Les Mills Body Combat at Suntec City

I was once told by an Exercise Fitness Trainer that Les Mills Body Combat has very sissy moves.  He was into real martial arts then. Anyway he has not seen other kickboxing classes where the instructor do not even have any martial art base and you can tell from the way they execute the moves. It became very aerobic and dancy in nature. I shouldn’t say it’s not right, just that it doesn’t look authentic and appealing to me…

I’m a trained martial artist myself with a 2nd degree black belt in Jissen Karate. I’m also train in Muay Thai in Bankok Thailand at the 
Muay Thai Institute. And a little training in capoeira. I have also participate in various major full contact tournament.

When Body Combat was first brought into Singapore, which at that time was Body Combat 4, i saw the program and I like it right away. The moves  was very close to the real martial arts that I practice.

The creator then Nathaniel and his wife Gabby were both martial artist themselves. Even the new presenters and choreographer Dan and Rachel are train in certain form of martial art disciple.

So I went for the first batch of Les Mills Body Combat instructor course with  a few of my colleagues. Not everybody are train in any martial arts then, maybe just 5 out of 20 participants.

I pick up the moves quite easily and I have to work harder on the verbal cues and catching the music bit as this was my first group exercise course. I must admit that as a martial artist myself where I have been train for years in a particular move, say a round house kick. I actually criticised the way a round house kick is taught during the course. I was thinking that a round house kick should be execute in this manner where you can deliver the maximum power.

Then I realized that the Body Training Systems is design for a Cardiovascular Workout with music for the general population. You don’ t need to have maximum strength or speed as in real fighting. The main focus is Safety! That got me thinking and I should try to be more flexible and open in the way I think. It should be a safe workouts program for the general public with martial art moves to be as close as the real thing.

I use my Body Combat class to prepare myself for my competitions. I use it to build up my stamina and my endurance level. I will put in alittle  more power and keeping my moves sharp during my classes. I will keep my guards up at all times. As I motivate my class to work harder, the class also pushes  me to give it all out as I can’t be showing any less effort than them.

Stamina plays a huge part in any full contact tournament. Let me tell you, if you put enough power and execute the moves properly for an hour, you can really get a strong workout. I am lucky to take advantage of Body Combat as my training tool.

I remember I have a student, her name Jayne, frequents my Body Combat classes. She was on a business trip one day in Holland and was walking up a flight of stairs carrying her laptop bag slinging on her shoulder. Half way up the stairs, a man dash up from behind and tried to snatch the bag from her.

While he was still tugging on the bag, Jayne first instinct was to give him a back kick she pick up from Body Combat. The kick lands on his face and he tumble down the stairs. He then quickly pick himself up and ran away.

So you still think Body Combat is for sissy? Think again! I don’t know about other Les Mills Body Combat instructor but if somebody comes to my Body Combat class and start mocking at the moves. I’m gonna give him a face reconstruction with my round house kick!! Ah ha ha I’m just kidding!

The morale of the story:

Never mess around with anybody that attend Les Mills Body Combat classes. :p