FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
I am a beginner, can I join the classes at any time?
Yes. Our classes accommodate all levels and we will always try to give you some special attention on your first few days to help you fit in.
If I am not coordinated or flexible, can I still do capoeira?
Yes, a lot of people say that, but lack of coordination or flexibility should not keep you away from capoeira. In fact, capoeira is a great way to increase coordination, flexibility, strength and stability of your entire body, On top of that, you will get a great workout with the fun of excitement of singing, playing percussion instruments, clapping and sharing the great capoeira great energy with everybody.
How heavy is the workout and fitness requirement?
Generally, a capoeira session is associated with very high levels of cardio training and full-body muscle strengthening. In this context, the instructors will do their best to be very motivating to keep you going, but never pushy. The most important thing is to respect everyone's limits, as everyone's body is different.
What do I need to wear and bring when I come to a class?
Feel free to bring a towel and drink bottle and wear comfortable and loose clothes, preferably pants. Most people practice capoeira bare foot but if you wish to wear shoes, please use shoes with thin soles to avoid ankle twist from high/thick soles, such as runner's shoes.
What etiquette do I need to follow during a class?
Please be on time to ensure you take part in the stretching and warm up, as this will assist in preventing injuries. For hygiene purposes, please be weary of sweat/feet smell and wear deodorant and clean clothes at all times.
Do I have to book in before I come to class?
There is no need to book in, but you might want to get in touch beforehand in case we are visiting another school or training in the park for a change. For any changes of schedule or public holidays class cancellation, please check out our Facebook Page and Instagram Page. You will find all last minute updates there.
Is there parking available?
Yes! Free on-site parking is available in our venues. Parking entrance is through Kingsley Parade, though, as we are on a corner building.
Do I need to know/learn Portuguese to practice capoeira?
No. Capoeira today is practiced all over the world and it does not require that you learn Portuguese. However, all the songs we sing are in Portuguese, so you are likely to learn a fair bit about the language for this reason. Also, many people who want to deepen their capoeira knowledge end up choosing to learn the language, but that is up to you.
What is a typical capoeira class like?
In our classes we experience all the elements involved in capoeira:
- Learning and playing different music instruments: berimbau, pandeiro, atabaque and agogô.
- Learning and singing different capoeira songs and understanding their significance/meaning.
- 10-15 min stretching/warm-up
- Ginga, capoeira kicks, acrobatics or ‘floreios’, take-downs ‘desequilibrantes’
- Practice of the capoeira game in pairs
- Core/strengthening exercises
- Capoeira history, rituals and traditions.
- ‘Roda’ or circle, is where all the elements of capoeira are put in action.
During the class, the different aspects of capoeira are practiced in a segmented way, allowing students to build a ‘tool box or repertoire’ of capoeira movements. It is then during the roda that capoeiristas get to practice their learnings by playing with another person and fitting in the movements they learned in an improvised fashion.
What days do you have classes?
Please check our Classes tab for the timetable for each location.
Do you offer free trial?
Yes, if you have never attended one of our classes, the first class is free. After that, you can opt to start paying monthly or per class.
How can I pay for classes?
Classes are billed monthly, via direct debt. Pro-rate payment is available.
Do I get concession prices if I am a student or unemployed?
We appreciate that people can go through financial hardship at times and we don't want that to prevent anyone from enjoying capoeira. Please talk to us and we will do our best to accomodate for your personal circumstances with a discounted fee.
Do you offer make-up class if I pay ‘monthly’ and miss a class?
No, as we are a Not-for-Profit Association, we are unable to offer make-up classes as we do incur a cost to run the class even if you are unable to attend. However, if you have a special circumstance, please come and talk to us, and we will try to accommodate whenever possible.
What style of capoeira does Group Beribazu practice?
Group Beribazu does not adopt one particular style of capoeira – namely Angola or Regional. Our aim to overcome the separation between both styles by playing elements of both Angola and Regional styles, fitting into the Capoeira Contemporânea. Our most commonly ‘toque de berimbau’ is Sao Bento Grande de Angola and many of our official ‘rodas’ always have Angola oriented games as well as Regional oriented games.
Who is your Mestre?
Unlike many capoeira groups, Grupo Beribazu does not have a single reference as a Mestre, but instead the Group is run by a Board of Mestres (currently 17 Mestres). That being said, the mestre who Pequeno and Deia have learned from is Mestre Jose Luiz Cirqueira Falcão (Mestre Falcão).
What is a Batizado (baptism) or Grading event?
A 'Batizado' or Grading event is a ceremonial ‘roda’ where new students get officially recognized as capoeiristas and earn their first graduation. Also more experienced students may go up in rank, depending on their skills, time training capoeira and dedication to the group. Following the Batizado, the new graduation, in the form of a cord, is given.
What does the corda (belt/cord) colour means?
‘Cordas’ are used as a grading system to represent the level of experience capoeiristas have. Each capoeira group/school has their own grading system which means that in one group a green corda, for example, might correspond to a completely different level in another group.
What is the grading/corda system at Group Beribazu?
Our grading structure can be found in the "About Us" section.
I have a question that is not "Frequently Asked". What do I do?!
