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I attended a launch of BC32 tonight...... I thought it was absolute rubbish. When are they going to give up on the Capoeira tracks.

The upper body warmup was fine, then came the dreaded Ginga. It's so slow and boring, and really kills they class.

I've been attending BC since BC11, and think the last few releases have really gone off the boil.

I attend BC classes all over the UK. Over the last few 3 months i attended over 30 BC classes, but only did BC31 once. No-one was teaching it.

What do you all think, is BC really going off the boil?

Honestly, I love BC 32.. Mind you I havent been doing it as long as you... I think my first bc would be BC20 or 21... and lately ALL the BC classes I have attended have been 31!  I guess they are preparing people for 32 (not released here yet) I like the challenge of the evasive side kick coz I find doing the regular roundhouse and sidekick quite boring now... but everyone's different I guess... Apart from track 4... did you not like the rest?

Not really, i thought the moves were very repetative, and music uninspiring.

The class was silent at the end of the launch, it seemed a bit of a damp squid.

 

Haven't had the full release just yet, just some tracks.

 

IMHO it would be hard to beat BC30&31. They were both very good (Rock me Amadeus in 30, Pink and Scooter in 31). Very upbeat and energetic. The few tracks I had from #32 were slower, but also more challenging because you have to move slowly and therefore focus more on technique. I liked the songs I heard - Alice Cooper & Queen, what more can you wish for - ehm, Maiden :-)

Am aware of quite a few instructors who replaced BC31 quite soon as they had timing issues with it. I really enjoyed 31 but everyone adapts differently and has different taste. I think the ESK provides some variety, like the lunging front kick did and am actually quite interested to see where we go from here.

32 grew on me, I was lukewarm at the QW but while learning it really got into it. With the exception of the Lower Body warm up which sounds too similar to the last one and didn't seem to flow from the upper body, but I guess they need that kind of beat to practice the ginga. Also not too hot on track 2 but love the rest of it.

Unfortunately, the participants are not really enjoying it this time. Tracks 4 & 6 have got unanimous approval for music and choreography but I went in to teach a couple of days ago and was told that they only came for me and would probably not come back until it was mixed up. Am trying to use my charismatic personality (and the threat of push-ups) to convince them otherwise!

 

Our gym launched BC 32 last night too. It was odd - seemed a bit bitty, and it was so short that we finished 10 minutes early - despite several breaks where instructors swopped the mic over etc. I'd be a bit pissed off if I was paying per class, had paid for an hour, and didn't get an hour. Some tracks were so short (3mins?) that they were over before they'd begun. There could have been a whole extra track in there!

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I've been invisible for a while - profile got deleted, so I'm back and 'friendless' with a post-count of about zero - so hello again everyone.

marksmith34:

I attended a launch of BC32 tonight...... I thought it was absolute rubbish. When are they going to give up on the Capoeira tracks.....

......What do you all think, is BC really going off the boil?

No I dont think its going off the boil at all! I think the "Capoeira tracks" are great. It feels like such an achievement now I can actually do that move. When I first saw it I thought "no way" but now I can do it! They cant just ditch it after 2 months and then decide to throw it back in a year later. Its such a complex move it has to be built up over each release which is exactly what Rach and Dan have done. I love this track 4 and I think it has much more of a rhythmic feel and it does feel more of a dance. When it comes to the wide gingas I can def feel this working my legs! I think its a great move and it shows just how far combat has come.

As for it being a shorter release, I cant say I noticed at the QW. I felt just as sweaty and hot as usual. Just because a class is longer doesnt mean you work harder.....it all depends how much you put into it. With all the different level changes in this release it is a great workout and I have found myself with slightly more energy which then lets me use even more power.

I've been doing BC since release 1, first as a participant and then as an instructor (from release 12).

When Natha and Gabi left, at first I must say I was kind of apprehensive about the new team. I even had trouble liking the first few releases by Rach and Dan. But I think they have just been getting better and better and now are way ahead of anything Natha and gabi ever did. Not that Natha and Gabi weren't good, but BC really needed to evolve and Dan and Rach have taken it to new levels in every aspect.

I work for the portuguese BTS agent (Manz) and I was lucky enough to be at last years euro summit here in Portugal and at the time see BC 30 being launched first hand by Dan and Rach. Now what was completely awsome about it was that thay gave a full explanation of how and why they choreographed each track prior to presenting them. This completely blew my mind. Once you understand what they were thinking for each move and each sequence, the whole concept of Bodycombat just reaches a whole new meaning. And by what they said, I can tell you these guys are brilliant and they really really know what they are doing! I've been a true Dan and Rach fan ever since!

Also, I just can´t agree with all you people who don't like the jinga. Obviously, due to the difficult timing, it had to start of slow (BC30) and then evolve from there. Come on, I can't believe anyone doesn't agree that Track 4 in BC 31 just has to be one of the best tracks ever! absolutely Brilliant choreo (the whole evasive side kick/junga/jump kick sequence is simply fantastic!) mixed with fabulous song! You just can't beat that.

I'll be launching BC 32 tomorrow, and am quite expectant. Some of my participants have already done it at other gyms and say it's great. The muay thai track just seems competely ballistic! I'll soon let you know how it went.

I've been doing combat since BC4 - like many I started as a participant and by BC28 I was an instructor... took me long enough! 

Unless you've seen the original stuff you won't fully appreciate how much combat has grown and how much more fun and technically brilliant it is now.  Don't get me wrong, BC30 and 31 falled short of the mark.  BC30 class numbers waivered a little but the regulars held firm knowing that BC31 wasn't far away.  Launched BC31 and they held for about three weeks - my numbers then fell from 22 one week to 4 the next.  Not good.  Most instructors I know mixed the release for the whole period. 

