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Hello fellow Attackers!

My name is Leslie, and I've been teaching Attack for about 3 years now.  I love the program, and I've been told I'm a natural "attacker". However, I've never got to work at a club where the program seems to work.  Either the time slots or wrong, or Body Combat has everyone's attention, and no one wants to share their attention between both rigorus programs.  So, any thoughts on how I can make it work?

 Currently, I'm a one man show working at a Gold's Gym.  I have two classes a week.  One is Wednesday nights at 6:30...kind of late, but I still get some participants.  I took over a slot that was originally Zumba oriented.  No offense to Zumba.  It's a great program, but it's not intense, so I think I scared a lot of people away (even when I taught a solid class primarily in the low options).

My second class is on Saturdays at 11am.  At first it was okay, but now the numbers are low.  So, that class will be cut as of next month. 

The owner of the gym says I'm too good to teach to just a few people, so we're trying to figure something out.

 I'm currently toying with the idea of doing a Body Attack challenge and have people sign up for 6 weeks with a prize at the end...just to get some believers, but I think it will be tough to get some believers since there is fear.

 Honestly, what I don't get is why people fear it? If they can do body combat, then why not attack?  Two clubs, both programs, and combat always wins.  Don't get me wrong, I don't want combat to fail, but I sure would like to see both programs to succeed.

 Any thoughts??

 Thx!!

Les

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Leslie Furtick Learn it, live it, then LOVE IT!!

BA challenge is a great way to gain more participants! How about a poster with the following info or something similar:

- Do you play action sports like football, volleyball, basketball, tennis, etc.?

- Do you ski, ride a bike, climb mountains, run or jog?

- Would you like to significantly improve your skills?

- Would you like to become fit, stay fit or become fitter?

- Would you like to experience the ultimate group fitness workout?

- BodyAttack is for everyone!

- It's a simple athletic workout that delivers results.

- Progress from low impact to high impact moves.

- Get ready and challenge yourself! 

I like it!!  Thanks!  I'll forward this idea to my manager and see what we can do with it.

 

Les

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Leslie Furtick Learn it, live it, then LOVE IT!!

You're probably right - the participants are scared. Before I gathered the guts to try Attack, I was positive I couldn't even finish the class, because many websites I had researched had given the impression that it's a program for extremely fit people only. I was actually afraid I'd faint or throw up or something during the class. BA challenge sounds like a great idea, and I think you should make sure to emphasize that it doesn't require a professional athlete to attend a BA class, as I'm sure plenty of people have misunderstood this.

Hi! I don't teach Attack - I teach Combat and Pump - but I thought I'd let you know about something we did that really helped. We have a rather strong group of Combatters at our club - Attack wasn't dying by any stretch - but it wasn't as strong. Our TEAM of instructors is, however, and we decided to challenge the Attack instructors and participants to a 2 hour Combat/Attack challenge class. We did 2-3 tracks of each program, alternating as we went along (finishing with a Combat cooldown because they are way nifty). 

We also had a "bet" - a very public one - between the instructors. Whomever had the most participant points at the end of class won, and the "losers" had to wear the other team's color (green or orange) for the next month when they taught. We got a point for each participant that showed up, and got an extra one if they came dressed in their team's color, and another point if they brought a friend who had never done the programs. The participants loved it and responded with action and TONS of "trash talk"... all in good taste and in fun. :)

It was a MASSIVE success. We brought new people into the club, brought members into the Group Ex studio who had never thought of trying a class (or who were afraid to), and we cross-sold the programs so well that a lot of the participants now go to BOTH classes!  In fact, they keep asking when we are going to do it again!

 BTW - the Attack teachers looked wonderful wearing green/camo for a month!

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Certified Body Combat and Body Pump instructor, Spin certified cycle instructor, Certified Personal Trainer.

In my experience, 2 things keep people away from attack: intensity and coordination.

When I start teaching attack in a new gym I choose tracks that are easy to follow and I include new moves as the group becomes more familiar with the program. That is how I deal with coordination.

