Body Combat 60 review (ENG)

This is my opinion about the new Body Combat. 15 years ago I did a group lesson for the first time. Of course I did not know what to expect, but I really completely liked it from the start. Of the 60 releases that have been made, I think I've missed a about 4. I was at a gym where they did not teach BodyCombat.

 

It was until BC36 I actually went for the instructors training. For me it was really getting used to standing in front of the group, instead of in the group. Twenty-four releases later this is release 60.

 

At release 50 I have made these video’s, along with a few international colleagues, maybe you remember me:

 

Part 1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HXuJFN7sMIM

Part 2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Fhk--gNeaM

Part 3

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XlfIPsO2ZIU

I can not even imagine that it's already 10 releases ago. Tommy Damani has then brought us together. Good memories!

I have practiced the new release now a few times and of course I have an opinion about it. And here is that opinion:

Track 1a - Upper Body warmup - Hit me with your best shot (Louder Bass Remix Edit) - Neon Ninja

It all seems easy to begin with, but this is not true. Because you are at a slower pace doing the 'upper' (twice on the right), you should put extra force.

I think the 'decoy switch' is quite difficult. Fortunately, you can do this at a fairly slow pace. Nice to build up and a nice warm up for the legs (though this is obviously the part of the upper body).

It is important in this movement you show this well (as an instructor). But since you do this slowly, you will succeed in that.

The following combo in the w-u is a 'hook' with a 'weave'. We have done that often before and is good for your abs, especially with the 'hook'.

For a part that is really for the upper body, we do a lot of legs. Just like that 'decoy switch’, the ‘squats‘ and ‘lunges’ at the end of this are again for the legs. Some shuffles to exit.

Highlight: I think that 'decoy switch' is nice, good to get your heart rate up.

Track 1b - Lower body warmup - Roar (Rayders Bass Remix Edit) - Hot Cherry

Like in BC59 we start with three knees on both sides. That is not all that exciting. We vary after a couple times with knee-knee-kick.

The 'shoot' that we do after that is great for warming up your legs. And if your heart rate became a bit slower, you have now the chance to get it up again. Just go for level 2 and go deeper into the knees.

And of course the setup for the "roundhouse kick", maybe a little too much, we do the setup 6 times and 10 times the complete move. And then the ‘back-kick’ (repeater, 16x).

Again some shuffles to exit.

Highlight: the music, not that it is particularly good, but mainly because it suites very well with the different combinations.

 

Track 2 - Combat 1 - Black or White (Combat Remix) - The Ring Treat

Most people still know from a previous release, the AlienAntfarm version of 'Smooth Criminal' (BC48). In my classes a number that is often asked back (and if not, I mix it myself).

I think this number 2 will be such a number. Bit of the same atmosphere and similar combos.

We have a quick start, not much build up, new participants will have some difficulties. Then again, we do it often enough to get used to it (upper-upper-hook-knee/kick).

I counted; within one and a half minute, we do 130 moves. And then I left out the pulse at the beginning.

The next combo is the "plyo push” and the “push-kick”. I think that the “push-kick” is more effective than the normal front-kick. I am a fan of this combo.

I'm not a fan of the shuffle again (again ...) with 'roundhouse kick' and 'back-fist'. I think a 'roundhouse' should go forward and the ‘back-fist’ too.

But fortunately we end with the first combo. Eventually, in just over three minutes we do more than 220 moves.

Highlight: the music again, already my favorite!

Track 3 - Power Workout 1 - Fly Away - Deer Between

Another great track for the shoulders. Not too difficult, but really fast and because we do so many repetitions, your shoulders will feel heavier and heavier.

First 'uppers', then ‘jabs', then 'hooks’ and of course all combined.

5 minutes of speed!

Highlight: not really

 

Track 4 - Combat 2 - Emergency (Clockwork Remix) - Steve Aoki feat. Lil Jon, Chiddy Ban

If you have done BC59, you know that track 6 was quite heavy for your legs. Here it is (already) at track 4. We have the 'switch-lunge’ together with the ‘squat-pulse’. And that is indeed as hard as you think. And if your legs are warmed up, we go for the 'roundhouse-knee’. First, a number of times in succession, then combined with the 'side-kick'. A series that we have done often before, but it is very hard on the leg you stand on.

