Derwin Johnson has donned many belts. After serving in the Canadian Armed Forces, he began studying a variety of martial arts, including muay thai, Shaolin kempo, and Brazilian jiu-jitsu. He eventually realized that he wanted to share his extensive physical knowledge with others, and left behind the corporate world of glass-encased offices for a realm of punching bags and floor mats. Today, Johnson operates The Sweat Shack, where he combines his love of martial arts with modern fitness techniques to help transform clients’ bodies.

Johnson and his skilled instructors practice a fitness style called muscle confusion, constantly varying their exercise routines so that the body can’t adapt to the workout. This method prompts the muscles to constantly work harder and burn more calories. The team holds classes in seven partner martial-arts gyms, taking advantage of their bags, mats, and pads to add high-intensity, light-contact accessories to each camp.