2 Questions

[Schnauzeritis]

Hi all,

Hoping someone can help me out.

1. Cardio & Weights DVD - In the warmup Cathe does a kick, walks back, mambos, cha cha's, then finally kick again. Can someone break this down or count it out for me. I can't believe I can't get this silly move down. Sometimes I think I've gotten it and other times and I don't think I have it.

2. Since I've mastered this DVD basically except for the warmup, can you recommend the next DVD I should get. Even though I consider myself an advanced stepper, I need to take these DVDs slowly. I'm used to classes at the gym and it's just so difficult for me to watch the instructor's front. I'm looking for all step.

Thanks in advance,
Mary

 

[run_to_step]

This is challenging sitting at a desk, but here it goes.

Count 1 - Step right foot on step
Count 2 - Kick left foot
Count 3 - Step on floor with left foot
Count 4 - Step back with right foot
Count 5 - Mambo back with left foot
Count 6 - Step forward with right foot
Count 7 - Shuffle left, right, left
Count 8 - Step right foot on step and REPEAT previous

This probably didn't help all that much, but maybe after reading this and watching the move again, you can get it!

All step videos I like are Step Blast, and Rhythmic Step. These are difficult cheoreography, but taken one segment at a time, I hope you can get it. Most of Cathe's step only videos are not very basic in general. But if you have C&W under your belt, you can learn these too.

 

[marcy]

Step Blast and Rhythmic Step are Cathe's most complex. I would say to try Low Impact Circuit or Body Max 2 first and if those aren't a problem, I'd then go for Step Blast and Rhythmic Step or Step, Jump & Pump.

Marcy

 

[Stacy]

Although a bit more dated in appearance, I think the Classics dvd would be a good next purchase.

 

[kathryn]

>Count 1 - Step right foot on step
>Count 2 - Kick left foot
>Count 3 - Step on floor with left foot
>Count 4 - Step back with right foot
>Count 5 - Mambo back with left foot
>Count 6 - Step forward with right foot
>Count 7 - Shuffle left, right, left
>Count 8 - Step right foot on step and REPEAT previous

Great breakdown! Just one correction: the shuffle is on both counts 7 and 8, the step on the right foot is a new 1 count.

 

[run_to_step]

You are exactly right!

Count 7 - Shuffle left, right
Count 8 - Finish shuffle with left foot
Count 1 - Step right foot on step

I wondered about that, because I thought everything was an 8-count, and couldn't figure out why mine was off. Just did it on the floor though, thanks!

 

[catwoman]

When I come across a step sequence that's causing me trouble, I'll stop and watch the move a couple of times, then I'll rewind and watch again, trying the move with little steps. I might even pause the DVD and do the move in slow motion until I feel I've got it. When I think I've got it, I start the DVD back up and attempt it at normal speed. I might rewind once or twice to do the sequence over and over to get it engrained in my head.

Here's something else I do: I often speak the steps out loud. This helps tremendously. Here's what you can say out loud with this move:

Step, kick, down, down, MAM-BO, cha-cha-cha
Step, kick, down, down, MAM-BO, cha-cha-cha
[repeat through the sequence]

If you've ever studied music, think of each word as a beat (or step), and the cha-cha-cha is a triplet (or 3 steps) through two beats. If you haven't studied music: On the "BO" part of the mambo, this is your right foot. It will help if you remember NOT TO LIFT your right foot on the mambo. On the mambo, you are stepping your left foot back on the "MAM" and then simply shifting your weight from left foot to right foot on the "BO", then rocking forward to bring your left foot back for the first step of the shuffle, which I have labled, cha-cha-cha (thinking of it as a cha-cha-cha step might make it easier to get the footwork).

I hope this helps.

 

[Amy Steppe]

Hi Marcy!

I agree with the cardio videos you chose, but another one that used to baffle me was "Step Works" and also the 360 move from "Power Max"

But one day it all came together.

I agree the choreography from Body Max 2 and Low Impact Circuit are good choices for the choreography challenged.