Taught last night, final class before the launch (so in the mix anyway) and suddenly all my old regulars showed up.  Colour me surprised - nearly swore over the mic when they walked in. 

Taught BC32 once (minus cooldown) and the class loved it, so far I think it's a huge improvement on the last two.  Reservations about some of the music but I think the chore is great and it seems almost like back to basics.  If so, it's a good place to build up from again. 

Overall BC29 is my favourite to date but personally I think it's down the instructor to make their class great whether that means working with what you've got or mixing to suit your class.  Dan and Rach have done a fantastic job with combat and a few that don't quite live up to expectations I can handle.

We haven't launched 32 yet but I'm worried; my participants loved 30 including track 4 but hated 31 track 4 (also didn't like 5; others were ok but not great and I've been mixing it up since soon after the launch). The music seems slow and uninspiring for 32 and that's why I'm worried my classes won't like it. But I try to get alot of feedback about what they don't or do like and start to mix it up alot sooner after the launch if there is a negative response. They're not too concerned about becoming adept martial artists and learning slow, complicated moves; they just want to have fun and get a great cardio workout as well as work the muscles. I also don't think it will be good for it to be so short especially if the moves and music are slower, they won't be as motivated to work as hard. I think this will challenge our instructor skills to get them inspired in other ways so they'll work harder. We'll see! But overall I think Dan and Rach do a great job; every release has it's strong points. As I work on learning 32 for the launch, I hope it will grow on me so to speak and I'll find those strong points.

Hey Lisaa - BC32 T4 is easier than the last and I think once they get head around it they'll like it.

Overall I think this release is one where you really have to play with the corny to get the best result at times.  I haven't particularly noticed that it's that much slower but it gives you more time to focus on technique with those that don't think they need to listen to you!  And we've all got one of them...

If you run out of time and want to speed things up try throwing in another power or muay tai!

cassmab:

Unless you've seen the original stuff you won't fully appreciate how much combat has grown and how much more fun and technically brilliant it is now!

Cassie I couldn't agree more! 

Mark just a question because I really do appreciate everyone's opinion, you said that you have been involved with Combat since 11...what has changed for you that you see it "off the boil"?  The evolution of this program since D & R really has been a wonderful journey for me.  I started at 15 and had an opportunity to watch Gabby and Nathaniel.  As an instructor, I found it hard to follow them as they talked over each other during EVERY track.  Dan and Rach play off of each other (as well as the global instructors) but never inhibit my ability to hear a cue or instruct by talking over each other....this is just one simple change.  The BIGGEST change has been the level changes and the growth of the moves and martial arts feel.  It started ( in my opinion) with release 25.  It wasn't a "change" so to speak BUT the upper/lower body evolution began.  27 was off the hook and again introduced the level changes with more powerful execution and appreciation for moves already introduced.  28 it was clear that Dan and Rach were preparing us for that evasive...."Hung Up" introduced the slow kata kicks as well as the slow (painful!) side kick.  29 AGAIN you see a slow progression in "Vogue"....30 was WOW!  The culmination of 5 releases.....and the passion/music/appreciation for the program was so eveident to me; most importantly to our members!

There has been a clear progression and I have to say that without it, my members would have quit me a long time ago.  My members are "getting" the E kick now at 32 and it ABSOLUTELY has to be kept in AT LEAST for 4 releases..!

One last thing, (as I feel I'm on a soapbox....sorry) do all you bloggers out there see that both Dan and Rach are looking for our opinions?  That to me speaks volumnes about their committment to the program AND to us! 

 

 

 

timbts:

Also, I just can´t agree with all you people who don't like the jinga. Obviously, due to the difficult timing, it had to start of slow (BC30) and then evolve from there. Come on, I can't believe anyone doesn't agree that Track 4 in BC 31 just has to be one of the best tracks ever! absolutely Brilliant choreo (the whole evasive side kick/junga/jump kick sequence is simply fantastic!) mixed with fabulous song! You just can't beat that.

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I've been invisible for a while - profile got deleted, so I'm back and 'friendless' with a post-count of about zero - so hello again everyone.

Ive got to say I didnt notice anything wrong with the moves to music in T4 of BC32. I was musically trained from a young age but I have not struggled with this track at all. I think it fits very well. Maybe it is just unfortunate that you have picked up on this and now it will be all you notice. Hopefully you will get past that though as I think its an excellent track and it can feel quite dramatic when you get going!

Okay, here's my opinion, and the opinion of some participants...

 I love the ginga in BC32 - the turning front kick is a far easier progression than BC31, where you had the ESK, then followed quickly by another difficult kick (truely, there are participants out there who really struggle with the jump-kick still) - I felt like I had to continually talk them through the moves, rather than being able to use more 'feeling' and motivational cues in the second half.  A lot of participants have hated track 4 in BC31.

One of the gyms I work for, their participants HATE the ginga with a passion.  The numbers were dropping significantly.  For example, a Sat morning class with 30 regular participants, dropped to 10 in the four weeks following the new release - when surveyed, the missing participants stated how much they disliked the Capoeira element in BC, and that the music was becoming boring.  On the flip side, I take a class on a Sat morning at another gym who have embraced Capoeira with a passion.

While it may be easy to place blame with the instructors, it's not always the answer to falling numbers.  I've started a BC technique class for my participants.  It's 30mins, once a month (usually on the first w/end of the month), right before the actual class.  I continue to get 15-20 participants coming to that technique class, who then stay and do the class afterwards.  They've all told me how it helps them get a better understanding of the moves - and it seems to be working, because they're all doing the ESK at level 2 (or better now).

I know that Les Mills say "Push play and go", but I'm not sure this phrase is entirely relevant any more for the new, complex moves, and the speeds of today's BC.

But, glory me, I love that butt track!!