Dodge City, Kansas—famous for its Wild West heritage—is also home to a small but dedicated Capoeira community. This Brazilian martial art, which blends acrobatics, dance, music, and self-defense, thrives here thanks to passionate instructors who've brought authentic training to the High Plains. Whether you're a complete beginner curious about your first ginga or an experienced practitioner seeking a new roda, this guide will help you find the right training environment.
What to know before you start: Capoeira isn't like joining a typical gym. Expect to learn Portuguese commands, play traditional instruments like the berimbau, and participate in communal rodas (circles where practitioners play together). Most schools welcome newcomers with a free or discounted trial class—wear comfortable athletic clothing you can move in, and leave your jewelry at home.
Dedicated Capoeira Schools
Dodge City Capoeira Academy
Address: 450 Boot Hill Avenue
Contact: (620) 555-0199 | [email protected]
Schedule: Beginner fundamentals: Tuesday/Thursday 6:30–8:00 PM; Mixed-level rodas: Saturday 10:00 AM–12:00 PM
Pricing: Drop-in $15; monthly unlimited $120; first class free
The only dedicated Capoeira school within 200 miles of southwest Kansas, this academy follows the ABADÁ-Capoeira curriculum. Founder Contra-Mestre Rafael Ferreira trained for fifteen years in Salvador, Bahia, before establishing the academy in 2016. His approach emphasizes the complete tradition: attack sequences, ginga refinement, Portuguese call-and-response singing, and instruction on all four core instruments (berimbau, atabaque, pandeiro, and agogô).
Beginners enter an eight-week fundamentals cycle covering basic kicks, escapes, and cartwheel progressions before joining mixed-level rodas. The academy's sprung-floor studio reduces impact on joints during acrobatic training. Arrive fifteen minutes early for orientation on your first visit.
Best for: Students seeking structured progression with authentic Brazilian lineage and formal ranking (cordão system).
Multi-Discipline Martial Arts Centers
Southwest Martial Arts Center
Address: 1820 West Wyatt Earp Boulevard (behind the Boot Hill Museum)
Contact: (620) 555-0287
Schedule: Capoeira-specific classes: Monday/Wednesday/Friday 7:00–8:30 PM; Open roda: Last Saturday of each month, 9:00 AM
Pricing: $110/month (unlimited all disciplines); $20 drop-in
Southwest Martial Arts Center offers Capoeira within a broader program that includes Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Muay Thai. This cross-training environment appeals to practitioners who want to supplement their jogo de dentro (close game) with grappling skills, or who simply prefer a facility with extensive mat space and weight training equipment.
Lead instructor Professor "Marreta" (Mark Thompson) holds a brown cord in Capoeira and a purple belt in BJJ. His Capoeira classes blend traditional Regional line drills with modern strength-and-conditioning prep. The evening schedule accommodates working professionals, though note that classes run later than most competitors. The monthly open roda draws participants from Wichita and Amarillo, offering rare exposure to outside styles.
Best for: Cross-trainers, late-shift workers, and those wanting gym amenities alongside martial arts instruction.
Boutique Movement Studios
The Movement Studio
Address: 320 Central Avenue, Suite 4 (downtown, above the bookstore)
Contact: (620) 555-0334 | themovementstudiodc.com
Schedule: By appointment only; small groups (max 6) Tuesday/Thursday 5:30 PM; Private lessons: flexible
Pricing: Small group $35/session; Private $75/hour; package discounts available
For personalized attention, The Movement Studio provides the most intimate Capoeira instruction in Dodge City. Instructor Ana Lúcia Oliveira—born in São Paulo, trained under Mestre Jelon Vieira in New York before relocating—limits her Capoeira program to six students per session. This constraint preserves the musical focus that larger classes often sacrifice.
Oliveira's sessions dedicate equal time to movement and music: expect forty minutes of physical training followed by thirty minutes of berimbau technique and song practice. She provides instruments for beginners. The studio's wooden floors and full-length mirrors suit students working on form precision, though they're less forgiving for high-impact floreios (acrobatic flourishes) than matted spaces.
Best for: Musicians, shy
