so listen, first of all i think you should take another tone with me.

second, you should start reading properly, because i said BC is becoming too serious for newbies, and not for us BC lovers. Amadeus is one of my all time favourite tracks, but people wont feel challenged to do the ESK at that new gym Im tecahing in because they are new and still not into groupfitness exercice yet.

third, try to be less rude and accept peoples opinions for what they are. Its called liberty of speech.

fourth and most importantly, do not in any way say that i have bad coaching skills cuz you sure as hell dont know me or the way I teach , and as far as i know, you've never attended any of my classes (thank god!).

I just think that the new releases are not taking into account new participants. You can still do a lot of thinks and keep it fun.... Remember the saying "keep it simple stupid".

What is very true, is that no matter how much you like rock(and its my music of choice) the music is just not what it used to be in terms of motivation and upbeat. Yeah, I like Dio and Iron Maiden and get nostalgic remebering younger years but who the hell else has heard these songs. 

I love Rachel and Dan technique and al but I hope we get over this slup soon. I also enjoyed when Dan look happy and excited(BC 22) and opposed to the more serious badass look that sometimes replaced the otherone. I remeber that even though the choreografies were easier before it would still surprise we how they were put togeher, not so much now.

Wow, just read my post sounds bitter.... I guess just use some more popular music like u used to do before, one that whe can relate to or have heard, thanks for all.

Truth wrote:

What is very true, is that no matter how much you like rock(and its my music of choice) the music is just not what it used to be in terms of motivation and upbeat. Yeah, I like Dio and Iron Maiden and get nostalgic remebering younger years but who the hell else has heard these songs. 

 guess just use some more popular music like u used to do before, one that whe can relate to or have heard, thanks for all.

I too much prefer rock music and personally love hearing rock in combat, but that is my personal choice but does it really matter if you aint heard it before? I think not!  Some of the songs that are currently in combat I have never heard before but still enjoy them.   Scooter being one example, I had never heard of scooter before I started doing BC - whats constitutes popular music to some is not soo popular with others.  I for one wouldnt want to do D & R's job of trying to please everyone with the choice of music - coz no matter what they pick not everyone that does combat is gonna like it.  

Well... at the QW I think we were all a bit "confused" about this release... but once U get to know it and teach it's great! I think #4 is fantastic, the choreo and the music are great!! The participants (MANY MANY NEWBIES) did love it all... Of course if the instructor(s) are not "convinced" about it the participants will feel it too and you will always have a "lukewarm" welcome...

 Let's be honest... this release if hard to grasp and master because of timings being pretty tricky... but it ahs grown on me and today when I did it all for the first time in another club they loved it! Ginga is finally getting understood, and the new combo with more gingas helps the participants to get it and the E-kick...

 All this of course IMHO... :-)

LOVE COMBAT!!!! :-)

Babi

 

Lyne17:

...Don't get me started on Amadeus; i always ended up doing the ESK alone. ...

This is, admittedly, helped by having a rather handy memory that does not quite a photograph, but a decent outline . It is also the first release I have found I know what's coming up next so quickly - even in Track 4, now I have my head around the phrasing vs movement thing in it. 

It's odd, though, because I found I couldn't really 'go for it' at the launch on Tuesday - then found on Saturday I could really beat the !&£^% out of my reflection in the mirror, and then have the satisfaction of watching it limp off licking its wounds, bruises, and looking like a Picasso painting on a bad day .

so we are talking about musician and being trained in it... I am a professional musician and I tend NOT to count too much but lose myself in the music (after I have learnt my choeo that is )... that's what I love about T4 in 32... the first time I did it at the QW could NOT get the rhythm, now I just I let myself go, practising it over and over and loving it

Yes, well said, "quite dramatic" is the perfect description...

Participants love T5... hated T2 at first and now start to love also that... all in all this release is REALLY growing on me... adore the cooldown, if done with the "drama" it's really amazing and catches the essence of what BC is...to me at least...

MUSIC- I think that a much better job could have been done with almost all tracks, especially track #5 and 7. I thought the music for the previous relase was bad, this just got worse.

MOVES- While I don't really have a problem with them, the evasive side kick is something that i find rather advanced for the average student. no doubt it pushes the limits of existing students ages 18-30. but you've gotta remember that new members join fitness clubs everyday and with a class like this, it can be very discouraging. It's sad to see class numbers drop everytime a new realease comes out and only starts to improve again once instructors are allowed to mix and match. The last time I saw numbers go up with a new realease was during release 24, and 25. I suggest that we go back to more basic moves where students can focus on form, energy and power and not have to worry too much about something as complicated as an evasive side kick. Again, most new commers and people over the age of 30 don't really enjoy it. Not everyone is as talented and capable of performing like the master trainers. As for me, someone who is major body combat fanatic, I am sure that I speak for many when i say that the recent releases have given me no choice but to try out other programs.

My turn!

 The main feedback that I have had back from my classes is they love the music! They LOVE track 5, so many smiley faces and so much singing! The love track 4 too - I think this track fits the music perfectly, a huge highlight of BC32.

