Les Mills BodyCombat 62 has been and not so much gone, why? The answers lies in the fact that it was a fantastic release and track 7 has to be my favorite MT
track to date. Not here to talk about release 62 though, my thoughts can be found : BodyCombat 62 thoughts – let the beat go.
Today we talk about Les Mills BodyCombat 63. Tracklisting for BodyCombat 63 has been out for a while now and initial thoughts were mixed after listening to the release a couple of times.
I was quite surprised to find that track 4 has a mini conditioning segment which I think is a great idea (where you have the facilities). Reminds me when I posted in one of the “official” Facebook groups about how it would be great if within the 45 minute format the conditioning track could be thrown in. I was instantly shot down saying it was a very bad suggestion as it’s only 45 minutes etc. The comments on the post in some circumstances were very disrespectful and not contributing to the conversation at all.
I’ll have to dig out the screen shot of it and see if those people are praising this “format change” or not. I do have a mind of my own, if you don’t question things how can they progress,move forward, get better?
Masterclass
The masterclass was filmed at Aucklands viaduct, which to me and probably many 1000’s of instructors means absolutely nothing. Stage is back to being busy with people hopping on and off during various tracks. While the atmosphere of being there was probably amazing, sat at home or in a train watching this isn’t the same thing. I really do wish there was an option not to purchase the masterclass video…
Is sad to see again that in certain tracks it’s do as I say not as I do. I know if I was an assessor if such technique mistakes were made I would be making sure the instructor would be re-submitting the track. Can you spot what’s not quite right here?
This is taken from the sizzler. What’s the worst case scenario? Answers on a postcard.
Initial overall thoughts
“Tedious”, with a few rays of light. For me the power tracks bring the light to this release. This release won’t be hanging about for very long. Predictions from thoughts on BodyCombat 63 where near enough spot on “Predictions : more Karate kata’s, jump knees and switch lunges…..”
Anyway onto the tracks
Track 1a – Upper body warmup – Get Ready (Steve Aoki Vocal Radio Edit) – 2 Unlimited
Not a fan of this warm up, music lacks something that we’ve had in releases. I do like the addition of footwork with the jab, step, jab cross. Brings something fresh to the table.
Track 1b – Lower body warmup – Survival Of The Fittest (Radio Edit) – Coone
Been a while since we had a stretch in the warmups. Not really got many thoughts on this. We see the return of the advancing side kick then what?
Track 2 – Combat 1 – Badboi – Pegboard Nerds
Short, sharp and repetitive focusing on the legs. Switch lunges and alot of round-house kicks. Challenge here is to keep technique in check as you reach the magic number of 40.
Track 3 – Power training 1 – Get A Way – Sporty Breed
As with all track 3’s it comes with a high energy track. Some nice combinations with the added touch of a dynamic pull. The master trainer Carrie Kepple absolutely rocked this track in the masterclass. She reminds me of Judy King when she presented track 3 in Les Mills BodyCombat 50. Very motivating.
Track 4 – Combat 2 – Edge Of A Revolution – Nickelback
BodyCombat meets CXWorx. This “change” in format was a bit of surprise for everyone going by various conversations on Facebook and Twitter. I really don’t see the point in doing some advancing side kicks to then move to the floor. If this change is here to stay then surely should make it “conditioning track 1” rather than combat 2? Bold move, has it paid off? If the track was maybe dedicated to some kind of conditioning then preparing for it would be easier. The transition from the advancing side kicking to the floor isn’t the best especially if you’re not in a studio with the right type of floor.
Track 5 – Power training 2 – Holdin’ On Right Now – The Solar Rival
Combo of 5 + 1 for track number 5. I love the music and combinations. Is good to see the weave/step from the warmup in another track. The full combination is fantastic and participants have expressed how this just keeps going.
Track 6 – Combat 3 – Fight The Resistance – Brennan Heart & Zatox
Karate, kick-boxing and Tae kwon do. Kata straight into uppers,knees, front kicks with option to jump kick. I liked the music but the chore lacked something for a track 6.
Track 7 – Muay Thai – Dead! – My Chemical Romance
Downward street brawl punch with elbows and knees what do you get? I wasn’t a fan to start with but after teaching it over the last couple of weeks it has grown on me and is an enjoyable track that will push anyone who’s up for the challenge. Nothing complicated in it at all, simple and effective.
Track 8 – Power training 3 – Shine (JBC Remix) – Geos Crew feat. Zara
Well if you watched the masterclass it’s like how many people can you squeeze on the stage. Looks busy, looks uncomfortable. Away from the masterclass this track is going down really well and I Love this track. What an ending to this release with the 32 single sided uppercuts followed up by unleashing basic boxing punches…
Track 9 – Conditioning – Three Strikes – Afrojack feat. Jack McManus
Side hover, normal hover. Then the crunch, remind you of a certain CXWorx release? For me it’s another track from CXWorx. Obviously anyone who doesn’t do CXWorx will get a fantastic core workout.
Track 10 – Cool down – A New Way To Bleed (Photek Remix) – Evanescence
Nice cool down as always.
What Next?
BodyCombat 64 track listing is out. What will BodyCombat 64 bring? Predictions : More “to the floor” track number 4, jump knees and switch lunges…..
