This Les Mills Body Attack and GRIT Strength review covers one of those training days that leaves no space for half effort.
I started with Body Attack with Igor Angélico on the final day of that class in that time slot, and he clearly decided the farewell had to be memorable. Then I moved on to GRIT Strength with Rita Calaz, where the 5 kg plates were politely rejected and I ended up working with 2 x 10 kg plates instead.
So yes, this was an intense training day.
It was full of jumps, burpees, sprints, power lunges, pairs work, clean-press-squats, mountain climbers, sweat, struggle and that very specific kind of satisfaction that only comes after giving everything.
Quick Verdict
Les Mills Body Attack
- Intensity: 9 out of 10
- Good for: cardio conditioning, jumps, power, stamina, coordination and full effort from start to finish
- My after class mood: destroyed, entertained, proud and very aware that Igor had chosen violence
GRIT Strength
- Intensity: 9 out of 10
- Good for: strength endurance, plates, squats, lunges, push-ups, pairs work and learning to use more weight than you first planned
- My after class mood: pushed, stronger, deeply worked and very glad I listened to the instructor
Class Snapshot
Les Mills Body Attack
- Duration: 30 minutes
- Format: high-energy cardio class with running, jumps, burpees, skaters, sprints, power lunges and explosive movement
- Equipment: training shoes, towel and water bottle
- Instructor style: Igor was intense, playful and fully committed to making the farewell memorable
- My focus today: survive the intensity, keep moving and not collapse in a dramatic fashion
- What stood out: approximately 450 jumps, a running pirouette situation, and the feeling of giving absolutely everything
- Injury notes: no injury, just serious exhaustion
GRIT Strength
- Duration: 30 minutes
- Format: high-intensity strength training with plates, pairs work, burpees, push-ups, squats, power lunges, clean-press-squats, squat jumps and mountain climbers
- Equipment: bar, plates, towel, water bottle and training shoes
- Instructor style: Rita was sharp, mischievous, demanding and very good at spotting when I was about to choose the lighter option
- My focus today: use the right weight, keep up with the class and survive the clean-press-squats
- What stood out: swapping the 5 kg plates for 2 x 10 kg plates, working in pairs and Rita’s smile after demonstrating something brutal
- Injury notes: no injury, just full-body fatigue and real effort
The Workout: Les Mills Body Attack + GRIT Strength
WOW! What an intense workout!
I started with Body Attack and Igor Angélico.
Today was the last day of this class at that time slot. And Igor decided the farewell was going to be memorable!
I am really starting to LOVE Body Attack. It is an incredibly demanding class from start to finish. 30 minutes where I give absolutely everything. Hands on knees, grabbing the wall, STRUGGLING from sheer exhaustion.
Igor brought us a farewell gift: 450 jumps! That is right! We jumped approximately 450 times!
We ran, jumped, did burpees, skaters, sprints, power lunges, and more. And I LOVE it when Igor comes over and does the exercise right alongside us!
Oh… and did you know we also did a pirouette (or something resembling one)… while running? The credit naturally goes entirely to the instructor, who executed it perfectly.
When I attempted it however, I was fairly certain I was heading straight for the floor. Which would not have been anything new for Suzike in this class… I have had everything happen to me in Body Attack…
I loved it! Igor gave us an exceptional class, incredibly fun and SERIOUSLY intense!
I moved on to Grit Strength with Rita Calaz.
While sorting out the bar, I reached for the 5kg plates. Suddenly I hear Rita: “are you not using the 10kg ones?” My immediate thought: “Oops, she noticed!” Off went Suzike to swap them out, and I ended up using 2 x 10kg plates.
And yes, just like in the previous class, I struggled through the exercises. But would you believe it cost me less today? Which means I am getting stronger! THANK GOODNESS I followed the instructor’s suggestion!
We worked in pairs (which I really enjoyed), and Rita kept pushing us, encouraging a little healthy competition. Now there is a way to make people work. It worked perfectly!
So many burpees, push-ups, squats, power lunges (Rita once again had to encourage me to add actual power to my lunges), clean-press-squats, squat jumps, mountain climbers, did I mention clean-press-squats? That is the exercise where I really felt those 10kg plates!
The class was spectacular! I find it incredible how Rita flashes that mischievous smile after demonstrating an exercise, in full awareness of the visible despair written across our faces! FANTASTIC!
What a POWERFUL INTENSE TRAINING DAY! I LOVED every second!
Instructor Notes
Instructor credit: Igor Angélico and Rita Calaz
This training day worked because both instructors brought exactly the kind of energy their classes needed.
Igor made Body Attack feel like a proper farewell session. The class was hard, but it never lost its fun. That matters in a format like Body Attack, because when the intensity rises that much, the energy in the room becomes part of what keeps you going.
He pushed, entertained and somehow made 450 jumps feel like something worth remembering.
Rita brought a different kind of intensity to GRIT Strength.
She noticed immediately when I was about to choose the lighter plates, and that changed the whole class for me. That moment matters because it is exactly what a good instructor does. She saw what I was capable of before I fully committed to it myself.
She also has that mischievous smile that makes the suffering even more memorable.
Together, they turned the day into something much bigger than a regular gym session.
Is Body Attack Before GRIT Strength a Good Combination?
For me, yes, but only if you are ready for a genuinely hard session.
Body Attack starts by taking a lot out of you very quickly. It is explosive, sweaty, fast and relentless. Jumps, running, skaters, burpees and power lunges do not leave much room for easing into the day.
GRIT Strength afterwards changes the challenge, but does not reduce it.
The cardio chaos turns into plates, squats, push-ups, lunges and strength endurance. At that point, the body is already tired, so every heavier choice feels more significant.
That is what makes the pairing so effective. Body Attack pushes the engine. GRIT Strength tests what is left.
It is a very strong back-to-back combination for anyone who enjoys intensity, challenge and leaving the gym with that real training-day feeling.
How I Felt After Class
- Right after: exhausted, happy and completely aware that both classes had done their job
- Later that day: physically drained, but very satisfied with the effort
- What stayed with me most: the 450 jumps, the 10 kg plate switch and that feeling that the work cost less because I am getting stronger
Final Thoughts
This was one of those sessions that fully deserves the label intense training day.
Body Attack gave me jumps, sprints, burpees, power lunges and that wild cardio energy that makes you question your life choices while still loving the class.
GRIT Strength gave me plates, pairs work, clean-press-squats, mountain climbers and proof that I can handle more weight than I am sometimes inclined to choose.
That is what made this day so satisfying. It was not just intense. It was productive.
It showed effort, progression and the value of instructors who know exactly when to push.
My Gym Essentials
Everything I actually use and love during my workouts. Tested, approved, and perfect for busy women who want efficient results.
- Water Bottle: Stay hydrated without wasting time refilling.
- Training Shoes: Stable, comfortable, and perfect for cardio and step workouts.
- Gym Bag: Compact but spacious enough for everything I need for my sessions.
- Shockproof Phone Case: Keeps my phone safe during intense workouts, because I drop it more often than I admit
- Smart Fitness Watch: Tracks heart rate, calories burned, and workout intensity.
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