CIA 9906: LA training

This tape is not for those who are frustrated by complex choreography, but if you're willing to work at it, the result is a tape that you'll keep coming back to for years. Even without all the moves, it's FUN, FUN, FUN!!! For frame of reference, I pick up 99% of Christi's tapes on the first time through. Nonetheless, it took me a bit to master the hi/lo and some of the trickier step steps in Patrick's CIA 9001, but the routines looked so fun that I kept at it. Now that I can do the whole thing expertly, it's a tape that I keep returning to again and again; I can't say that about many. I'm finding this tape maybe even a little tougher to learn than 9001. On the step, I have most of it -- maybe just a couple of moves that aren't perfected. The hi/lo is much tougher but after two times through, I have all the base moves; I just need to get comfortable enough with them to work on those directional changes. It also seems that the first two combos are the easiest to learn and the last two -- particularly the last one -- is the toughest of all. In the hi/lo, Patrick does not TIFT, and never combines more than two combos at a time.

I know that many people complain about Patrick's tendency to do a lot of step touches while he teaches the next move and as someone noted, he did start out much better in this tape before reverting to his old habits. But just to see, I did a few random heart rate checks during some of the step touches and found that I was still within my THR, albeit at a lower level so that didn't totally bother me. I think that it becomes more frustrating the first few times you do the tape because you are not able to give it your all during each section because you don't know the moves yet. Once you can, your heart rate will remain elevated more often. With the step, it's not as much an issue because you can always do knee ups or ham curls instead of basics.

I guess I wanted to write my thoughts on 9906 so that people would not be scared off this video because of its complexity. It is one of my favorites and I know I will never tire of it, just like I never tire of 9001. Like 9001, the choreography is so fresh; there is just not another instructor like Patrick Goudeau. He just has a way with moves that makes the time fly. I know I don't look nearly as graceful as he does, but I can imagine! Admitted, his cueing is not the best but for my money, his routines are; they're worth every second they take to learn.

Well . . . let me preface this by saying that I absolutely ADORE Patrick Goudeau. He's innovative, fun, and very charismatic and motivating. However, there's a line between innovative and "weird", and that line may have been crossed here.

First, the high/low: Patrick does 4 mini-combos that combine into one longer routine. While all of them are creative in new choreography, two of them (and one in particular) border on being completely frustrating, to the point of not being fun anymore. I do want to stress that overall, this high/low workout is very enjoyable and one that I'll do a lot, but I want Patrick to back off a little on the "creativity" in his next video! One of the routines -- it's either #3 or #4 (can't remember now) -- I simply don't like because of the "weirdness" of it. It's just doesn't flow naturally, and it's frustrating to do. While I manage to stumble through it, I am NOT having fun at that point! But again, this is a great workout overall, and I give it an A-.

Now for the step: Whew! This one is done with your step facing horizontally, unlike his last CIA tape, which had the step vertical. Having it horizontal makes it easier in some respects to learn the routine. But this is still a tough one! Lots of fast footwork, and again, some "weird" moves. I got through this, but I modified many of the routines. He teaches in "levels" -- adding on variations at each level -- so it's easy to stay at a previous level if you want to. I elected to stay at an earlier level for many of the moves because I was sure I would break my neck if I didn't. I really don't think I'll do this workout very often. For the amount of mind-power you have to put into it, it just doesn't seem worth it. For future step workouts, Patrick could take a cue from Franny Benedetto's latest CIA tape (is it 9905?), where she adds considerable complexity but keeps it FUN and intense. Again, I think Patrick is crossing that line between innovative and weird. But still, I grade it an A-.

To sum up, while I don't like this as much as 9001, his first CIA tape, it's still a keeper for me. But I dearly hope that in his next video he'll go back to something more 9001-like or even G-Force-like.

Oh, and a note to the CIA cameraperson: The sudden changes in view from Patrick to only his feet are extremely disorienting! (And certainly not helpful.)

