Aside from climbing out of rattlesnake-infested quicksand or posing for rattlesnake-infested watercolor portraits, few activities combine the focus and physicality seen in capoeira training. Hone these useful talents with today's Groupon: for $22, you get three classes at the New York Capoeira Center (a $45 value), located on the Lower East Side.

Capoeira traveled to Brazil from West Africa nearly 500 years ago and survives today as a combination of martial arts, music, and dance. Like Spock and Kirk forced to fight by a threatening tribunal of bearded men, two players dance around each other in the center of a circle, exchanging movements of attack and defense in a constant, heart-pumping flow. The New York Capoeira Center has endeavored to pass this ancient tradition on to capoeiristas of all ages for more than 20 years. All new students are placed into Level 1 classes ($15 each), which are offered Monday through Saturday. The 60-minute classes are led by the Center's experienced instructors, who will bestow upon students the knowledge of the 10 basic capoeira movements, and provide you with an introduction to sequences, music, and games, known as jogos. Level 1 classes are designed to accommodate and challenge all capoeiristas, regardless of experience or resistance to gravity.

Capoeira builds physical strength, agility, and confidence. Your experience moving to hypnotic beats and adrenaline-fueled melodies will benefit you in future club outings and conga lines that threaten to turn into a street fight at any moment. Enjoy a stellar cardio workout while also promoting international relations with the Afro-Brazilian art of capoeira.

Reviews

Fox5 News featured the New York Capoeira Center, and three Yelpers give it a perfect five-star average:

• I was amazed at how much I was able to learn in such a short period of time. Mestre Ombrinho is extremely welcoming and this follows down the line to the instructors and other students. – Arthur M., Yelp
• There are many teachers and all have the rare gifts of being extremely talented, patient, and mindful. I highly recommend this place for every body! – Michael G., Yelp