Is this capoeira school one of Wimbledon's best kept secrets?
Plus: 1,000 free slices of pizza, coming to your neighbourhood
Good morning, Wimblers.
If you like pizza, you’re in luck. One thousand free slices will be given away next week — more on the wheres and whens of this slightly further down in this edition. But perhaps you’re more about keeping fit than you are about Italy’s most delicious food — in which case, our main article is for you. Earlier this week, I visited Arte Pura, Wimbledon’s very own capoeira school, to see what all the fuss was about. It turns out our readers weren’t exaggerating when they told me it was a “deeply loving community”. But before that, the Met Police reports the results of Operation Haldor, the Met Police’s operation targeting organised crime across Merton, in our news briefing.
All this and more in today’s Wimble. As always, we’re keen to hear your thoughts on this edition. Are we covering the right topics? Is there a local issue you’d love us to delve into? Get in touch in the comments.
News snippets 🗞
🚨 Operation Haldor: the Metropolitan Police has carried out a week-long operation targeting gangs, organised crime groups and violent offenders across Merton, resulting in 20 arrests and the seizure of weapons and drugs worth roughly £27,000. The operation involved intensified enforcement activity in the borough, with safeguarding remaining a key priority throughout. Read the full details here.
🍕 Pizza Pilgrims are opening in Wimbledon on Tuesday 18 August. To celebrate, the pizza giant is giving away 1,000 slices of free pizza on Wednesday 12 August from 12pm. James and Thom Elliot, founders of Pizza Pilgrims, said: "We’re beyond chuffed to be bringing Pizza Pilgrims to Wimbledon. This idyllic slice of London has been on our hit list for a while, and we’re excited to finally become part of its vibrant community.” Locals will also be pleased to know that the new venue will have a garden roof terrace inspired by the Bay of Naples, featuring hand-painted murals, an olive tree and wisteria. Read more here and check out the website here.
☀️ It was announced last week that Wandsworth Council would be pulling its temporary accommodation residents out of Britannia Point — the controversial tower block in Colliers Wood — after residents reported high temperatures and faulty cooling systems during the heatwave. Management at Britannia Point insist the air conditioning system is fully operational. Other councils are now considering alternative housing options for temporary accommodation households within Britannia Point, with some reportedly saying they will no longer use the tower block for placements in the future. Read more here.
👩👦 The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman have found Merton Council at fault for causing a local family “frustration and uncertainty” by failing to review the mother’s support needs. The mother was reportedly left without an answer for nearly a year on whether she was entitled to more support, despite repeatedly telling her Merton Council that she was struggling. The council has since apologised. Get more details here.
The Wimble’s sponsor of the week 💎
This week’s sponsor is the brand-new Lovisa in Wimbledon Quarter. Inspired by couture runways and emerging street styles, Lovisa offers a wide selection of stylish, must-have pieces of jewellery designed to elevate any look. Lovisa Wimbledon also offers free piercings with the purchase of stud earrings.
Property of the week 🏡
Back with another ridiculous property this week, this six-bedroom detached house is about as close to Wimbledon Windmill as you can get without living in it. It also comes with a cinema room, heated outdoor pool, four bathrooms and a rather impressive kitchen. But can a property equipped with so many mod cons go for a bargain basement price? Not in the world we’re living in. At £6.5 million, it’s a “dream” house in both senses of the word. Check out more pictures here.
The Wimble’s to-do list 🎯
🥕 Wimbledon Village Farmers’ Market: It doesn’t matter if you’re looking to hunt down that strange bespoke veg item from a BBC Good Food recipe (I can never seem to find yellow courgettes in my local supermarket) or just a plain old carrot, the farmers’ market will surely have it. Get yourself along this weekend and pick up some groceries to piece together an extravagant spring salad as the weather warms up.
Where: Wimbledon Village
When: Sunday 9 August, 10am – 3pm
💨 Watch the Windmill in action: This is your chance to see Wimbledon’s iconic windmill in action! Every five weeks one of the WPCC Rangers heads to the roof and releases the brake on the sails to make sure everything is still working correctly. But be warned, the windmill is only active for a short period of time (30-45 minutes), so make sure you time your visit right.
Where: Wimbledon Common
When: Saturday 8 – Sunday 9 August, 2pm
✈️ Summer Passport Trail at Wimbledon Quarter: I mentioned this week, but it’s worth highlighting it again as it’s about to start. Head to Wimbledon Quarter this summer and pick up your “Holiday Passport”. The Quarter’s self-guided trail invites children to visit participating shops across the Quarter and collect stamps along the way. Pop in between 10.30am–4pm, pick up your Holiday Passport from the ground floor, follow the clues to visit the shops and collect your stamps to claim your sweet treat at the end. This event is free and is for children ages 3–12 years old.
Where: Wimbledon Quarter
When: Saturday 15 August – Sunday 30 August, 10.30am–4pm
💃🏽 Summer Dance Camp: Do you have children aged five and older? Have you run out of activities to keep them occupied this summer? Well, look no further than the Village School of Dance’s Summer Dance Camp. Expect five fun-packed days of dancing, singing, and living like a pop star, ending with a show for everyone to see. Places are £275 per child.
Where: The Village Hall, Wimbledon Village
When: Monday 17 – Friday 21 August, 10am–3pm
🎁 August Community Market: The Wimbledon community market is back this August. Expect over 30 independent stalls from local traders and makers, artisan food, handmade gifts, live music, children’s activities and a free dance workshop on the Sunday.
