Les Mills BodyCombat 65 and BodyCombat 66 sit in the shadows as we slowly approach the mixing phase. BodyCombat 68 track listing is out, will there be enough local instructor quarterly workshops?  How has BodyCombat 67 gone down?

Les Mills BodyCombat 67 Masterclass

The masterclass was filmed at a large Les Mills event in Stockholm so you know straight away the stage will be full.   Is good to see David Cross back in a masterclass video.  Thankfully nothing crazy in this release so the wide angles doesn’t matter.

Initial overall thoughts

Going to the floor in the lower body warm up, what is this crazy idea?  Some really good solid combinations throughout.  Getting a little tired of seeing music that’s been used previously.

Anyway onto the tracks

Track 1a – Upper body warmup – I’m An Albatraoz (Sunny Dee Remix) – 4kast

I like this warmup as there is nothing fancy about it.  Simple boxing combinations which allow the instructor to focus on technique of the jabs, crosses and uppercuts. Wasn’t sure about this choice of music to start with as it felt a bit dark. It’s grown on me and there are some really good uplifting synths.

Track 1b – Lower body warmup – Fight For Your Right! (Yelhigh! Remix Edit) – Boogie Bros feat. Big Daddi

“Throwback”, yes it is…. Last release we were straight into an Esquiva lunge, combination, this time it’s shoots. Side kicks, roundhouse kicks, simple front kick combo, but then throwing in going to the floor in a lower body warm-up?   Who would of guessed?  The floor work in track 4 has stuck with us now over a fair few releases, will this be the same in the next release BodyCombat 68?

Track 2 – Combat 1 –  Thnks Fr Th Mmrs – Fall Out Boy

Kick boxing to Tae Kwon Do. You wouldn’t think this track is over 6 minutes long.  I do like the full combination of the upper, upper, hook, 2 back knees. Lots of areas to coach and push the levels.  If you know the words why not sing along?

Track 3 – Power training 1 – Set You Free (Hixxy Remix) – N-Trance

Another blast from the past.   Again, lots of areas to coach technique and improvements aswell as dropping the bomb and pushing to work a higher level.  I do like the combination we build up to over the course of the track but this track will go into the never use again bag unfortunately.  Jab, cross, hook, hook, 2 jacks, remind of you a recent release?  If not why not take the 32 hooks we do in this track and turn them into upper cuts, remember?  I’ll leave it there….

Track 4 – Combat 2 –  Chopstick (Mado Kara Mieru) – Scooter

No capoeira this time, but floor work continues (I am loving it, participants love to hate it).  This is a leg killer and butt killer in disguise.   Mixing it up by throwing in Karate punches, or the calm before the storm as I call it. 32 press-ups, yes please….  Best improvement of this track 4 to previous is that we go to the floor at the end.   Nothing feels interrupted, THANK YOU and please can it stay like this?

Track 5 – Power training 2 – Sound Bang – The Noble Ascent

Coming off all the shoulder work from track 4 and we’re thrown into the shoulder finisher.  Previously we had a hook, upper, hook combination, we move to upper, cross, upper.  If 32 hooks weren’t enough for us in track 3 we’ll add in 32 uppercuts aswell, hmmmm, deja-vu?  It’s a hard, quick track that pushes the heart rate right up there. Just before the sprinting round I usually split the room putting each side against each another.  It’s the matter of can you go faster and higher than the person opposite you. Works like a charm :).

Track 6 – Combat 3 – Bottles Up – Vandalisim & Risk

Described in our instructors notes as “Leg conditioning and cardio”, really?  My word where did they pull this from?  Some capoeira and Tae Kwon Do.  Back knee, front kick, jump kick lays the foundation so when the lunge tap comes in you’re gonna know about it.  4 minutes and when finished if your legs aren’t screaming at you, you’re not getting low enough. If you’re not breathing from holes you didn’t realise you had, you’re not working hard enough, push yourself :).

Track 7 – Muay Thai – Breathe – Tickling Transit

Not really alot to this track 7, elbows, knees, classic Muay Thai :).  Short, sharp and sweet.  Fairly neutral thoughts on this track.   Easily be brought out of the bag for mixing in.

Track 8 – Power training 3 –  Surrender (Clubland Mix) – Al Storm feat. Amy

We end this release on a simple boxing combination while throwing in jabs to really push through.  Jab,cross, jab, cross, hook, hook, can focus on taking it up a level or 2 in a safe way.  The single variety of jabs really work the shoulder. Nice track, easy to learn should we need a track filler.  I have no doubt we’ll see the music for this track making a re-appearance.

Track 9 – Conditioning – Hard – Rihanna feat. Jezzy

“Total core conditioning”. If you’re a regular in a CxWorx class then everything should be familiar to you.   Is a nice core track, something for everyone with plenty of options.

Track 10 – Cool down –  Battle Cry – Havana Brown feat. Bebe Rexha & Savi

This feels like a blast from the past cooldown.  Enjoyable cool down with a nice added touch to the end with the Karate Punch. What a better way to end BodyCombat 67 :).

What Next?

BodyCombat 68 track listing is out. What will BodyCombat 68 bring?  Predictions : I have none….

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? It would seem not.

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 67 then please get in touch.

Give Feedback

If you have any thoughts about BodyCombat 67 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 :). While you’re here why not subscribe?

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 program has them, options are good. 🙂 Thank you in advance…

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