Capoeira has a lot for everyone

It's not that capoeira has something to give everyone.

Capoeira is comprehensive. Think about the game of capoeira itself. Mestre always says that capoeira is like a salad: you throw in lettuce, tomato, cucumbers, onions, some of this, and some of that. Salads are configurable, and in the game of capoeira, you don't need to include any of this or that. Capoeira as a whole is even more multifarious: martial arts, dance, acrobatics, music, song, community, philosophy, culture and folklore.

On the flip side, one beautiful, more obscure thing I've learned about capoeira from teaching is this: There is no class that is too simple for any capoeirista. The one thing that makes a game, the ginga, is the most basic movement in all of capoeira. And it's the one we practice in any class. No matter how advanced you are, you have something to gain from an hour-long class of ginga. After all, one of Mestre Bimba's rules for being a capoeirista was, "Ginga sempre."

That means two things, in my opinion:

1. There's no shame (and it took me a while to realize this) in bringing a class full of experienced students down to a beginner class when a newbie shows up. Remember: even the most advanced capoeirista has something to gain from a first class again. These are usually the best classes, and advanced students often praise me after these classes. Know what you teach; teach what you know, I guess.

When going to a new academy, it's actually a good thing to train with them before asking about a roda. Even if this means going to a beginners class. It's a great way to demonstrate that you are humilde.

Mestre Fran always says, with 35 years of experience under his corda, "I'm still new to capoeira."

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