I don't get it

[skribs113 134]

In my cardio kickboxing class, we have two formats that are our most and least popular.

Our most popular format is stations. Bag 1 is straights, bag 2 is hooks, bag 3 is teeps, bag 4 is alternating kicks. Some bags might focus on one leg or the other, or one arm or the other. There's usually a ladder for footwork, and stations for things such as squat thrusts, mountain climbers, or wall sits. We do this once a week. I think we could do it more often and folks wouldn't get sick of it.

Our least popular format is an at-your-own-pace session which starts with 60 jabs right side, 60 jabs left side. Then it's 30 kicks right leg, 30 kicks left leg. Back to a 2-punch combo (60x), then a kicking combo (30x) and so on. The average person finishes the series when class is over. Some folks don't make it quite through, others end up doing freestyle to finish out the class. I used to do this every week, now I do once a month. That seems to be about the appetite folks have for it.

What I don't get is this. To me, these are basically the same thing. You go to bag 1 and spend a whole round doing a single technique or combo. You go to back 2 and spend a whole round doing a single kick or exercise. And so on. Or you count 60 of one technique, then 30 of another, and so on. You're spending a certain amount of time doing the same technique or combo over and over again in both formats. Yet one is significantly more popular than the other.

 

[MadMartigan105 21]

My guess is it's a subconscious perception issue. Do this for 90 seconds and get as many in as possible, vs you're not done until you've finished X amount.

They may even do more on the timed stations... but feel more control over their pace and less pressure to keep up. Running things by time, then everyone switches regardless of # of reps allows for the less fit to feel included and not singled out for taking longer to do the same number as the very fit.

I've found my own students definitely prefer the timed version (or we count out 30 reps and everyone is done when the count ends). The very fit get in all 30, while the less fit get in as many as they can... with everyone getting a comparable workout difficulty.

 

[HighKick]

In my cardio kickboxing class, we have two formats that are our most and least popular.

Our most popular format is stations. Bag 1 is straights, bag 2 is hooks, bag 3 is teeps, bag 4 is alternating kicks. Some bags might focus on one leg or the other, or one arm or the other. There's usually a ladder for footwork, and stations for things such as squat thrusts, mountain climbers, or wall sits. We do this once a week. I think we could do it more often and folks wouldn't get sick of it.

Our least popular format is an at-your-own-pace session which starts with 60 jabs right side, 60 jabs left side. Then it's 30 kicks right leg, 30 kicks left leg. Back to a 2-punch combo (60x), then a kicking combo (30x) and so on. The average person finishes the series when class is over. Some folks don't make it quite through, others end up doing freestyle to finish out the class. I used to do this every week, now I do once a month. That seems to be about the appetite folks have for it.

What I don't get is this. To me, these are basically the same thing. You go to bag 1 and spend a whole round doing a single technique or combo. You go to back 2 and spend a whole round doing a single kick or exercise. And so on. Or you count 60 of one technique, then 30 of another, and so on. You're spending a certain amount of time doing the same technique or combo over and over again in both formats. Yet one is significantly more popular than the other.

I think a lot of it is the mindset of the participants. People come to an organized class to be part of a group and be in a LED workout.
The second format you describe is essentially identical to what a person would do on their own, which negates the whole purpose of coming to an organized class. It is Sans the direction, push, and encouragement that they expect to be there.
Which begs the question do you do the workout with them or go around and 'critique' them (like many traditional MA's instructors do)?

When I think of 'Cardio Kickboxing', it has little to do with technique or skill and more about the cardio. Does this accurately describe your classes?

 

[skribs113 134]

When I think of 'Cardio Kickboxing', it has little to do with technique or skill and more about the cardio. Does this accurately describe your classes?

I'm going to answer out-of-order, because the answer to this question is part of the next one. It's somewhere in the middle. It is first and foremost an exercise class, but it is one in which we do want to teach the proper way of doing things (as long as it doesn't interfere with being an exercise class).

Which begs the question do you do the workout with them or go around and 'critique' them (like many traditional MA's instructors do)?

The folks in this class want to learn how to strike, but don't really want to spar. They're open to critique. I don't go too in-depth (except for a couple of students that really want to do things correct), but I also gravitate towards the newer students who are still awkward in their movements to help them smooth things out and/or be safer in their execution.

I'm in charge 2 days of the week, I'm in attendance the other two. In that regard I'm part of the class. However, I've found that when I participate, often I can't help those that need it.

 

[philwhite44 1]

People have about a 30 second attention span. Sitting in one place doing the same thing over and over is boring to them. You could try something like level up drills at the stations to add variety. If you complete x jabs, change to a jab punch. And keep leveling up the techniques during a set time period.

We always did a gauntlet pad strike system with stations on Saturdays. You'd either hold pads or strike and you went through all of the stations then we switched sides. Like 30 seconds per station. It was ok but it was pretty much the only drills we did for pad strikes so it eventually became boring.

 

[skribs113 134]

People have about a 30 second attention span. Sitting in one place doing the same thing over and over is boring to them. You could try something like level up drills at the stations to add variety. If you complete x jabs, change to a jab punch. And keep leveling up the techniques during a set time period.

In the stations version, they're sitting in one place doing the same thing over and over.

 

[drop bear114 53]

Partner up your second class.

 

[HighKick]

Partner up your second class.

Nothing like a good push from your partner.

 

[skribs113 134]

Partner up your second class.

That's even less popular than the counting.

 

[Anarax]

I think people perceive larger tasks as less daunting when you break them up into smaller ones, such as stations. Some may also feel the need to rush and lose good technique when they see others completing the larger task more quickly than them.

 

[HighKick]

In the stations version, they're sitting in one place doing the same thing over and over.

It is a 'mindless' but critical exercise. They don't have to think about following along or figuring out anything we the exception of maybe a cadence count. In a nutshell, it is an easy way to train.