Afonso Matumona is from Angola. He has lived in London for about 13 years and studied Capoeira for 10 years. Now he teaches dancers, acrobats, athletes and people from local community at Skilltown in Hackney Wick.

Capoeira is a Brazilian martial art that combines self-defence, acrobatics, music, singing and Brazilian culture. It originates from the Brazilian-African slave trade, where slaves were banned from practising self-defence and therefore they hid them in graceful dance-like moves.

Today, there are more than 20 Capoeira dance-fight groups in London.

Speaking to East London Lines, Matumona explains the importance of Capoeira dance-fighting and how it differs from other Martial Arts.

Matumona says: “Capoeira is just a different way to understand how your body can make different movements that you can’t imagine. Through Capoeira you can make movements that you always dream about, you will have strength and flexibility.”