Bokwa, just like its funky name, is a fun exercise that’s doing the rounds with fitness enthusiasts across the world. It’s a fitness class based on dancing but that is pretty much where the similarities between Bokwa and Zumba end. Bokwa participants do not follow random dance moves created by the instructor. Instead, they follow a pattern of letters and numbers that participants “draw” with their steps. Bokwa is a new form of dance/group exercise class which involves primarily drawing letters and numbers with their feet, the most common ones being L, 3, J, K and others as well.
It was founded by Paul Mavi, a Los Angeles group exercise instructor of South African origin. When he started his classes, they numbered to more than 100 members in each class and that’s when Mavi decided to take it to other countries and in a matter of months it spread to more than 14 countries.
It is different from Zumba or other step classes.
Steps to follow
- Bokwa participants do not follow random dance moves created by the instructor, but a pattern of letters and numbers that participants follow with their steps.
- The same steps could be performed either at a low intensity or a high intensity format, depending on fitness levels.
- The key is to be able to perform any type of step or movement within the shape of the number or letter.
- The instructor usually uses hand signs to signal the letter or the number the class will be working on and the rest follows.
- Bokwa steps begins with the number 1, which involves two easy steps—front and back. Once you can do this, you can move to other numbers.
- To form the letter L, you can just add an easy side step to the number 1. Next you move to letter C. This involves steps in a way that you move anti-clockwise to form a semi circle.
- Add any letter or number you want and there is a dance step for it. Start with easy ones like 1 and L and move to others for an amazing heart pumping, fun yet productive workout…
BENEFITS
Once you have the basic shape down, you can feel free to add your own style to the moves. You own the choreography and you can add whatever flair you want to the moves. Of course you can always follow the instructor, but there is no hard and fast rule that you have to do it exactly like them.
It has been proven that bokwa can help to achieve weight loss goals a lot quicker than other methods of exercise. The capability of burning till 1,000 calories per session with energising music and fun steps.
It is refreshing and builds strength and endurance driven by the pulsating rhythmic beats of African, Latin, popular dance and House music. Bokwa is a total body cardiovascular workout, through the use of fast paced movements with fun steps. You can even move to familiar songs that people can listen to over the radio.
People of all age groups can participate in this form, since there is no choreography. Once the members know the structure of the letters or numbers, they need not follow the choreography of the trainer, as it involves the same structure.
Bokwa does not have any of the typical eight count steps which are often difficult. So all they have to do is feel the music and form the figures.
