You've seen capoeira everywhere lately, even if you don't know what to call it. Last year, the dancelike Brazilian martial art was featured in Ocean's Twelve, Meet the Fockers and Catwoman. (In training for Catwoman, Halle Berry became the sport's unofficial celebrity ambassador.) And on warm days in public parks and plazas worldwide, you can often find capoeira players singing, clapping and showing off to a gathered crowd. Their energy is infectious.

Invented by slaves over 400 years ago, capoeira is far from your typical martial art. Two players face each other, surrounded by a circle (roda) of other players and musicians singing traditional call-and-response songs. The players kick, cartwheel, crouch on the floor and fly through the air to catch their opponent off-guard and show him his weakness without actually making contact. They swing to the rhythm, which varies from slow to fast, and there's rarely a winner or loser. Maybe they'll trip the other player or fake a heel to the gut, but those moments are followed by a laugh and a handshake.

After watching hard-bodied young men and women flip, spin and dodge one lightning kick after another, it's pretty hard for the average person to imagine joining in.

"People love watching capoeira, but they are very intimidated because it's very dynamic," says Edna Lima, a capoeira mestranda (master) who has been teaching and training for 30 years. The modified capoeira workout she teaches at New York Sports Club (and programs of its kind at Bally's and other gyms across the country) removes the scarier elements from the sport. This version gives you most of the cardio and strength-training but requires none of the combat.