Lot of new moves from BodyCombat 50 through to BodyCombat 60 and they’ve been one hit wonders. Will we see these moves again any time soon?
Roger and I will probably be chatting about this release soon so please check out his group fitness over coffee podcast.
Got launch pictures/videos you want to share?
Every release after my thoughts have been made public I do a post on “Everything BodyCombat release?”. These can all be found : http://www.siphilp.co.uk/tag/everything-body-combat. If you’d like to share something in the Everything BodyCombat 63 then please get in touch.
Give Feedback
If you have any thoughts about BodyCombat 63 and you’d like to share then please feel free to comment or get in touch. Previously you could give feedback to Les Mills but would seem the website doesn’t offer such a facility any more. Your best bet? Take it to twitter :). If anyone from Les Mills global is reading this please can you make it easier for instructors and participants to give feedback?
Finally, dear Dan and Rach
Please can we start having bonus tracks? Every other Les Mills programme has them, options are good. 🙂 Thank you in advance…
12 Comments
Bournemouthgirl
I hate track 4 of Body Combat 63 – can’t see the point and it’s not combat. This latest release seems to be more aimed at men, not much for us girls.
Simon Philp
Interesting point. The thought of it being aimed at men only hasn’t crossed my mind. Is it only due to the choreography in this track you think this?
I don’t agree with it not being combat. You’re working the main muscle groups you technically punch with.
Darren
Hey Simon! My club (GHS YMCA in Simpsonville, SC USA) launched BC63 2 week ago; I am a participant. I too read all the negative comments concerning the release and track 4 specifically. After a week of the release (4 classes) it has grown on me. And the strange thing is that I believe track 4 is one of my favorites in this release. I don’t hate any of the tracks, but track 7 just doesn’t do it for me. (When you say run in a track 7 that means running man! And the running man at the end is too slow!) The highs for me in this release for me are tracks 3, 4, 5, 6, and 8!
When you say that you wish you didn’t have to purchase the masterclass, how else would you learn the release?
And as for form – I cringe at some of the YouTube video I see posted from BodyCombat instructors around the world. I’ve seen the masterclasses and I believe the form of the instructors at my club is pretty Les Mill-ish!
Thanks for the blog and post … back to my C# now!
Simon Philp
Hey Darren,
Thanks for taking time out to comment. Track 4 is a hit and miss as not all classes are taken within a fitness studio. I for one am up for more conditioning as this post says. The transition from kicks to floor doesn’t work. If you are a participant who struggles with doing a full pressup then doing it on a cold solid floor isn’t going to give a good impression.
As for learning, people learn and interpret information in many different ways. Some are visual learners, some are listeners and others are do’ers. The choreography notes are 95% of the time enough for most people to learn. But would it not be better to actually have that option rather than it being dictated? When I first went from a participant to an instructor we could just buy the music and the notes. Now this is not an option. We have to attend 2 workshops a year,and now buy each release for each programme or we run risk of losing our certification. It can become quite expensive if you’ve not got regular classes to cover such costs.
I have seen some really bad videos on youtube and well end of the day it the assessor shouldn’t be allowing them to teach as this could lead to participants getting inured due to bad technique. If master trainers aren’t setting up to do a round house kick to the front even though they are saying the correct setup and participants see this. If they are visual learners then really they could do themselves injury 🙁
I hope you’ve got unit tests on the go with your c# 😛
Grandnat
I don’t think their aiming at just men.
Probably aiming more at a younger audience, making it harder and cutting out the “cheese” – can you imagine Pirates in this release?
But in doing so they risk alienating a proportion of the audience – mainly middle aged females who love the “fun” that arguably has gone from this release completely! These people don’t care about “the essence of martial arts” they just want to burn some calories in a fun way.
Can’t argue that it’s a tough work out though. Teaching it tonight to a packed crowd and went down well even though we were skating on pools of sweat in the second half of T4.
Will get my review up soon Simon – and let’s get that chat arranged for Group Fitness Over Coffee!
Great review.
Simon Philp
Can’t beat a bit of cheese :0 Exercise should be fun while safe 🙂
Yeah we need to catch up soon. Maybe a commentator or 2 would also like to join the chat? @darren, @Bournemouthgirl ?
Janine
Great read thank you. We are only launching 63 on 11 of May
Very excited, lets see how it goes
Simon Philp
Good luck Janine :). Please let us know your thoughts after a couple of weeks.
Janine
A lot of different moves in this release. A lot of coordination. Very different but enjoyed it.
Lack of energy though, music does not help the energy. Could see members did not feel the music
Catherine
Being both one of those “middle aged women who love the fun/cheese” and a newly minted instructor, I can say that I don’t love release 63 as I did 61 or 62. I don’t (yet) chalk it up to the level of the workout (I’m up for new challenges even if I don’t yet feel like I can be an authentic martial arts role model) so much as the lack of inspirational “flavor” in this one. The music seems largely repetitive and the opposite of evocative – there are no tracks that I’m going to remember a year from now, for either their musical/emotional lift or the visualized experiences they provided. I’m no expert, but personally, I feel that the people who want an authentic martial arts experience aren’t going to look to Les Mills programs to get it.