This Bruce Lee Training Day review is based on one of my favourite double class combinations with André Godinho: Body Balance followed by Body Combat. I call it Bruce Lee Training Day because it brings together the calm, focused, mind-body work of Body Balance with the intense, martial-arts-inspired energy of Body Combat.
If you want to know what it really feels like to do Body Balance and Body Combat back to back from a student’s perspective, here is my honest experience.
Quick Verdict
Body Balance
- Intensity 1 to 10: 5
- Good for: people who want mobility, strength, balance, breathing, hip opening, and a strong mind-body reset
- My after class mood: calmer, more open, mentally lighter, and glad I made it in time for Sun Salutations
Body Combat
- Intensity 1 to 10: 9
- Good for: people who enjoy high-energy cardio, martial-arts-inspired movement, sweat, challenge, and serious effort
- My after class mood: exhausted, sweaty, proud, and completely trained for the day
Class Snapshot
Body Balance
- Duration: around 45 minutes
- Format: mobility, strength, balance, flexibility, breathwork, and meditation
- Equipment: mat recommended
- Instructor style: calm, precise, thoughtful, and strong in both movement and meditation guidance
- My focus today: stay present, work through the hip opening, and enjoy the meditation
- Body notes: hip opening was challenging, but my mobility is clearly improving
Body Combat
- Duration: around 45 minutes
- Format: cardio combat class with punches, kicks, conditioning work, and a lot of intensity
- Equipment: no equipment needed
- Instructor style: energetic, focused, demanding, and very present with the room
- My focus today: survive the burpees, keep moving, and enjoy the chaos
- Body notes: this class pushed me hard, especially with the number of burpees
What My Body Balance and Body Combat Classes with André Godinho Really Felt Like
People!!! Did you see the weather today? And the fog at 11 in the morning!!!??? What a day!
I arrived slightly late to Body Balance class, which was with André Godinho. When I walked in: SHOCK! Full room! Not just full. PACKED! You cannot even imagine. I ended up all the way at the back, practically at the door!
I still made it in time for the Sun Salutation. I love that so much!
I really enjoyed the strength track, as well as the balance one. The tree pose is no easy thing, there is always one side where my foot just will not stay up there. BUT… once I get through that part of the tree, everything else connected to it goes well. Ah… except for when André says: “That’s not the mermaid… it’s the flower…” What can you do… the class had taken a liking to the mermaid…
My hip opening is getting better and better. It hurts… but it is absolutely worth it…
Today’s meditation was (as always…) beautiful. André invited us to live in the present and build the future, because the past is already gone. We should also give more value to the people we love, and less to material things. Another important point is to pay attention to those around us. I really loved the meditation.
Even the breathing detail was impeccable!
We then moved on to Body Combat, also with André Godinho.
I thought it was just me, but when I saw another student sticking her tongue out at the end of the VERY FIRST track, I felt much better about myself. It is not an overreaction on my part… Heheheh! This class is truly intense!!!
Today I have to highlight once again the SHEER NUMBER of burpees in one of the tracks! GOOD LORD! I tried to avoid the modifications, but there was no way to do them all back to back. At one point I thought I could maybe squeeze out 4 more… and then I hear André: “Eight MORE!” What?! I thought: “But we’ve already done so many! There are still 8 to go?!”
The wonderful thing about all of it is that I was in one of my favourite states when training: absolutely struggling from the effort… heart practically beating out of my chest! What a feeling! I think André looked over at me with concern, because the expression on my face was anything but calm… The worries of instructors… But I was having the BEST time! Hehehhe!
This BRUCE LEE TRAINING DAY was truly incredible! AMAZING classes and an IMPECCABLE instructor! I L-O-V-E-D every second!
Instructor Notes
What stood out most in this double class was André’s ability to lead two very different training experiences with the same level of presence. Body Balance felt calm, intentional, and reflective, with strong attention to breathing, mobility, and meditation. Body Combat, on the other hand, was intense, demanding, and full of effort.
That contrast made the experience more interesting. In Body Balance, his guidance helped create focus and calm. In Body Combat, his energy pushed the room forward, even when the burpees started to feel endless.
From a student’s perspective, this was one of those days where the instructor shaped the entire training experience. The two classes had completely different moods, but both felt well led, memorable, and worth showing up for.
How I Felt After Class
Right after Body Balance: calmer, more mobile, and mentally lighter. The class helped me reset before the intensity of Body Combat.
Right after Body Combat: sweaty, tired, breathless, and fully aware that I had trained properly. The burpee track was brutal, but that made the class even more satisfying.
Later that day: happy I had done both classes. Body Balance gave me the calm and mobility I needed, while Body Combat gave me the intense workout feeling I love.
Final Thoughts
This Body Balance and Body Combat class experience with André Godinho was the perfect example of how different group fitness classes can challenge you in completely different ways.
Body Balance gave me mobility, breathing, focus, strength, and a beautiful meditation. Body Combat gave me sweat, effort, intensity, burpees, and that feeling of being completely alive during training.
From a student’s perspective, doing both classes back to back made the day feel complete. One class helped me slow down and reconnect with my body. The other pushed me into effort, intensity, and pure workout satisfaction.
This was a strong double class experience, and André’s guidance made both parts work.
My Gym Essentials
Everything I actually use and love during my workouts. Tested, approved, and practical for busy women who want efficient results.
- Water Bottle: helps me stay hydrated between classes.
- Training Shoes: stable, comfortable, and useful for cardio, combat, and step-style workouts.
- Gym Bag: compact but spacious enough for everything I need for class.
- Shockproof Phone Case: essential because I film, move around, and drop my phone more often than I should admit.
- Smart Fitness Watch: useful for tracking heart rate, calories burned, and workout intensity.
If you enjoy honest fitness class reviews from a student’s perspective, explore my other class review posts here.
