They looked like warriors in vinyl trench coats. They danced like a hip-hop SWAT team. They flipped like gymnasts and popped like extras in a Missy Elliot video. They are the Philippine All Stars, and at the 2008 World Hip-Hop Dance Championships, the all-male dance team captured the top prize with a routine showcasing creative choreography and impressive skill.

This week, the viciously coordinated crew travels some 8,000 miles to return to Las Vegas and defend its title at the eighth annual World Hip-Hop Dance Championships. The event bring teams from around the world to compete in three age divisions—popping, locking, grinding and sliding in the hope of earning a spot on the winners’ podium. Expect military precision, plenty of humor and moves that would put Usher to shame.