Capoeira Mandinga Academy

I was looking for a physical exercise that was challenging and fun. I’m Brazilian and my boyfriend does capoeira, so I decided to give it a shot!
Not for the faint of heart, Capoeira can be pretty intense. But this group is welcoming and the beginners class, on Wednesdays, a lot of fun. As a beginner you can come any day and will be getting somewhat of a private class but being able to play with the group is fun, so I def recommend that class if you are starting out.

Which type of reader are you?
Maybe you’re looking for a new workout, heard about capoeira somewhere and thought it’d be cool to try, or just want to learn some new party tricks. There’s a place for you at Capoeira Mandinga! Mestre Marcelo, his highly skilled instructors, and his dozens of students of a wide range of experience are warm, welcoming individuals who are permanently stoked on sharing capoeira. There are introductory classes throughout the week to get your feet wet (though trust me you’ll get the basic strokes down in no time), and I recommend checking out the Thursday night roda to see what it’s really all about.
Perhaps you’re fishing around for something valuable and fun to engage your child in? There’s a place for them at Capoeira Mandinga! There are classes geared towards 3 – 5 and 6 – 12 year olds, both in capoeira and in tumbling. The kids’ instructors are very experienced and know how to keep a class both focused and fun. Try YouTube-​ing «capoeira mandinga kids» to get a glimpse of how successful the kids program has been these recent years.
Are you already a capoeirista, perhaps a nomad, recently transplanted and looking for a new place to call «casa»? There’s a place for you at Capoeira Mandinga! The style of capoeira trained at Mandinga isn’t obvious to classify – it might be easier to just call it contemporânea – but it certainly draws from Regional, Angola, and even M. Suassuna’s Miudinho game (M. Marcelo is a student of M. Suassuna). At times, classes are taught which focus more specifically on one of those styles. Come the roda, however, no capoeirista looks the same. Perhaps it would be more accurate to say that the capoeira played at Mandinga is, like art and culture, an ever-​evolving, creative process. I think what Mestre Marcelo encourages most in his students is expression, which to me is the same as letting go, being yourself, and seeing how that plays out in your game. If you already do capoeira, then you don’t need me to tell you how beautiful it really is. Whatever your background, if you want to come play and share in the awesomeness that is capoeira, the folks at Capoeira Mandinga are all game ;)

I had known about Capoeira for years before I was able to get the courage to start training. The warm and encouraging community of capoeiristas at Capoeira Mandinga made me feel like I finally found a place to start. Mestre Marcelo approaches his students with kindness and a persistant desire to make sure you fully comprehend the lesson he is trying to impart upon you. Be prepared to push your limits! You can feel that Mestre Marcelo and all his instructors feel joy when you improve. Everyone who trains at Mandinga is generous with their knowledge of capoeira (playing music, instrument technique, history of songs, playing in the roda) which is a testament to the nurturing environment Mestre Marcelo cultivates within his academy.

I came to Capoeira Mandinga to learn to play Samba Bateria instruments with Jimmy Biala. The studio is great and Jimmy is an incredible teacher. Whether you are a beginner or someone who wants to learn a different samba instrument, you will not be made to feel insecure. He has the ability to teach many different skill levels in the same class. He is such a great teacher that I now play with Grupo Samba Rio and have paraded in SF Carnaval parade for the last two years! If you want to learn to play Samba instruments, this is a great place to get started!

Love Capoeira Mandinga. My big wiggly girl started when she was 3 and has learned so much about controlling her body and protecting herself. We have had two fantastic birthday parties there. The staff is super sweet and helpful and they are great parties because with the help of a cooler of beer and some snacks the parents and the kids had a blast.

I’ve been taking Capoeira from various schools associated with the Mandinga Academy for over 7 years now, and it has been a fun, exciting, challenging, and ultimately very rewarding experience. If you want to learn Capoeira, this is one of the best places you can go.

I come here to practice samba with Jazz Baptiste. The samba class is super fun, and Jazz is a very friendly instructor with years of dancing experience. She can help modify samba movement to tailor with the students’ needs. The facility is huge, so there is enough space for everyone to practice samba.