Track 2 is pretty cool, they are getting the switch-knee and do fine on the roundhouse combo but then we (me and Shady) have worked on getting the timing of this right.

Track 3 - typical DnR track 3, they always make me hyper!

Track 6 goes down well, they loved the last track 6 so I thought they'd enjot this one too. Not much of a recovery though -

Track 7 - Awesome! They are soooooo out of breath after this one!

 I like track 8, again it fits the music - does anyone else find themselves wanting to do 8 body rips and 8 hooks towards the end of the track??

Track 9 - ouch!

Track 10 - thumbs up but why put the second kata in there that we haven't used in the rest of the release? And we miss a Hamstring stretch...

Overall really positive.

In all this debate about the ESK I think we maybe think too much about what we see on the DVDs. Yes it looks impressive with Dan leaping 10 ft into the air with totally perfect technique - and yes it is great to have something awesome to aim for.

But I recently saw an email that Rach sent to a friend of mine that really nailed the whole thing in my mind. How many of you are happy with the normal side kick?

The only real difference between this and the ESK is that in the former you step towards your target and side kcik them and in the ESK you step away from your target and side kick them. The Ginga, whilst introducing an interesting new move to combat, is merely a method of getting you to step away from the target. Get this firmly in yor mind an the concept becomes easier.

Adding the propulsion is not compulsary - and whilst we might know how high Dan can jump - our peeps won't have seen the video - so we can coach the propulsion accordingly.

Having gone through that argument - will be ever see an ESK without a Ginga?

Body Combat is one of the most difficult programmes to come into as a newcomer. Part of our cueing involves shouting out words like 'Roundhouse set-up' or 'descending elbow', words which mean nothing to someone who has not been in a Combat class before. I believe that it is really important whenever possible to take people into a Combat Clinic or Technique class before their first class.

A lot of the points that are being debated in this thread can be targetted once people have been told in a small, quiet environment what the moves are, how to execute them and to please stay with the lower option the first few times. Somehow it gets through a lot better than when you are screaming at the top of your lungs with loud music and leaping in the air. It is also a big help when you know how to execute L1!  Besides, newcomers don't know what BC1,15 or 23 was like and have nothing to compare it to.

As an instructor I have often had regular participants come back for the technique class again and again to practice a move or just to know that they are doing it right. It's not the fault of the ESK, nor is it an inappropriate move, it is just one of those moves that need to be taught as do a lot of the Combat moves. If your gyms are not currently running technique classes, why not start one up and see if that helps?

Also, it is up to each of us individually to put the intensity into our own workout. And most of the time, if the workout is too easy, it means you are taking it easy and not putting the same effort into it. Although shorter, I am pretty much as finished at the end of Combat 32 as any other.

Couldn't agree more luvanddaisies.... About everything you say.

Earlier on, about a few days ago, I sat down and wrote a longer post on this thread, since I really don't agree with the whole "BC is becoming too complicated" thing...

I have only started a year and a half ago, and I got so SO SO SO hooked on, since day one. And I have been only wanting to improve, but never have I thought: Oh, this is too complicated, am not even gonna try doing the move. And yes, with practice it gets better. There is always room for improvement... I might not do the evasive kick like my instructor, but hey.. .I too have level 4. My own level 4. I'm just saying... that every participant has some room to improve. If they want....

Sorry, I'm just tired of all of this too-complicated-Wanna-just-have-a-fun-cardio-workout. I mean, this is not intended in a negative way at all.... it's just that... if it seems too complicated and one really doesn't want to bother with technique, well, there are other cardio classes.

.... anyways, looking very forward to the presentation of BC32 this thursday.... wooohooo.

 smiles,

Maria

I have been going to combat for years now and I totally love it but have to agree with you that this latest release is not up to par with some of the others.

We did a double launch on Saturday - pump straight into combat - and the whole class felt that both really lacked fizz mainly because the music is dire. Where is all the high energy stuff that really gets you going?

Particularly thought the last routine was pretty poor. You are meant to be at your most knackered but you dig deep and really go for  it which I found particularly hard as it was a bit on the 'wet' side, body blows etc ... It needs a serious attitude injection which hopefully should come in six weeks time when the instructors mix things up a bit.

Still walked out sweating but not satisfied at all which is a real disappointment.

jaxx11:

I have been going to combat for years now and I totally love it but have to agree with you that this latest release is not up to par with some of the others.

We did a double launch on Saturday - pump straight into combat - and the whole class felt that both really lacked fizz mainly because the music is dire. Where is all the high energy stuff that really gets you going?

Particularly thought the last routine was pretty poor. You are meant to be at your most knackered but you dig deep and really go for  it which I found particularly hard as it was a bit on the 'wet' side, body blows etc ... It needs a serious attitude injection which hopefully should come in six weeks time when the instructors mix things up a bit.

Still walked out sweating but not satisfied at all which is a real disappointment.