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I'm all into kiai and putting all in to get the best work out.  Not that I really care what the rest of the class think, but I must admit that when I get a glimpse in the side mirrors of me at full pelt I think 'OMG, she's a crazed loony' (then carry on oblivious).

Does anyone feel too self conscious to allow themselves to get swept up in a track.  Or as an instructor, do you ever 'roll your eyes' about people getting in too deep?  Any thoughts? 

what do you mean by 'getting in too deep'??

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it dosen't matter if your old enough, as long as your good enough

Thinking now about my description, maybe I'm showing contempt for Body Combat.  Reading more on this forum I'm coming to see that the world of BC is so much more than my experience the 2 classes a week I attend.  Maybe I DO feel self conscious in that it feels like there are only a handful in my class who give it their all; some of the 'girlies' don't break a sweat.  I guess that's their problem, not mine.  I'm getting one hell of a workout. :o)

haha yeah I usually see the "girlies" in class a lot. When I do see them I just think how would they fight someone off in an ally, the street, etc..like would they really be able to fight them off?

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it dosen't matter if your old enough, as long as your good enough

People workout for many different reasons. Some like the social interaction, others benefit from the training effects and some come to class to release stress or 'aggression' (but lets stick with the self assertive definition and not the destructive one OK! it is 'group exercise'). Its a great avenue for letting out your stress and expressing yourself while receiving the benefits of conditioning your body. As an instructor, I love it when participants get into the class -  follow the choreography, learn techniques, join in the kiais and perform the katas with confidence and attitude. That's  a great part of teaching... motivating others to do something and giving folks an opportunity to get out of their heads and into the body (or harmonize the two!). 

Now, while you are getting into it, it is important to remember, not to get into anyone else's face or put anyone else in danger.. ie.. wildly kicking and punching or throwing your body around which could injure yourself and others in class, learn control and by all means go for it!  I only mention this as I have had a few situations in class with 'too much testoterone with no control'. A young man wildly throwing himself into ekick frenzy! Had to have a few little talks on the side and help him through it. I think I may have rolled my eyes that time or winced a little then!...

In class, especially in Les Mills classes, you are free to express yourself and put yourself into the essence of the class...call it escapism, whatever, its a healthy avenue and with a good instructor, a safe environment to really enjoy yourself. Attitude is always welcome. I have such a variety of folks in my classes, some come in and go 'all out', others come in and do a 'fluffy' workout, barely moving and even putting a bomb under them wouldn't make them budge...(for whatever reason, that's OK, and I take no offence, its just what they are feeling on the day). Its all good, they showed up for class.

When I first started teaching BodyCombat at my current club it was hard to get a kiai out of anyone...then a few joined in... and now, most everyone is going for it, especially in the Muay Thai tracks.  Be a trend setter! If others see how much you are enjoying yourself and getting the results they will probably join in. Mr Leunig says something like..."Let it go, let it unravel, its a path on which to travel!"  It's your time and money, who cares what others think, that's their business not yours, make the MOST out of it and never let an opportunity to enjoy yourself slip by.

Let the warrior out! 

Kathxox

   

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I'm a super freak, super freak, I'm super freaking oouut!

jerseyboy92:

haha yeah I usually see the "girlies" in class a lot. When I do see them I just think how would they fight someone off in an ally, the street, etc..like would they really be able to fight them off?

 That's not really the point of Combat though, is it.  Don't get me wrong, I work really hard in every class I go to and I get into the spirit of it by yelling and giving it my all, but I'm under no illusion that I'd be able to fight someone off if I was attacked in the street.  It's martial-arts based group fitness, not self-defence training.

yeah i understand your point but im saying how they dont put much effort into what they put out..like their moves/form might not be as strong as you know they can do..its like their not trying

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it dosen't matter if your old enough, as long as your good enough

as a participant at first i can get swept up in a track but to a limit, otherwise i would end up hurting someone by mistake (our studio is rather small and we stand pretty close to each other. when i started doing BC i couldn't get swept at all coz i felt silly but i got hooked

When i first started participating, i did feel a bit self concious, but i think its because i've consistently been the youngest in class for the last 2 years. Lately though i've come to the conclusion that i don't care any more! Now i shout and do what i want, a lot of people come up to me and say they wish they had my energy etc - and some of the 'hardcore' don't like it which is funny as they try and out shout me and the others, which makes everyone else join in

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I was born ready!