Where: Wimbledon Quarter
When: Saturday 29 & Sunday 30 August, 10am–6pm
Is this capoeira school one of Wimbledon’s best kept secrets? 🪘
In 2003, André Luiz Vieira founded Arte Pura Capoeira in Lisbon, Portugal. Fifteen years later, he and his wife, Ingrid, brought the project to London with the goal of sharing Brazilian culture through capoeira, music and education. André began “playing” capoeira at around eight years old in Recife, Brazil. Growing up in a community affected by violence and poverty, André says capoeira is what gave him discipline, hope and a sense of purpose.
Ingrid — who runs the capoeira school with André, started as an adult. She also holds a degree in dance from her time in Lisbon. A few weeks ago, the couple got in touch with me and asked if I’d like to pop down to South Park Gardens and watch a practice. So that’s exactly what I did.
But first, two confessions. For one, I’m not technically a “novice” when it comes to capoeira. When I was around eight years old, I actually spent a year learning capoeira on Saturdays in a studio behind the Nando’s in Streatham. The second: I wasn’t very good. But there’s always room for improvement, right?
It’s a very warm Monday evening as I join Arte Pura in South Park Gardens. I realise that I’m probably overdressed for the occasion; boots aren’t a particularly smart shoe choice when the activity involves kicking towards another person’s head.
I meet Ingrid, André and the rest of their capoeira students. “Will you be joining in?” asks Ingrid. “I’ll give it a go,” I say. “But I don’t think I’ll be doing any backflips.”
The group walks into the open space as André begins to lead the class. We start with some light stretching before moving into the ginga — the fundamental rhythmic footwork of capoeira that I can only describe as a dancing sidestep. I partner with Ingrid so that she can show me the ropes. I remember the ginga from my erstwhile capoeira days, but that’s about it, and I’ve lost the rhythm entirely. But Ingrid is a good teacher, and with a concerted effort, I’m able to pick it up again.
I ask Ingrid why they train outside during the summer. “One thing that’s really nice about training outside is seeing people’s curiosity,” she says. Because capoeira combines movement, live music and singing, it naturally catches people’s attention. In the background, one of the students is playing the atabaque: a beautiful, tall Afro-Brazilian drum that is often used in capoeira. “By training in a public space, we’re giving people the opportunity to discover capoeira, many for the very first time. Every roda becomes a chance to share a little bit of Brazilian culture with the local community.”
Don’t worry, I asked what a “roda” is too. A roda is the circle in which capoeira comes to life. Capoeiristas form a circle and participants take turns performing inside. There’s more to it than that, but that’s the general idea.
After we have warmed up and practised the ginga, we form our roda. This is where I get to really see the group. “One of the things I love most is that our classes bring together people who would probably never have met otherwise,” says Ingrid. And she’s absolutely right, the group is diverse in every sense of the word. “We have children whose families come from Brazil, the UK, Portugal, Hungary, Spain, Italy, Poland and many other countries. Adults range from complete beginners to experienced practitioners, from university students to healthcare professionals and teachers. Everyone trains together, supports one another and learns not only capoeira but also a little about each other’s cultures.”
I watch as a father and son enter the roda and begin the “jogo” (the game). They move around one another: ducking, weaving, kicking, rolling. Someone else jumps in and the father returns to the rim of the roda. This is how it works: when a person wants a turn inside the roda, they wait for a break or signal in the music and tap into the game. Everything about capoeira is fluid, from the music to the movements. Students only stop moving when they grab a sip of water.
Capoeira is a unique martial art. Every session is different. During one class, students might practise acrobatics. In another, they might learn Portuguese songs, play percussion instruments and work with a partner to solve movement challenges. “You’re constantly thinking, listening and responding to another person, so capoeira exercises both the body and the mind,” Ingrid tells me.
The session comes to an end. We stand in the roda once more. André holds the berimbau in his hand — a single-string African musical bow and the most important instrument in capoeira — and gently plays. He speaks in Portuguese about the importance of capoeira across the world, how there are communities in every pocket on the globe. He tells the group about capoeira being a mindset. There’s something almost spiritual about the way he describes capoeira. Ingrid informs me that today is National Capoeira Day (“Dia do Capoeirista”), a day to honour and celebrate the practitioners of the Afro-Brazilian martial art. “It’s the best day for you to have done it,” she says.
Before I leave, I ask André and Ingrid what their plans are for growing the school in the coming years. “Our vision goes beyond simply increasing the number of classes,” they tell me. “Ultimately, we dream of creating our own Brazilian Cultural Centre in London. We imagine a place where people can experience much more than capoeira.” She explains that alongside capoeira and Brazilian dance classes, they would like to offer music, percussion, cultural workshops and activities like screen printing.
“More importantly, we want it to be a place that helps people grow, not only as capoeira practitioners, but as individuals,” she continues. “A space where children, young people and adults can build confidence, develop life skills, connect with others and experience the richness of Brazilian culture in a welcoming community.”
That dream doesn’t seem far off. Arte Pura in Wimbledon is already a place that helps people grow as capoeiristas and individuals. It is also a space where people, young or old, can build confidence and create a community. From just one session, that much is clear.
I leave the group and head back to Wimbledon Town Centre. I think back to my early experiences of capoeira. If those sessions had been anything like Arte Pura Capoeira’s, I’m sure I would have continued with the martial art. But that’s in the past. What I can say now is that Arte Pura Capoeira is worth a visit. If you are even a little bit curious about capoeira, head to their website and book yourself a taster session. They really are open to people of all abilities.
Question of the week 🔍
Last week, I asked which figure is said to have written parts of a world-famous handbook while staying by the Wimbledon Windmill? The answer: Robert Baden-Powell.
Q: In which decade did Elisabeth Beresford's Wombles first appear in print?
You’re up to date 👋
Thank you for reading this week’s edition. As always, do get in touch if you have any ideas or upcoming events: zak@thewimble.com. Other than that, have a great rest of the week and we’ll catch you next time.