live music. You’ll leave sweaty and smiling.
Cost: your first class is free — no card required. After that, memberships are $89/month (one class a week) or $150/month unlimited.

Where classes are held

3514 S Live Oak Dr, Ladson, SC 29461 — on S Live Oak Dr (Hwy 17-A), between Summerville and Moncks Corner, an easy drive from Ladson, Goose Creek, North Charleston, and the rest of the Lowcountry. Get directions.

Frequently asked questions

Are there capoeira classes near Charleston, SC?: Yes — CDFC Capoeira Charleston runs beginner-friendly capoeira classes at 3514 S Live Oak Dr, Ladson, SC 29461, serving Charleston and the Lowcountry. Classes meet Wednesday and Friday at 8:00 PM and Saturday at 3:00 PM.
Do I need experience to start capoeira?: No. Classes are designed for complete beginners. You don't need to be flexible, athletic, musical, or have any martial arts background to start — and your first class is free.
How much do capoeira classes cost in Charleston?: Your first class is free. Memberships are $89/month for one class per week, or $150/month for unlimited classes (two or more per week).
Where are classes held?: At 3514 S Live Oak Dr, Ladson, SC 29461 — about 25 minutes from downtown Charleston, serving the whole Lowcountry.
Is capoeira a martial art, a dance, or a workout?: All three. Capoeira is an Afro-Brazilian martial art that blends kicks and escapes with rhythm, live music, and acrobatic movement. Practitioners commonly burn 500+ calories in an hour while learning real technique and culture.