Patrick is one of my all-time favorite instructors. He's #1 in high-low! But I fear that in his quest for creativity, he may be alienating a lot of people.

I am only reviewing the step routine at this time. I don't want to review the hi/lo until I have it figured out, and so far, I don't have it figured out. (You can take that as a mini-review of the hi/lo routine actually.)

I really like the step routine. It is very fun, very complex and not super-intense. This might be the lightest step routine (intensity-wise) that I own, and I like to do it when I am not up to a more advanced step workout, but want to do step. I would probably say it is a little less intense than Breakthru Step. By the way, the routine was choreographed by Michelle Dozois (from Breakthru Step) and Aileen Sheron (who did some tapes for Weight Watchers a few years back.) The style of choreography is very similar to Breakthru Step, but the moves themselves are all very different. The warm-up and cardio sections are 54 minutes.

If you are considering trying this video here are some tips on getting through the video without pulling the tape out and thowing it at the TV:

• Preview it first! I tried the step without previewing. Really, DO NOT TRY THIS. I came very close to falling off my step several times, not to mention the sheer frustration I felt. Not only should you preview the workout, but you should preview it with your step nearby so you can practice the footwork and figure out what is going on. Have your remote in hand so you can rewind as needed. If you are familiar with Patrick G. you are probably thinking that the reason for this is all because of Patrick's super complex choreography and his mediocre cueing. These things are true, but it is not the only reason. It is because the tape editing is the WORST I have ever seen. On almost every new piece of choreography the camera goes to Patrick's feet with a different angle. This is incredibly confusing - you end up having no idea which foot he is using. Since Patrick goes on all sides of the step, this makes it almost impossible to figure out what is going on. The good news is that later you do get to see the workout straight on and can figure it out, which is why the previewing is mandatory. I complained to CIA about this and I was told the reason for this is that the background exercisers were so confused that they didn't want to include them messing up in the video. I shudder to think about how badly they messed up in the parts they didn't show, because Eddie screwed up quite enough on the parts where they did show him. I was seriously considering putting a piece of paper over his side of the TV, but the changing camera angles prevented me from doing this. This brings me to my next tip.
• Pretend you are a bull and focus on the red. Patrick is wearing red and his background exercisers are in black. If you look at Eddie you will get confused. (Trust me!) The other guy is pretty good actually, but it is easier to stay focused just on Patrick since he is wearing red.
• Don't be afraid to stay with an easier move. Patrick actually does a good job of layering the complexity when he is teaching. Some of the additional flourishes on the move are just not necessary. On one or two of the moves I just don't do them. For example, in the first combo you are supposed to the box step after the shuffle repeater squat move on top of the step. I don't like doing the box step off the step, so I do it like he originally taught the move - simply putting your foot down on the floor behind you.

If I haven't scared you away by now, I'll say again that I really do like this workout. The difference between the first and second try was like night and day. The third time I actually got everything down and had a great time. I think the choreography actually flows very well. There is only one part I struggle with still. One of the very first moves is the "wind-up". This is like doing a basic but turning at the same time so you end up facing the back wall. (A move done in many videos like CIA 7002 and Cathe's Step Jam 3rd combo). The problem is that you have to turn in the opposite direction than you would in any of the other places I have seen this move. I mess this up a lot. I tried staying with my version, but you can't because you won't end up in the right place.

The music in this video is good and different (another plus) but it is a little too low in volume (another minus).

This is definitely for choreography lovers only and people who are willing to put up with some bad before getting to the good.

Let me say first thing, this video has very complex choreography; in fact; it's the toughest I've ever done, and, I LOVE IT! It took me a total of 4 times doing the video, before I got all the moves. There are moves that I have NEVER seen before, but alot of fun! There are so many twists and turns, but you don't have to do them; Patrick shows the move and layers changes to that move. While teaching these moves, Patrick has the habit of going to alternating taps and marching, to get your bearing(I do knee-ups or jogs to keep the intensity up). It's very face paced foot work, box steps, knee repeaters over the step, Fred Sanford, mambas, pivots and turns, turns turns! This is a definite blast, but it is not for any who are afraid of complex footwork. Very dancy, also. If you love Patrick, this is his best so far! Oh, the music is different that other CIAs (thank heaven!), and Patrick even sings along. Nice soundtrack.