My son and I are regular kindergym players. My son is 26 months and is one of the older kids. About 6 — 10 families usually play, which is a comfortable size. A handful of regulars come weekly and new kids come every week, which is fun for everyone.
The capoeira space is run by volunteers and the kindergym is run by Vicky, the warm and capable director of Swiss Cheese Childcare Collective (
). One reason we return every week is because my son loves to see Vicky and her son, as well as the friendly babysitters who help play with the kids throughout the hour.
Occasionally a kid’s capoeira summer camp needs the space during kindergym’s regular schedule (Friday, 10:30 — 11:30 am). To check the schedule, you can call the academy at 510.655.8207 or Vicki at 415.250.1949
The space is like a large gym with hardwood floors, high ceilings, natural light and good temperature control (heaters and fans). This is not a fancy playspace with big plastic structures and tons of toys. It’s simple, mellow and playful. You can hear unannoying cultural kid music and get to know other parents/​caretakers and sweet kids while the kids bounce on a little trampoline or run on padded ramps or push a big padded cylinder or knock down foam rollers or bang on a (quiet) drum or crawl through a tunnel or walk on a balance beam or read books or play with baby and toddler friendly toys. Vicky surprises us every week with a new layout. After about 25 minutes of free play the group gathers around a parachute and sings, does easy capoeira moves, and scoots around the parachute. If a child doesn’t feel like playing with the group, it’s fine to let him/​her do his/​her own thing. After the group activity we usually have another 10 minutes of free play before everyone gradually leaves.
This kindergym is in a excellent location. After kindergym, my son and I walk a few blocks to the Kaiser Farmer’s Market to buy good food, listen to live music, and watch the construction of the new Kaiser building. Today we stopped at Bagel Posh (a block from kindergym on Piedmont) and ate a bagel on their patio (high chairs are always there). Another favorite easy-​access child-​friendly option is Holly’s Mandarin Chinese Restaurant. Also, the Piedmont Library is just down the street, open from 12 — 5:30 pm on Fridays.
Kindergym price is $ 8 drop in, less if you pay for a series. If street parking is a problem then you can use the city parking lot at Piedmont Avenue and 41^st Street. If you belong to City CarShare, there is a dedicated parking space in this location. There are usually 5 strollers parked in the long hallway leading to the playspace. There is plenty of room for strollers.

Every time I visit Capoeira Mandinga I feel very welcomed by Mestre Marcelo and the students. It is a lot of fun to go to their open rodas, workshops, and to their cultural events (dance, music). I especially appreciate that I get to see and train with amazing mestres who visit from all over the world. I come from a small group by San Jose (Capoeira Irmandade) and we don’t have the funds to bring over mestres from very far. But Mestre Marcelo invites us to all their events and we never feel like outsiders. Mestre Marcelo is also very wise and I’ve learned a lot just by listening to him.
At Mandinga you can always expect good energy and organization. More than that though, this is a place which preserves culture and human relationships. Under the floorboards are the prayers of the citizens of Oakland. Prayers for a good place, a nurturing place, a peaceful place. Capoeira Mandinga is a sanctuary of strength and peace, exactly what we need in Oakland, and in the world.

I tried to go to kindergym today, I called earlier in the week, I checked the website yesterday and got there, found a spot, not ez, paid for parking, walked in and found out that class was cancelled. If you know what it takes to get 2 little ones packed and ready you will understand my frustration. No I will not return. This shows how unreliable they are and show little concern for childcare they actually have. I just 2x checked their website right before writing this and of course the class was still on the schedule. Absolutely irresponsible. Take your business elsewhere!

This review is based on just two Introductory lessons, but I feel qualified to write a review, seeing that I am lazy, have a bad attitude when I can’t perfect something new instantly, and have a hard time committing to extra curricular activities. My first class was with Maestro Marcelo, my second with Michelle. They were both incredibly kind, patient, and knowledgeable instructors. They allowed me to make my mistakes, laugh at myself, and try again. I was invigorated by both classes and feel ready to commit to more!