And it can be even harder, we end each side with a combo of everything. In the descriptions (choreography) we get as instructors it tells us that the recovery should be "shake out legs". That's what you really need .....

Highlight: the full combo, heavy

 

Track 5 - Power Training 2 - Rise Again (Sy and Unknown Remix) - Breeze v Lost Witness

To get a lot of power in your 'jabs' we use the legs. These moves are called the 'jump jab’. We have done that before. In track 8 of BC59 we stayed in place, but here we go forward and run back to base (high knees for an even better effect).

The second combo is hook-upper-hook, on speed. And of course we will combine those two again. And if we do this correct we are going to do h-u-h on speed. You will have a fraction of a second left at the end of the combo.

Highlight: the "jump-jab", you use your whole body.

 

Track 6 - Combat 3 - What's Love (Kandy Man Remix Edit) - Ste Ingham and Nick Stitz

Here does the 'decoy switch' from warming up makes his comeback. And because it is at speed here, I think it's going to be difficult. I think it's going to be a bit rushed. A nice job for instructors.

Complete first series: 'decoy switch' - 'knife strike' - 'kick back'

Then we do three 'jabs' (head-body-head), you drop a little at the second jab. We do this with a ‘front-kick’. And eventually even 3 'kicks'.

It is a bit strange to do two completely different combinations, but the music does not change much. Personally, I think this is one of the lesser tracks 6.

Highlight: not really, though the 'decoy switch' is good for your legs.

 

Track 7 - Muay Thai - Kryptonite - Proof Luke

We have a new move. The music tells us

"If I go crazy then will you still call me Superman"

The new move is called SUPERMAN. This is very different from the SUPERMAN you might know from Body Attack.

But as we are used to in a "track 7" we start with knees. Double knees right and left (and singles).

The first real combo with 3 times 'jab/cross' and an elbow. This is at speed, so watch out that execution continues to go well.

The set-up for the SUPERMAN looks a little silly. It's hard to explain, but it comes down to that you lift your back leg a bit and put it down again.

The whole move looks pretty good and is also very effective. You give a hard punch forward with your back arm/fist. This is a real movement that you should do and not explain.

And the whole song is glued together with knees, a lot of knees.

Highlight: the new SUPERMAN of course, unfortunate that we do this just a few times.

Bonus; it fits nicely into the music!

 

Track 8 - Power Training 3 - Sunshine On a Cloudy Day (Eufeion Remix)

We start track 8 with the double jab we know from track 5 of BC59. We now do it only with a 'hook' as a third move.

And then the 'uppers' follow, a lot of them and intensive.

The combinations in this track are quick and hard for your shoulders. The series with the ‘uppers’ are heavy and especially because we have used them a lot in the last hour.

Round 3 in this number 8 is not very exciting, "jabs" and "jacks" to get rid of the last bit of energy.

Highlight: the rapid combination makes it more powerful than what we might expect from a number 8.

 

Track 9 - Conditioning - You're the Best - Blazed Calm

A real abs track. First, all kinds of 'crunches' and up to the 15-second pause you have your abs just under tension, that's two and a half minutes.

Round 2 is only with push-ups, the 'normal' ones but also the triceps version. The triceps version is still a problem to do right. I also give Body Pump and I notice that it is difficult to perform, the instructors have to explain this. The triple is lovely, half-half-whole.

Highlight: the triple push-up.

Track 10 - Cool down - Now We Are Free - Lisa Kelly

We had in BC59 a more classical song. I'm not a fan of that. But in this release we also have classical music as a cool down. It is completely out of the tone from the rest of the tracks.

We do not do anything exciting, just let relaxing the muscles

No highlight. Just nice that there is a fictional sword again.

 

The entire release is really good again! Good music and a fantastic new move. Nice to introduce and fun to perform. And I think, for example, track 2 will be come back in mixes in the future.

And for instructors, or for anyone who sees the DVD, the atmosphere is very relaxed on stage. Five people, including three presenters. I like it better than the large groups, 5 is really the limit.

Again three months to look forward to!

Marco