This review is only for the step section of Patrick's new CIA tape. The first time I previewed the tape and saw that "on, on, off, off..." moves, I literally ROFL. I knew immediately that it would be an infamous moment in workout tapes and turn many people off from Patrick. I also imagine you Cathe's and Christi's fans looked wide-eyed at this move and ask, "Is he really an instructor?!" Yes, compare to Cathe and Christi, this guy can't meet their excellent standard. But there's something in his choreography that always grab me, which Cathe and Christi can't (except with her 9801).

When previewed, the step section is like the day after God destroyed the Tower of Babel. Everything was confused and inarticulate. But once I started learning it, it was like a jigsaw puzzle that fit to its part. And the second time through was like night and day. I have done it 4 times by now. Patrick starts with the warmup with some boxing flavour moves, step touch around the step, hamstring curls, mambo, chasse and a pas de bourre (?) into reverse turn which is very similar to StepWorks cooldown. He then does some dynamic stretches. His choreography consists of 3 combos. The first combination is the hardest for me. It starts with the "wind up, wind down" the step, shuffle the step to the front, then to that "on, on, of, off..." which you kinda straddle forward and do a reverse turn. Then you do quick lunges, hop on your step and do a box step off. I find that I always can't stay on the beat with him here. The second combo is the easiest to learn. You do Tarzan moves which are two power knees, Fred Sanford (Who is he?) which is similar to Walk the Bench in 9901, pivot, chasse, spin, 2 knees, turn to the other end of the step, 2 heels, mambo and go over the top, turn and "walk the plank", now you get to the front of the step again and also your back to the T.V., you have to pony to the back of the step and pivot to face the T.V. again. Now comes my favourite combos, (in fact I love them all!), we do L step with knee and turn to get off the step on the front again, then mambo, turn, shuffle the step (He calls it cha,cha), pendulum, then kick ball change over to the back of your step. The moves here fits to the music perfectly and I just wish I could move like him. Now comes 3 count steps, turn inside, cross over to the front, 2 knees and jog over the step back. That's all it is. I hope my description makes some sense. You can see that his chreography is well thought out. Every combo will make you go to the front of the step, then you have to do association moves (on, on, off, off; pony; kick ball change) to come back behind your step again.

The intensity in this tape is strictly intermediate and lower than his step section in 9001. (I am an intermediate exerciser). He also does the step tap, march in place more than his previous tape. As discussed in the forum, one of the background exercisers can't follow up with him. The tape was edited much to conceal this and you will see mostly Patrick's feet at the end of the tape. Another flaw is the volume of the music. It is too low and I can't hear it, and in MY situation I can't turn on my volume too much. So I have to put up with only hearing Patrick's cue.

Instructor's comment: What can I say about Patrick that I haven't said about him? He is my favourite instructor to the end of the world. His choreography is complex without being too dancy and he never bothers me with difficult arm movements. He can move gracefully and just plain fun to watch. His personality prevails.

Hoping that Patrick's new video would be different than 9001, I was very disappointed. I know Patrick has a lot of fans, but even they admit that he does a lot of marching in place and stops dead in his tracks explaining what he will do next. This drives me nuts. When the hi/lo began, there was a bit of hope, since he was going at a nice pace and I was cheering him, "go Patrick, you listened to my plea." But as it progressed, his old habits came right back, causing me frustration, doing my own jumping jacks, and not caring about trying to learn the most complicated routine ever. I started to do the step routine, but in my frame of mind, and his poor instruction and inconsideration to his students, I just gave up. Give me Franny, Christy, Greg or Robert Mellot (who should be getting all the adoration).