It seems like yesterday that issue 47 came out and hit gyms around the world. Now number 48 is already pumping to start, and this time it’s about Taekwondo. So how does this release compare to the previous one? And is it the perfect recipe for a perfect beach body? The BodyCombat 48 review is here to answer all of those questions for you and more.
1. In my Head / Airplanes (Kris McTwain Remix Edit) – Henry Blank / Groove Chasers
The warm-up begins with easy combos and random moves. There is definitely nothing in the box here as everything is easy and predictable. The song is amazing and continues the recent tradition of modern warm-up songs.
The leg warm-up begins very unusually with a prolonged period of stretching, after which the usual return to the knees, followed by side kicks and ending with spinning kicks. ‘Airplanes’ is a great song, again modern, that fits perfectly with the movements. Overall, this warm-up is clean and modern; I like it.
2. Smooth Criminal – Badlands Inc
Michael Jackson in the house! Song 2 begins with a small combo but quickly becomes more complex. From here on, the pitch really starts to get technical and leg heavy. The song is great and the movements are fantastic. Especially the shuffle-roundhouse-backfist-shuffle-knee-kick combo. However, it is very difficult and will definitely challenge newcomers.
3. We dance – Subz Project
The beginning is the complete opposite of what BodyCombat is all about, but it is a welcome change from the usual. When the rhythm starts, so do the movements. The simple double strikes and crossovers are brought together by advanced step movements that come directly from the Taekwondo theme of this release. Unlike the previous release, this time I look forward to songs 2 and 3.
4. Come in strong (I don’t like rock ‘n’ roll) – Hardknox
This song reminds me of BodyCombat 46 song 6. It’s all about legs and technique. The lunge-kick-lunge-kick move really challenges balance. The end of each set is accompanied by many continuous companions, again very difficult. The song isn’t particularly my cup of tea, but it fits the mood very well.
5. If I Were You – Breeze & Ritmen
Finally the legs rest a bit as we continue with the second power workout. The techno song is almost surprising, as are the movements. Although there is an unusual amount of paddles and leg crosses in your power training.
6. Drummer Boy (MoDrums Remix) – Alesha Dixon
This song is amazing and has to be one of the coolest introductions in a BodyCombat class. It starts off slow with balancing making donuts while trying 8 (!) Steady buddies. I like to think of this choreography as a 360 leg workout. Front kicks, back kicks, and side kicks are shuffled to the end. This is a classic in my book.
7. The Last Flight: Bullet For My Valentine
This is like the sequel to song 7 of the previous BodyCombat. It’s a fast pop / rock song with a lot of elbows. I like this song a bit more than the previous one, so it’s another plus for me.
8. Everywhere (Breeze & UFO Remix) – Master Blaster
The final power training has arrived. I always loved 8 songs which are popular pop / rock songs that have gone techno. This is again the case in the BodyCombat 48, although there have definitely been better ones in the past. The main combo is now left – right – left (and vice versa). The singles near the end are long enough to make you feel fatigued and satisfied.
9. The Time (Dirty Bit) – Red Beans and Rice
This song consists of 3 series, the last of which are push-ups. The song is either a hit or a miss, but I personally like it because I’m a Dirty Dancing fan. They’ve really focused on toning the lower abs, as seen by the slow leg extensions that make up most of the song. It is very difficult, but perhaps more accessible than the previous solution. The ending is fantastic, as Dan says: “Wait for Dirty Bit”.
10. The Silence (New Single Mix) – Alexandra Burke
Cooling inherits two movements from Yoga; the dove and the downward-facing dog. End with a really impressive and peaceful Taekwondo move. The song is pretty unfamiliar and it gets the job done.
BodyCombat 48 is an amazing launch and I love it. The songs are much better than 47’s, and the moves were never that technical (at least for the last 5 releases). This may be exactly what drags you down, though, as it’s not the most newcomer-friendly launch. Those potential pit drops will have to be sorted / analyzed later though, because from what I can see this release is epic.
bodycombat 48 review
