| I was in Minas Gerais in the heart of Brazil when I | | | | practiced for over 500 years, a martial art that |
| saw my first Capoeira roda. Late afternoon, and | | | | leaves its practitioners as powerful and graceful |
| a circle of ripped, athletic people swayed and sang | | | | as panthers: Afro-Brazilian Capoeira. |
| and played instruments as two of their number | | | | So what exactly is it? |
| circled and danced in their center. They wore | | | | When the slaves were brought from Africa to |
| nothing but loose white cotton pants, and within | | | | Brazil in the 15th century, they were forbidden to |
| moments their bodies were slicked with sweat. It | | | | practice any martial art that might make them a |
| was beautiful, strange, mesmerizing, and I have to | | | | danger to their owners. So, forced by |
| admit it looked absolutely exhausting. It was only | | | | circumstances, they adapted their fighting style |
| their extreme physical condition that allowed them | | | | into a dance form that they could practice right |
| to spin faster than the eye could follow, to kick | | | | under their owner's noses. At night around fires |
| out and leap into head stands. As I walked away | | | | they would leap and kick and spin, their actions |
| from the demonstration, I remember shaking my | | | | dismissed by the ignorant slave owners as mere |
| head and thinking: those people were RIPPED. | | | | 'dancing'. |
| Which is why it's so exciting that Brett Hoebel's | | | | And indeed, if you watch a Capoeira roda (the |
| new extreme fitness program from called REV | | | | name for the circle that is formed around the |
| ABS features Afro-Brazilian Capoeira as a major | | | | two combatants), it does look like a party. People |
| component of its routines. Due for release in | | | | sing, people clap, drums are played along with |
| September this new at-home fitness package | | | | more traditional Brazilian instruments like the |
| promises to blast and shred your body until you're | | | | berimbau. The two contestants could be just |
| left lean and cut, flexible and ripped. I'm sure | | | | dancing. But look closer. Leg sweeps, lunges, head |
| you've heard those claims before, but REV ABS | | | | kicks, elbows. If this is a dance, it's a deadly one. |
| promises to do so using a martial art that's been | | | | |