The Capoeira Mandinga Academy in Oakland is a wonderful place to learn capoeira and experience Brazilian culture!!! This academy is great for both elite martial artists and people looking for a fun way to get into shape.
I first started training at Capoeira Mandinga Academy 5 years ago, just because it happened to be in my neighborhood. As someone who loves to dance but gave up ballet as a teenager, initially I was attracted to the rhythms and expressive movements of capoeira. This academy is very warm and welcoming to its beginning students, and the instructors are very good at working with students of all ages, fitness levels and body types. The support of Mestre Marcelo, a wonderful mentor and teacher, and the enthusiam of the other students continue to inspire and motivate me. My involvement with Capoeira Mandinga has made me a part of a wonderful, diverse community that I would have been unlikely to find on my own and helped me maintain a healthy and active lifestyle!

Malandro was my daughter’s first teacher, and I have also worked with him as a colleague for many years. As an instructor of both children and adults, he is definitely one of the most engaging and knowledgeable in his field. He is personable, talented, and always makes his classes fun. A great role model for young men, and I highly recommend him and his group.

I started training Capoeira 3 years ago at Capoeira Mandinga at age 28 after being a competitive athlete in multiple sports all through high school and college, and also taking years of asian martial arts as a kid. As a result, I had been exposed to many masters/​sifus/​senseis, instructors, coaches, and trainers.
Having attended a handful of drop-​in classes at other groups when I was first considering training in capoeira, I can say that I found the «vibe» of the group to be impressively welcoming. Through Mestre Marcelo’s example, the group places a lot of importance on community, integrity, culture, encouragement and (of course) hard work.
I can say, without question, that Mestre Marcelo’s Capoeira Mandinga Academy is an outstanding place to develop the body and the mind. I have been truly impressed by the diversity of the group, and the degree to which every student (short, tall, big, little, young and old) just gets better and better.
Capoeira is not an easy endeavor, and anybody who trains capoeira should expect to be challenged physically and mentally. Still, I have found the that instructors (and Mestre Marcelo, himself, of course) do an incredible job of striking a balance so that students really do get challenged – but within their physical limits. And now with the incredible new training space and brand new wood floor, the facilities are truly top-​notch.

Capoeira Mandinga Academy is an amazing place to learn capoeira. The group is very welcoming to newcomers. As a beginner, I have learned so much and felt supported and challenged by all the members of the group. Instructors are great and there is now a beautiful and spacious new academy on Piedmont Ave. I would encourage anyone who is interested to come try it.

I’ve been training Capoeira since June 2008. It was a major challenge for me at first, being older than many of the students and having some long-​standing knee and other issues, including the fact that I have never been able to commit to a sport before — I have always gotten frustrated when I’m not as good as I would like to be and quit. I didn’t do that at Mandinga — and that’s a testament to the quality of the other students and teachers. It is part of the culture to help beginners — and you are encouraged to push your limits in a nurturing but challenging environment. There is a lot about Capoeira that is different than a typical sport — and as it turns out, that is what has kept me not only involved with Mandinga, but led me to increase my training time and commitment as I have progressed. The teachers are AMAZING — everyone one teaches me something new every class. The group is truly a community; and if you try it out and give yourself some time to get over your embarrassment and insecurity, you’ll find a beautiful art, a supportive group and constantly high energy.

Gorgeous new space. Is it 3, maybe 4 times bigger than the old 2^nd floor location? Hard to say because it’s big and spacious!!!

Ever want to be Eddie in Tekken 3?
Well, it’s not likely that you could be. But the guy the japanese brought over to japan to motion-​capture to do Eddie’s moves is the Mestre of this awesome group. Mestre Marcelo is impressive, friendly, and fun. The group has some extremely talented capoeiristas, great dancers, wonderful axe, and will make you sweat. Within a couple weeks, you’ll be doing things you didn’t think you’d be able to do, and enjoying it all the while.
The academy also doubles as the/​a Brazil Cultural Center, with classes in Brazilian dance, music, and portugese. And they throw parties.
If you’ve wanted to simultaneously fight, dance, do gymnastics, and make music, capoeira is the art for you. I’d still be doing it, if my wrists could’ve endured…