Keep it real, stay with the fight

This morning I got a call from a long time gym friend from a gym I used to go a couple years ago for BODYCOMBAT classes.. The gym is always special in a way to me where I had my humble beginnings having spent some 10 years as a member and eventually grew as a BODYCOMBAT instructor..

Even though the gym was at the other end of the city, it didn't stop me from travelling there in the rush hour traffic and through the times, I've made a lot of friends from there, some I've watched them grew "from kids to kidults", from single to married (one of them just announced her "I do" last weekend!), from pretty to prettier and from handsome to more handsome.. some went as two generations and even as a whole family in the class together.. And with so many of us, we took up like half the studio floor space.. Eventually a few of us moved up on stage as instructors.. Yea.. Those were the days..

Anyway, this friend asked me why I am no longer teaching in that gym, and also shared with me that other senior instructors were also keen to make a comeback.. 

To which I replied, "it is not for us to say, we respect the club managers".. Of course not word for word but I meant it that way, because at the end of the day, it all comes down to the managers.. 

To this gym friend, thank you for still believing in us old skoolers and sharing with me your's and the thoughts of the rest of the members, I believe we are still able to bring back the fun.. Just a tip here, you guys can always feedback to your club managers of the current situations.. 

Thank you.. I'm sure one day there's a chance to fight alongside once again.. Don't let the BODYCOMBAT flame die.. Keep it real and stay with the fight.. 

Beware of the gym!

A fellow Bodycombat instructor and friend made the news headlines today.

The gym he was teaching at refused payment and threaten to sue for defamation instead when my friend posted his ordeal on Facebook.

I have my fair share of non-payments as well but the owners eventually paid up after all the instructors get together collectively and demanded payment.. Those gyms in questions are Synargym and TM Fitness Centre (both have since closed down) and E-Fitness Subang Jaya (still in operations)..

The modus operandi has always been the same: delay payment, postpone payment, give plenty of excuses (accountant on leave, no signatory, cheque not ready) till it dragged on for months.. Fortunately, I have recovered all the money owed to me while teaching in these gyms..

Lesson to self, never to accept or trust small gyms.. I am not going to teach in small gyms anymore after finding myself chasing for payments month after month..



Read it here at: http://www.therakyatpost.com/news/2015/04/14/free-lance-trainer-alleges-gym-cheated-him-owner-sues-for-defamation

Bodycombat 63

With presenters from Malaysia in the up and coming Bodycombat 63, it is one of the most revered release - however, despite the awesome workout (and how Lesmills programs will be structured in the future), a few of us agree that we don't feel the "bodycombat feel" anymore..

Most Lesmills programs have been tweaked to allow a member to leave (in fact, they are encouraged to leave) the studio after 4 tracks and coming back next time for 5, 6, and subsequently.. To me, if once I walk out of the studio, good luck trying to get me back in.. In other words, if I walk out half way, it comes to either the instructor sucks, the class is boring, or the class is not for me..

Bodycombat 63 Presenters Line-up

Bodycombat 63 has probably the toughest first 4 tracks.. Serious, I am not kidding.. While I appreciate the tough workout and the arms-busting tracks with pushup conditioning work in a traditional legs track 4, it didn't grow on me..

In fact the last few releases didn't grow on me.. My class members didn't like it as well and most certainly and most always I have requests to bring back releases from 20-30s where I can see them singing along to the workout with smiles on their faces.. Those were the songs that brings the fun out in the class and working out together, forging friendships and having fun..

Not anymore..

That's where the program lost me..

5 years and having delivered 20 releases later, it has come to a time when I am mulling about hanging up my gloves once and for all.. and it's making me very.. and keep my yoga mat and also store away my resistance tube..

Maybe I should just go back to weight training and swim..




.

BODYCOMBAT62 Tracklist

Here's the tracklist for BODYCOMBAT 62 (Q4 2014) with Youtube links (may not be the actual version)..


Track 1a – Upper body warmup – Someone Like You (Kris McTwain Radio Edit) – N-Finity
Track 1b – Lower body warmup – Home Alone (Invader! Remix Edit) – Vanilla Kiss
Track 2 – Combat 1 – Famous Last Words – The Wrapper
Track 3 – Power training 1 – Give A Little Love – Al Storm & Euphony
Track 4 – Combat 2 – Dark Horse (Hard Dance Alliance Mix) – Kerrie Scene
Track 5 – Power training 2 – Crash – Al Storm
Track 6 – Combat 3 – Y.A.L.A. – M.I.A
Track 7 – Muay Thai – Let The Beat Go (Single) – S3RL feat. Johnny
Track 8 – Power training 3 – Power Of Love – Absolutely Elegant
Track 9 – Conditioning – 3 Kingz (Single) – Major G.A.U.G.E feat. Hunger & Qwote
Track 10 – Cool down – I Was Here – Beyoncè


Like OMG, track 7 automatically hit a high like! I hope the choreography is as good as it sounds!

Bodycombat 61 Q3 Workshop in Melbourne!

The Melbourne Q3 workshop coincides with my trip there, so, I didn't waste any opportunity to attend it! Was really a good experience and the people I met was awesome!

The workshop was held in Virgin Active Bourke St in downtown Melbourne CBD, and it is easily one of the most impressive gyms I've ever been to. I had to quietly take the photos because picture taking is prohibited in this "highly private" gym (wtf).

This is Nathan Jones!

This is Ann-Marie!

