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Along with the combat, I also enjoy a programme called "shoot exercise", or "fitboxe".  It is quite similar to body combat, but one difference is the usage of free standing punch bags so you can actually punch and kick, not just doing the shadow movements.  It adds extra stimulation and excitement, also helps for the real power training, as well as to get the feel of the right technique.  Usually two people share one bag, punching/kicking from opposite directions to prevent the bag from dancing around. (provided everyone follows the beat of the music and move in sync that is...) 

IMO bags would be a great addition to BC, perhaps not for the entire programme but for a few songs in each release.  Would this be possible in a future release?  Anyone else interested?  One more thing...  every participant will need a pair of good gloves, or at the very least wraps for practical reason, not just for a fashion statement as your knuckles get sore and skinned pretty quick if your hands are bare!

When you only have to use those bags during some songs, you could have a problem with the space available in some gyms. You can't just let them stand in the way during the other exercises. They could block the view to the stage or be in the way when doing a side shuffle or other moves.

 

I think it would be better to have just 2 separate programs, BC and a new one, BodyBags (ehm, quite a sinister name). I know this program as KickFun by the way. Very entertaining and very hard, it makes me sweat even more than BC.

At my gym there's a class called "Thump", it's all boxing (no kicking), you pair up, and one person takes the boxing gloves and the other the focus mitts, after about 3 minutes, you switch roles. There's no boxing bags, so theres lots of room.. whats suprising is the room it's in can fit about 28 participants.. but if we did combat in there we could only fit 7 participants lol (and even then you will be sidekicking people next to you).

That's one small room.

"Thump" program sounds good.

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'Now, who wants to do it all over again?'

I really like 'impact' classes. The Kickboxing training classes I taught in early 90s were partly choreographed punch kick combos, floor patterns, strength conditioning and the use of focus mitts and gloves, kick pads, jump ropes and a single bag in one corner of the room and a speed bag in the other. Boxing training heaven!... for a short segment everyone had a turn 'circuit' style on the bags and other equipment... as long as they knew how to punch and kick with good technique and had attended classes and learned how to throw and absorb  the impact work.... Its amazing how many participants did not understand the consequences of kicking a bag while:... unbalanced or with pointed toes,  or without engaging and angling the torso etc.. as well as having bent wrists when punching.... so while it sounds great and fun to include something to wail on in a boxing style class, you need to impart ALL the technical info first. 

We split the room up into 4 groups... absolute beginners, less than 20 classes, more than 20 classes and  advanced...so we could work on technique, introduce wraps and gloves when wrists were strong and work with the mitts and then graduate to the bag......It was actually harder for me to learn how to catch and move with the punches ..as some of the hefty guys in class would pummel me and I'd make them go work the bag. I learned to stick with the beginners and my co teacher who was a fighter worked the advanced participants. SO much fun and yes, there definitely is a progression from the shadow punching. Les Mills NZ has a great ringside program where you can work with a trainer... PJ knows about it, ... hey PEEEJ! 

 

 

 

 

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List of things to do today. breathe in breathe out.

A few of the New Zealand Les Mills gyms run a boxing style group fitness class called Impact. Mainly in pairs, a mix of bag work, drills and focus mitts, etc.

 

Have been a couple of times, must get along a bit more... :) 

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Scott :: http://zone3.net.nz/

Yeah, Bodybags sounds great!!  Well I mean the idea of it, not necessarily the name lol   I just thought it maybe nice to add extra variety in the body combat too.  For the possible complications you stated, the bags are not so hard to move once you learn the correct ways to do it, so perhaps 2-3 songs in succession with the bag and then moving it out of the way may not be too much of a distraction.  For the visibility, in my classes the instructor spent more than half of the time going around the floor checking everyone up close, and this should be adviseable instead of them staying up front all the time in actual classes in the gym. 

But I do like the idea of a separate programme, stressing on correct techniques as someone suggested, it is absolutely essential not only for the maximum benefit but also for the safety of the participants.  I really hope this will be considered for the next introduction of a new Les Mills programme!

I think one of the good things about combat for gyms is that they don't need to buy any extra equipment, so I think if they had to then provide a load of punch bags, just for 2 or 3 tracks it may cause them to reconsider getting a license. 

However, I definately like the idea of it being a whole separate program!  Me and my sister used some of the combat music and routines in our own bit of boxing awith pads and it was actually really fun, and would love a class like that.  And like someone else said, wraps would then be essential