Please email or call and we will try to answer it :)
Yes. Our classes accommodate all levels and we will always try to give you some special attention on your first few days to help you fit in.
If I am not coordinated or flexible, can I still do capoeira?
Yes, a lot of people say that, but lack of coordination or flexibility should not keep you away from capoeira. In fact, capoeira is a great way to increase coordination, flexibility, strength and stability of your entire body, On top of that, you will get a great workout with the fun of excitement of singing, playing percussion instruments, clapping and sharing the great capoeira great energy with everybody.
How heavy is the workout and fitness requirement?
Generally, a capoeira session is associated with very high levels of cardio training and full-body muscle strengthening. In this context, the instructors will do their best to be very motivating to keep you going, but never pushy. The most important thing is to respect everyone's limits, as everyone's body is different.
What do I need to wear and bring when I come to a class?
Feel free to bring a towel and drink bottle and wear comfortable and loose clothes, preferably pants. Most people practice capoeira bare foot but if you wish to wear shoes, please use shoes with thin soles to avoid ankle twist from high/thick soles, such as runner's shoes.
What etiquette do I need to follow during a class?
Please be on time to ensure you take part in the stretching and warm up, as this will assist in preventing injuries. For hygiene purposes, please be weary of sweat/feet smell and wear deodorant and clean clothes at all times.
Do I have to book in before I come to class?
There is no need to book in, but you might want to get in touch beforehand in case we are visiting another school or training in the park for a change. For any changes of schedule or public holidays class cancellation, please check out our Facebook Page and Instagram Page. You will find all last minute updates there.
Is there parking available?
Yes! Free on-site parking is available in our venues. Parking entrance is through Kingsley Parade, though, as we are on a corner building.
Do I need to know/learn Portuguese to practice capoeira?
No. Capoeira today is practiced all over the world and it does not require that you learn Portuguese. However, all the songs we sing are in Portuguese, so you are likely to learn a fair bit about the language for this reason. Also, many people who want to deepen their capoeira knowledge end up choosing to learn the language, but that is up to you.
What is a typical capoeira class like?
In our classes we experience all the elements involved in capoeira:
- Learning and playing different music instruments: berimbau, pandeiro, atabaque and agogô.
- Learning and singing different capoeira songs and understanding their significance/meaning.
- 10-15 min stretching/warm-up
- Ginga, capoeira kicks, acrobatics or ‘floreios’, take-downs ‘desequilibrantes’
- Practice of the capoeira game in pairs
- Core/strengthening exercises
- Capoeira history, rituals and traditions.
- ‘Roda’ or circle, is where all the elements of capoeira are put in action.
During the class, the different aspects of capoeira are practiced in a segmented way, allowing students to build a ‘tool box or repertoire’ of capoeira movements. It is then during the roda that capoeiristas get to practice their learnings by playing with another person and fitting in the movements they learned in an improvised fashion.
What days do you have classes?
Please check our Classes tab for the timetable for each location.
Do you offer free trial?
Yes, if you have never attended one of our classes, the first class is free. After that, you can opt to start paying monthly or per class.
How can I pay for classes?
Classes are billed monthly, via direct debt. Pro-rate payment is available.
Do I get concession prices if I am a student or unemployed?
We appreciate that people can go through financial hardship at times and we don't want that to prevent anyone from enjoying capoeira. Please talk to us and we will do our best to accomodate for your personal circumstances with a discounted fee.
Do you offer make-up class if I pay ‘monthly’ and miss a class?
No, as we are a Not-for-Profit Association, we are unable to offer make-up classes as we do incur a cost to run the class even if you are unable to attend. However, if you have a special circumstance, please come and talk to us, and we will try to accommodate whenever possible.
What style of capoeira does Group Beribazu practice?
Group Beribazu does not adopt one particular style of capoeira – namely Angola or Regional. Our aim to overcome the separation between both styles by playing elements of both Angola and Regional styles, fitting into the Capoeira Contemporânea. Our most commonly ‘toque de berimbau’ is Sao Bento Grande de Angola and many of our official ‘rodas’ always have Angola oriented games as well as Regional oriented games.
Who is your Mestre?
Unlike many capoeira groups, Grupo Beribazu does not have a single reference as a Mestre, but instead the Group is run by a Board of Mestres (currently 17 Mestres). That being said, the mestre who Pequeno and Deia have learned from is Mestre Jose Luiz Cirqueira Falcão (Mestre Falcão).
What is a Batizado (baptism) or Grading event?
A 'Batizado' or Grading event is a ceremonial ‘roda’ where new students get officially recognized as capoeiristas and earn their first graduation. Also more experienced students may go up in rank, depending on their skills, time training capoeira and dedication to the group. Following the Batizado, the new graduation, in the form of a cord, is given.
What does the corda (belt/cord) colour means?
‘Cordas’ are used as a grading system to represent the level of experience capoeiristas have. Each capoeira group/school has their own grading system which means that in one group a green corda, for example, might correspond to a completely different level in another group.
What is the grading/corda system at Group Beribazu?
Our grading structure can be found in the "About Us" section.
I have a question that is not "Frequently Asked". What do I do?!
Please email or call and we will try to answer it :)