 Instructors from Malaysia (that's me!), Perth and Melbourne

BODYCOMBAT 61 Review

My thoughts on Bodycombat 61, after yesterday's Kuala Lumpur LESMILLS Quarter 3 Super Workshop..

In general - this is one EPIC EVIL release! Trust me, in all 17 releases since my training, this is THE monster.. Release focus is heavily on SPEED..

Track 1a - Upper Body : Wrecking Ball 4:19mins
Uplifting music.. Already there's capoeira moves in warm-up, WHAT?! But this is one song you definitely can sing to! There's plenty of jabs and uppercuts and hooks. Let's not forget plenty of legs workout in upper body warm-up!

Track 1b - Lower Body: Beautiful Monster 5:10mins
From upper body, we straight go into the lower body with plenty of squats! OUCH! Core-activation, get lower, get lower with shoot lunge.. and plenty of it.. 16 back kicks to work the bumba.. and goes into a kick kata combo, transitioning straight into - Muay Thai.. It is in warm up, yes, you're right! Muay Thai knee is here to stay! The song is so upbeat and before you know it, your legs will scream...

Track 2 - Combat 1 : Shot Me Down 4:02mins
Yeah, this is where your legs will continue its scream.. Balance balance balance! Slowwww... then into speed! This is no joke.. When the kicks are not done, there's the knee-side kick combo!

Track 3 - Power Training 1 : Every Breath You Take 5:34mins
The jabs are too fast.. you can run if you want to.. Seriously.. it's about SPEED..

Track 4 - Combat 2 : So What 5:06mins
Unlock the real speed potential in karate and TKD.. Plenty of karate punches non-stop, throwing the punches far and fast.. Of course, track 4 is always a traditionally jump kick track, that's what you'll have..

Track 5 - Power Training 2 : Stairway To Heaven 6:28mins
If you think this is your normal T5 track, man, you are seriously wrong... this is as goooooood as a typical track 8! The combo and the speed, the arms will fall off by the end of this track, and it's only track 5! Wait till you see what Track 8 packs later... 3 rounds of epic arms jabs and hooks and uppercuts.. You can imagine how much there are.. Oh god...

Track 6 - Combat 3 : Get Low 3:18mins
Don't look down on 3 minutes of track 6.. For a few reasons..
a) It is NOT a recovery track
b) Your legs will cry, maybe surrender
c) THIS IS NOT A RECOVERY TRACK
d) Lunges, switch lunges, esquiva, squats and shoot and just like the title of track suggest, GET LOOOOWWWW... yea, there's no chance for you to even stand up.. NO CHANCE... at all....

Last but not least, this is NOT a recovery track, but only if you do it right and well!

Track 7 - Muay Thai : Ready To Rock 7:43mins
Again, one of the longest MT track! Are you ready to rock?? Superman punch is back.. with plenty of knees.. Yeah, there's also running man! It's not easy especially after Track 6.. Not easy at all..

Track 8 - Power Training 3 : Like A Rainbow 7:47mins
Normal track 8 has just 3-5 rounds, but guess what, there are 13 rounds! Yes, 13! It goes down in the 15 years history of BODYCOMBAT as the record Track 8! This track will leave you fatigue and shattered!
6 on each side, with one final round front stance..
So what did they do to this track? It's a power training track after all! If you think your arms survived track 5 earlier, don't be so sure now..

They don't call this track EPIC for nothing..

Track 9 - Conditioning : Watch Out For This 3:55mins
Watch out for this conditioning track! Be a jaguar stalking its prey.. The animal kingdom rules this track.. from a baby jaguar into an adult jaguar ... and oh ya, how's your arms? Wait there's push-ups! AND ends with pike crunch, firing the lower abs like no other track 9 has ever fire the abs!

Track 10 - Cooldown : Heart of a Warrior 3:15mins
You'll need this.. Stay for the cooldown..

Together, it's one of the longest track 1 ever in BODYCOMBAT, over 9 and a half minutes! In over 56 minutes packed with speed and power, this is the most epic ever release.. like seriously, coming from me where I said the past few releases weren't that "awesome", but this is..... mother of all release probably...

Mother.

Of.

All.

Releases.


'nuff said..


Coming soon to a club near you..



Last but not least, I would also like to express sincere appreciation to Reebok in association with LESMILLS for the instructor privilege.. It gives us instructors a discounts at Reebok stores! How cool is that! LESMILLS does not make it's own clothing anymore, and it's all been rebranded with the Reebok logo now..

Thank you Reebok

BODYCOMBAT 61 TRACKLIST

Track Listing

Track 1a – Upper body warmup –  Wrecking Ball (MaLu Project Remix Edit) - Pop Pistols
Track 1b – Lower body warmup – Beautiful Monster (Damn-R Remix) - Mick Lion
Track 2 – Combat 1 – Shot Me Down ft. Skylar Grey - Up Despair
Track 3 – Power training 1 – Every Breath You Take - Praying Hunk
Track 4 – Combat 2 – So What! (M Edit) – Independence Days
Track 5 – Power training 2 – Stairway To Heaven (Original Mix) -  Modulate & Petruccio
Track 6 – Combat 3 – Get Low - Dillon Francis & DJ Snake
Track 7 – Muay Thai – Ready To Rock – Airbourne
Track 8 – Power training 3 –  Like a Rainbow (Sy & Unknow Remix) - Recon & Demand
Track 9 – Conditioning – Watch Out For This (Bumaye)  - Since Ten
Track 10 – Cool down – Heart of a Warrior - Dizzee Rascal

Youtube playlist http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5i4_BhuEQh9ZBObt05j-UWRNJd6PGvRO