As a fitness kickboxing instructor, I have learned to read my class fairly well. By that, I mean I can tell when the class is lacking energy, or when they are disinterested with a certain combination, or if they are having the time of their lives.
I speak of the class as a whole, and not as individuals, because, while there are certainly exceptions, I have found most classes become like a pack of wolves. They become singular in their objective... and that is to survive the grueling class-make it to the end.
I have found the group will carry the weaker members of the class when they struggle. I have also seen the stronger members drag the group down when they begin to fade.
A hierarchy is usually established during the conditioning portion of the class. You will see those who are a bit spastic, those who are trying too hard, and those who are comfortable with the drills at hand. They seem to be the ones that others in the class will watch in order to emulate their technique, and try to 'hang' with for the rest of the class. These are my pace setters. They will make your class super awesome, or super lame. I always learn their names, and use it frequently. If I keep them energized, the rest of the class will follow suit.
I am always intrigued by the class dynamic, but also find it interesting to observe individuals as they work their way through class.
Many first-timers blow their energy in the beginning of class. Those were the 'spastics' a referred to above. Sometimes it is because they are trying to be competitive with others in the class. Other times it is because of an attractive girl in the class. Sometimes they are just plain out of shape. Regardless the reason, they are usually spent by the time we even begin to hit bags. Often times, we never see this person again. Perhaps out of embarrassment, or perhaps they thought the class was just too hard. Either way, they brought it upon themselves.
Learning to pace oneself while pushing oneself is the key to not only surviving the class, but getting the most out of it. It doesn't do you any good to go at 150% at the beginning of class if you are unable to finish it. Similarly, you didn't buy those super awesome workout clothes just to come waste your time not becoming the best you can be.
The student should listen for cues from their instructor. Know when it is time to dig down deep. Know when it is time to pace themselves, based upon the energy of his or her voice.
Recently, I started taking the class with my 9:00 AM group. I would encourage ALL fitness kickboxing instructors to do this periodically. You forget what it is like to endure such a grueling regiment if you don't do it yourself on a regular basis. I quickly learned how extremely difficult some of the things I thought little of were to actually do.
After the initial soreness and pain, I found why people love these classes so much. They are addicting... after the first couple weeks.
What a tremendous outlet for stress. What amazing results in losing weight, toning up, and overall feeling better about yourself and life in general.
As I began to make a routine of the class, I started to analyze it a bit more, and have some interesting observations I would like to share.
For starters, the class really is only as hard as YOU make it. It is easy to just get through the class by merely going through the motions. It is also easy to find ways to challenge yourself regardless how many times you have done the class, and how 'Routine' it has become.
I have had professional fighters scoff at the class, saying it doesn't compare to what they do for training. I was a professional fighter for 20 years, and I could not agree less.
A fighter should be used to redundancy. Drilling any technique continuously is something a fighter should be doing anyway. As I mentioned before, I fought for two decades, and STILL learn things in each and every class. To this day, I play with my footwork, body position, breathing- before, during, and after a technique to study how it effects it's speed, power, accuracy, effectiveness.
You can never throw too many jabs. You can never throw too many roundhouse kicks. You can never get too much redundancy if you want to continue to grow as a fighter. If you want to be sharper, quicker, faster, stronger, you invite each and every opportunity to drill as an opportunity for discovery.
I learn new things each and every time I train. Sometimes, I catch another person doing something out of the corner of my eye that I like. So I try it. Other times, I study what I am doing from every aspect. I will find that I throw my jab much differently when I am tired than when I am fresh. I make adjustments that suit my state of being.
While I try different things to challenge myself, I try to stick to the format of the class as much as possible. I realize that because of my experience, people will often try to emulate what I am doing in class, and I don't want to mislead any of them.
As a result of this, I ALWAYS try to keep sound fundamentals. They are the foundation of any good fighter, and if newcomers see you using poor fundamentals- they will assuredly do so as well.
Keeping my hands up, keeping my chin tucked in, using good footwork and movement are obvious ones.
Staying on my toes the entire class not only gets me a way better workout, but it helps condition me to do it when it counts. Keeping my core tight the entire class was sort of difficult at first. It REALLY makes a difference when you become bored with the class, and try to challenge yourself. It is amazing how much harder the class is if you do those two simple things.
Another tool I like to use to keep things interesting is changing pace and tempo. Example; Jab, Cross, Hook, Uppercut combination can be thrown with the jab being your power shot, and the rest of the combination speed. Then make your cross your power technique, then your hook, then uppercut. Then throw the entire combo for power, then the entire combo for speed. Change your footwork before and/or after the combo, etc. I just made enough variations of a combination to last an entire round, if not more.
It's hard as an instructor to have the group do things like this because everyone is at a different level of learning and conditioning. It is also not really an instructional environment. You will lose those who are not there for the nuances of the sport. They just want to work out. You can, however, approach advanced students that appear to be bored with these suggestions to keep things fresh.
If I see somebody really trying hard, but butchering the technique, I will first try to show the student how it is done. If they still don't quite get it, I will pull them aside and invite them to a technique class. If they are interested in learning proper technique... great! If not, as long as they aren't going to hurt themselves, I let them throw those ugly uppercuts.
Tracking progress is what will really endear you to your students. They want to know that you care about their successes and their failures. Be there to help them get back on track when they fail. And to give them a high five when they succeed.
Compliment them when the light bulb appears above their head when they seem to grasp a new technique. Congratulate them when they make it all the way through a round that they have always struggled with. While the class can become a wolf pack, the individuals are who make the class special. Read the class as a whole, but pay attention to detail with each member. One thing out of each class will be noteworthy for each of them, and that will be enough to keep them smiling.