About intensity, there are tracks that are choreographed so nicely that options flow right away. Plyometrics from BA52 (popcorn) is a great example with the lunges. Lisa has done a great job at this in general.

 BA57 is a special release focused on options and beginners... to me is a great release to come back whenever I face a new group of future attackers!

Another thing is to teach a 45 min format, preceded by a 10 min clinic where I teach the main moves in bodyattack. Tracks 1-2-3 from old releases are great to do this, so when the real bodyattack class begins, everyone is much more relaxed and eager to give their best.

Good luck with the program!

 

Eduardo 

 

 

 

sofja:

You're probably right - the participants are scared. Before I gathered the guts to try Attack, I was positive I couldn't even finish the class, because many websites I had researched had given the impression that it's a program for extremely fit people only. I was actually afraid I'd faint or throw up or something during the class. BA challenge sounds like a great idea, and I think you should make sure to emphasize that it doesn't require a professional athlete to attend a BA class, as I'm sure plenty of people have misunderstood this.

One of the factors why people are scared of BODYATTACK are the instructors. Sometimes, they are so hype and energetic, they usually do only the high energy move. Thus, new comers are easily scared, living the class with the impression that this a program for extremely fit people. As a participant, I think it is better if the instructor should from time to time show the low impact option. If this don't get into the participant, why not team-teach. Alternately, one instructor will be a shadow just doing the low impact option.

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RPM is a CULTURE...

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As i participated in an BodyAttack class for the first time, I was overwhelmed by its intensity. During a sequence of jumpin’ jacks, the instructor jumped higher in front of me and grinned demonically. He probably tried to inspire me, but it only convinced me I wouldn’t be able to exercise on this level.

So I ignored BodyAttack until a BodyStep class,  I usually participated in, changed into BodyAttack Low. In BodyAttack Low my gym leave out one track, pitch down the music, offer more pauses and explain the low impact movements (and sometimes give the high impact as an option).

I gave this BodyAttack Low a chance and found out I liked. Later, as I got better in it, I retried the BodyAttack High and enjoyed it.  BodyAttack is now part of my weekly program.

So, based on my experience, I’d suggest to start a BodyAttack Low class as a ‘bridge’ between BodyAttack High and the other classes.

All BODYATTACK instructors should be teacing and demo-ing low impact options in all classes.  This is a basic concept that is explained during module training and also shown in all the DVD's.  Thoe chorey notes have the options written in them for a reason - the instructors need to show them to their class.  There is absolutely no excuse for not showing options!

I find it odd that Combat seems to be more popular than Attack for some of you out there (obviously location has something to do with that) but here is Oz Attack is in general way more popular in most clubs than Combat?!

I transferred as GFM to a new club nearly 2 years ago and Attack was slow to kick off - things like BODYVIVE / BODYBALANCE etc were incredibly popular as people settled into the club - however BODYATTACK did eventually get there and now I teach BODYATTACK for anywhere between 50-100 people (depending on what club I am at and room capacity etc).

Keep working at it!  Teach all the options, nurture the newbies, challenge the hardcore and Im sure you will get there eventually!

Leslie, I can tell you from my own experience what held me back from Attack at first. Like some have posted already I didn't think I would finish a class and I only heard how intense Attack is and so I was always interested but somehow never joined a class. Then coordination and all those moves seemed so complicated.

Well, early October they had a Les Mills Re-Launch Day showing all programs and finally I joined the Attack Class. It was a 45 Minute (they left off 2 tracks) and with 3 teachers they really looked after the newbies. 

So now I'm doing Attack 2 - 3 times a week and I really enjoy it very much. I get better every week I think and also try to convince others to join but funnily enough they have the same excuse as I had... 

You have to try and take that "fear" away by really helping newcomers otherwise they think they can't follow anyway and will quit.

BTW, at my Gym Combat is the less popular class with only 2 classes a week vs 5 for Attack.