I have to say although i obviously wouldnt be able to fight off a 6ft burly man in a dark alley (and i wouldnt even try) (i'm female and 5ft 2), through doing combat over the last year i have become a lot more confident and feel better about self defence now than i did before i started the class because i have gained strength and am so much fitter so i think in a way combat is kind of a self defence class, for wormen especially.

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KICK...SOME....BUTT!!!!!!!

tatan48:

as a participant at first i can get swept up in a track but to a limit, otherwise i would end up hurting someone by mistake (our studio is rather small and we stand pretty close to each other. when i started doing BC i couldn't get swept at all coz i felt silly but i got hooked

Being a participant from the same gym as Tatan48, I can back up everything he's saying ....

In addition, when we are ''into it'' to me that means that we are giving it all our energy and soul, but still staying with the music and choreography -- and it's a real buzz if you ask me!  I make a lot of noise during my workouts, which I know adds to the intensity of my workouts (e.g. I feel my abs working harder).  Sometimes someone will give me a look, but for the most part I think that we are all too focused on our own workout to really care....to each his own...

P.S.  At my age, I care less and less about what people think.... it's very liberating!

 

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"Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, wine in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming 'WOO HOO what a ride!' (Author Unknow)

GetPhysical:

.... like there are only a handful in my class who give it their all; some of the 'girlies' don't break a sweat.  I guess that's their problem, not mine.  I'm getting one hell of a workout. :o)

 There are several girlies in my class who fall into this category - they end the class without a hair out of place and perfect make-up because they haven't even begun to sweat!!  I however look like I've just come out of a washing machine when I'm finished (beetroot red and soaked through). 

Our studio is reasonably small with windows only down one side.  One afternoon I found myself in a position to put any agression to good use... We were just about to start track 8 and already I had formed my own moat of sweat (sorry I know that's nasty) so I dashed to the back of the class to make sure all of the windows were WIDE open but when I returned to my place I saw one such girlie going and CLOSING them (we are in Cyprus with a temperature of over 30c most days and no A/C or fans in the room) - I gave her my most menacing glare and asked her what she was doing!!!  She said "but I'm cold" I politely (well not that politely actually) told her that if she was cold she was either ill or not putting enough into her workout and in either case she shouldn't be in the class.  I went and re-opened the windows then stood in front of her and gave it my all.  My instructor came over and gave me a round of applause and at the end of the class said that it was the best workout he's seen in ages. 

 So to cut a long story short - these girlies actually make me work harder (in a round about sort of way) and I don't care what anyone thinks - It's my work out and I'm going to enjoy it!!

CyprusBC:

GetPhysical:

.... like there are only a handful in my class who give it their all; some of the 'girlies' don't break a sweat.  I guess that's their problem, not mine.  I'm getting one hell of a workout. :o)

 There are several girlies in my class who fall into this category - they end the class without a hair out of place and perfect make-up because they haven't even begun to sweat!!  I however look like I've just come out of a washing machine when I'm finished (beetroot red and soaked through). 

Our studio is reasonably small with windows only down one side.  One afternoon I found myself in a position to put any agression to good use... We were just about to start track 8 and already I had formed my own moat of sweat (sorry I know that's nasty) so I dashed to the back of the class to make sure all of the windows were WIDE open but when I returned to my place I saw one such girlie going and CLOSING them (we are in Cyprus with a temperature of over 30c most days and no A/C or fans in the room) - I gave her my most menacing glare and asked her what she was doing!!!  She said "but I'm cold" I politely (well not that politely actually) told her that if she was cold she was either ill or not putting enough into her workout and in either case she shouldn't be in the class.  I went and re-opened the windows then stood in front of her and gave it my all.  My instructor came over and gave me a round of applause and at the end of the class said that it was the best workout he's seen in ages. 

 So to cut a long story short - these girlies actually make me work harder (in a round about sort of way) and I don't care what anyone thinks - It's my work out and I'm going to enjoy it!!

 

I look exactly the same after every class, always soaked right through. haha. Not very appealing but at least i know i got my workout. When i do see people who look the same as they did when the class first started i think to my self what were they doing the whole time?

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it dosen't matter if your old enough, as long as your good enough

As an instructor, I roll my eyes at participants who DON"T "get into it."  To assist, amongst other techniques, I demonstrate and cue levels of intensity, then I motivate to "step up to the next level."  I feed on the "Muay-Thai-Maniacs" who make the ground shake with their kiais!!

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Whitebelt

CyprusBC:

 I however look like I've just come out of a washing machine when I'm finished (beetroot red and soaked through). 

LOL.  Me too!

 Thanks for all the great replies everyone. x