Review - Body Combat in Liverpool
Hope City Church Liverpool Congregational Pastor & Bruce Lee Extraordinaire, Andy Gorman, reveals why Body Combat is his cup of tea ...
Name of Group: Body Combat Classes
Type of Activities: Fitness Coaching Class
Days & Times: Mon 8:00-9:00pm; Tue 6:00-7:00pm
Location: Lifestyles Ellergreen, Liverpool
Cost: £3:50 each session (Membership also available)
Level: All - Beginners/Intermediate/Advanced
“Are you tired of just working out? Do you crave a fresh and exciting workout experience that stimulates your mind as well as your body and leaves you feeling invigorated and ready to take on life’s challenges? If so, then Body Combat is just for you!” How does that sound to you? That’s what the brochure reads about one of Lifestyles Ellergreen coaching classes, designed to get your body back into shape!
My wife booked me in to a session 3 weeks ago and I actually really enjoyed it. Body Combat is described as a combination of powerhouse moves and stances developed from a wide range of self-defence disciplines including Kick-boxing, Karate and Tae-Kwondo. It takes the key aspects from each and puts them into an adrenaline-pumping routine that is nothing short of an athletic workout that will have you fighting fit in record time! At least, that’s what they tell me! This has been my experience…
On my first week I saw that the Ellergreen Gym was fairly new, the car park was looked after by a conscientious security guard and everything was clean and had a ‘well-looked-after’ feel. The receptionist was friendly and gently reassured me that even though no other men had turned up that night, I would still be ‘OK’! (3 weeks later, I’ve still not seen any guys – it’s something I’m working on!)
I must admit, I was a little on edge when the class coach came in. She set up a mini P.A. system, donned a clip-on microphone and turned on her Cd player. Out of the speaker blasted the recent club anthem “Put Your Hands Up In Detroit” and she started jumping up and down on the spot to warm up! “OK everybody, let’s go,” she said. Suddenly the thought entered my head, “I’ve just joined the local women’s aerobics class – Aaagghhh!”
Just then though, my fears were relieved. She took a quick count of all the first-timers and then proceeded to coach us all through the first ‘routine’. Quickly, the pace increased and it wasn’t long before I was totally into it. (The sweat was pouring off me!) This was definitely something I had never done before and the concentration to co-ordinate my body and my punches in time to the beat of the music and with everyone else seemed to give my brain a workout too. They say that this kind of training requires a significant degree of mental activation and therefore helps to improve focus and concentration. This was really evident when I went back the next week and the week after. Each time, my concentration and ability to keep co-ordination quickly, has really improved. Also, there a whole host of obvious benefits to this class. Body Combat reduces stress, improves general well-being and vitality whilst encouraging assertiveness and self-confidence. It’s an intense cardiovascular workout which provides excellent cross training for many different sports such as football, tennis and basketball. The best bit for me though, if I’m honest, is the fact that Body Combat is an effective calorie burner! It promotes changes in the body’s composition, resulting in a leaner and more toned body. Bring it on!
If you want to get fit and try something a bit different, this is definitely the activity for you. For more information about Body Combat Classes at Lifestyles Ellergreen, or the other Lifestyles gyms in Liverpool, telephone reception on 0151 233 6295 or go online at:
www.liverpool.gov.uk/Leisure_and_culture/Sports/Leisure_Centres_and_Pools
Body Combat official website: www.fitpro.com/bts
Star Rating: 4 out of 5