I speak of the class as a whole, and not as individuals, because, while there are certainly exceptions, I have found most classes become like a pack of wolves. They become singular in their objective... and that is to survive the grueling class-make it to the end.
I have found the group will carry the weaker members of the class when they struggle. I have also seen the stronger members drag the group down when they begin to fade.
A hierarchy is usually established during the conditioning portion of the class. You will see those who are a bit spastic, those who are trying too hard, and those who are comfortable with the drills at hand. They seem to be the ones that others in the class will watch in order to emulate their technique, and try to 'hang' with for the rest of the class. These are my pace setters. They will make your class super awesome, or super lame. I always learn their names, and use it frequently. If I keep them energized, the rest of the class will follow suit.
I am always intrigued by the class dynamic, but also find it interesting to observe individuals as they work their way through class.
Many first-timers blow their energy in the beginning of class. Those were the 'spastics' a referred to above. Sometimes it is because they are trying to be competitive with others in the class. Other times it is because of an attractive girl in the class. Sometimes they are just plain out of shape. Regardless the reason, they are usually spent by the time we even begin to hit bags. Often times, we never see this person again. Perhaps out of embarrassment, or perhaps they thought the class was just too hard. Either way, they brought it upon themselves.
Learning to pace oneself while pushing oneself is the key to not only surviving the class, but getting the most out of it. It doesn't do you any good to go at 150% at the beginning of class if you are unable to finish it. Similarly, you didn't buy those super awesome workout clothes just to come waste your time not becoming the best you can be.
The student should listen for cues from their instructor. Know when it is time to dig down deep. Know when it is time to pace themselves, based upon the energy of his or her voice.
Recently, I started taking the class with my 9:00 AM group. I would encourage ALL fitness kickboxing instructors to do this periodically. You forget what it is like to endure such a grueling regiment if you don't do it yourself on a regular basis. I quickly learned how extremely difficult some of the things I thought little of were to actually do.
After the initial soreness and pain, I found why people love these classes so much. They are addicting... after the first couple weeks.
What a tremendous outlet for stress. What amazing results in losing weight, toning up, and overall feeling better about yourself and life in general.
As I began to make a routine of the class, I started to analyze it a bit more, and have some interesting observations I would like to share.
For starters, the class really is only as hard as YOU make it. It is easy to just get through the class by merely going through the motions. It is also easy to find ways to challenge yourself regardless how many times you have done the class, and how 'Routine' it has become.
I have had professional fighters scoff at the class, saying it doesn't compare to what they do for training. I was a professional fighter for 20 years, and I could not agree less.
A fighter should be used to redundancy. Drilling any technique continuously is something a fighter should be doing anyway. As I mentioned before, I fought for two decades, and STILL learn things in each and every class. To this day, I play with my footwork, body position, breathing- before, during, and after a technique to study how it effects it's speed, power, accuracy, effectiveness.
You can never throw too many jabs. You can never throw too many roundhouse kicks. You can never get too much redundancy if you want to continue to grow as a fighter. If you want to be sharper, quicker, faster, stronger, you invite each and every opportunity to drill as an opportunity for discovery.
I learn new things each and every time I train. Sometimes, I catch another person doing something out of the corner of my eye that I like. So I try it. Other times, I study what I am doing from every aspect. I will find that I throw my jab much differently when I am tired than when I am fresh. I make adjustments that suit my state of being.
While I try different things to challenge myself, I try to stick to the format of the class as much as possible. I realize that because of my experience, people will often try to emulate what I am doing in class, and I don't want to mislead any of them.
As a result of this, I ALWAYS try to keep sound fundamentals. They are the foundation of any good fighter, and if newcomers see you using poor fundamentals- they will assuredly do so as well.
Keeping my hands up, keeping my chin tucked in, using good footwork and movement are obvious ones.
Staying on my toes the entire class not only gets me a way better workout, but it helps condition me to do it when it counts. Keeping my core tight the entire class was sort of difficult at first. It REALLY makes a difference when you become bored with the class, and try to challenge yourself. It is amazing how much harder the class is if you do those two simple things.
Another tool I like to use to keep things interesting is changing pace and tempo. Example; Jab, Cross, Hook, Uppercut combination can be thrown with the jab being your power shot, and the rest of the combination speed. Then make your cross your power technique, then your hook, then uppercut. Then throw the entire combo for power, then the entire combo for speed. Change your footwork before and/or after the combo, etc. I just made enough variations of a combination to last an entire round, if not more.
It's hard as an instructor to have the group do things like this because everyone is at a different level of learning and conditioning. It is also not really an instructional environment. You will lose those who are not there for the nuances of the sport. They just want to work out. You can, however, approach advanced students that appear to be bored with these suggestions to keep things fresh.
If I see somebody really trying hard, but butchering the technique, I will first try to show the student how it is done. If they still don't quite get it, I will pull them aside and invite them to a technique class. If they are interested in learning proper technique... great! If not, as long as they aren't going to hurt themselves, I let them throw those ugly uppercuts.
Tracking progress is what will really endear you to your students. They want to know that you care about their successes and their failures. Be there to help them get back on track when they fail. And to give them a high five when they succeed.
Compliment them when the light bulb appears above their head when they seem to grasp a new technique. Congratulate them when they make it all the way through a round that they have always struggled with. While the class can become a wolf pack, the individuals are who make the class special. Read the class as a whole, but pay attention to detail with each member. One thing out of each class will be noteworthy for each of them, and that will be enough to keep them smiling.
Mike Stidham is a Fitness Kickboxing instructor at Ultimate
Combat Training Centers in Salt Lake City, Utah. Learn more about his
Salt Lake City location at: http://www.ultimatecombat.com
To learn more about his Draper, Utah location, visit http://www.ucombat.com
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To learn more about his Draper, Utah location, visit http://www.ucombat.com
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