Berkeley Capoeira Collective
The Capoeira Arts Building, 1901 San Pablo Ave, Berkeley, CA 94702
About
Berkeley Capoeira Collective offers capoeira as a roots-based Afro-Brazilian art form that blends martial arts, dance, acrobatics, music, and history into a single practice. Classes include movement in a playful style well suited for young people, along with music using instruments such as the berimbau and songs and rhythms that guide the game. Kids, teens, and adults practice together in age-appropriate programs that include pre-schoolers, kids, and teens, with practitioners of all ages and genders at the academy.
• Ages: 3–18 years old
• Schedule: Business hours Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 12:00pm to 9:00pm, and Sunday from 12:30pm to 2:00pm
• Price: Your first class is free.
Capoeira at this program is described as an Afro-Brazilian martial art created by enslaved Africans in Brazil as a form of resistance, self-expression, and survival under slavery, and it remains rooted in Afro-Brazilian history and traditions. The practice includes fluid, acrobatic movements that combine strength, agility, rhythm, and strategy, and it is described as accessible to people of all ages, backgrounds, and levels of physical ability. Music is central, with the berimbau, songs, and rhythms shaping the energy of the roda and connecting practitioners to the ancestors and the deeper meaning of the art. Kids’ classes are described as development and growth focused, and teen classes focus on strength, resilience, and a sense of belonging, while adult classes offer a dynamic practice that engages with Afro-Brazilian tradition in a supportive community.
The program’s mission is stated as “A cultural experience for all ages and abilities.” Capoeira is described as being practiced worldwide, bringing people together across cultures while honoring its Afro-Brazilian roots and living traditions, and through ritual song and movement it preserves cultural memory and strengthens community. The lineage at this academy uses the colors of the Brazilian flag (green, yellow, blue, and white) to indicate progression in training, with various combinations marking in-between levels. A batizado is an event that formally recognizes students who have decided to continue their training, and at Berkeley Capoeira this often includes the presentation of a new color belt or cordão. As a collective, the teachers come from several lineages and have chosen to work together based on alignment in teaching practices and values.
Families are asked to bring a water bottle, and for the first few classes students are told to wear comfortable clothes they can move in, with shorts or socks not recommended. If shoes are needed, the program specifies non-marking shoes meant for fitness activities, and uniforms are available for those who decide to continue.
Last updated May 18, 2026.
• Ages: 3–18 years old
• Schedule: Business hours Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 12:00pm to 9:00pm, and Sunday from 12:30pm to 2:00pm
• Price: Your first class is free.
Capoeira at this program is described as an Afro-Brazilian martial art created by enslaved Africans in Brazil as a form of resistance, self-expression, and survival under slavery, and it remains rooted in Afro-Brazilian history and traditions. The practice includes fluid, acrobatic movements that combine strength, agility, rhythm, and strategy, and it is described as accessible to people of all ages, backgrounds, and levels of physical ability. Music is central, with the berimbau, songs, and rhythms shaping the energy of the roda and connecting practitioners to the ancestors and the deeper meaning of the art. Kids’ classes are described as development and growth focused, and teen classes focus on strength, resilience, and a sense of belonging, while adult classes offer a dynamic practice that engages with Afro-Brazilian tradition in a supportive community.
The program’s mission is stated as “A cultural experience for all ages and abilities.” Capoeira is described as being practiced worldwide, bringing people together across cultures while honoring its Afro-Brazilian roots and living traditions, and through ritual song and movement it preserves cultural memory and strengthens community. The lineage at this academy uses the colors of the Brazilian flag (green, yellow, blue, and white) to indicate progression in training, with various combinations marking in-between levels. A batizado is an event that formally recognizes students who have decided to continue their training, and at Berkeley Capoeira this often includes the presentation of a new color belt or cordão. As a collective, the teachers come from several lineages and have chosen to work together based on alignment in teaching practices and values.
Families are asked to bring a water bottle, and for the first few classes students are told to wear comfortable clothes they can move in, with shorts or socks not recommended. If shoes are needed, the program specifies non-marking shoes meant for fitness activities, and uniforms are available for those who decide to continue.
Last updated May 18, 2026.
Is this your business? There is no cost, but you will be asked to sign up or log in.