"Hooked"?! (Body Combat)

Member Name: lily7star

Product:	Body Combat
Date:	04/09/00 (1610 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Fantastic workout, great stress-buster!

Disadvantages: You may not be able to move afterwards!

By now many people will have noticed this new exercise class springing up in gyms and health clubs around the country. A bit of a mystery still? I'm here to explain!

Body Combat is a relatively new exercise class based around the disciplines of kickboxing, karate, tai chi and tae kwondo. It is most definitely not for the faint hearted, and despite being a regular gym user, I could not sleep for the muscle pain after my first 1 1/2 hr masterclass!

The class lasts for an hour and covers 10 routines.

First an upper body warm-up of jabs, uppercuts and hooks (!) followed by a routine of these with added power (and speed!)

Secondly the same for the lower body using kicks.

Thirdly combat routines using punches and kicks.

Finally there's an ab work out and a so-called cool down (excuse the cynicism, but it's the only place where I've seen huge numbers of press-ups and tricep dips in a cool down routine!)

All of these routines are performed to music and you'll be encouraged to shout and yell to the strains of such tracks as Queen's "We Will Rock You!" and the Ghostbuster's theme song. The shouting and yelling is optional, the hard work isn't!

The claim the promoters of this class make about "burning vast numbers of calories" I can well believe. I was dripping wet after the masterclass,and reckon it's probably the most challenging workout I've ever done. Even now as a regular body combat participant, I work far harder and sweat far more here than in any of the other exercise classes I do, although thankfully the ache afterwards has grown far less....

If you're by nature a pacifist (I am!) you might struggle with some of the likenesses to fighting, but I have to admit that despite this, it's a fantastic way to get out any aggression lurking inside you without damaging anyone or anything.

It's a brilliant stress-bust
er, feels very empowering, and is a class I've readjusted my work schedule around!

If you're not a regular exerciser they say you'll be fine, but I have my doubts....I wouldn't start exercising with a Body Combat class. It makes aerobics look like a trip to the ballet!

A final word?
I'm "hooked"!

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