BODY POSITION || Motocross Private Lesson Ep. 19

[@AjCatanzaro]

If you want to learn how to ride like the pros, you can train with me online at club.themotoacademy.com Use code “moto” to get your first month for only $5! 😎 Thanks for watching!

[@shortty7618]

6’3 rider here. This helped me immensely. My knees are above the seat on every bike lol

[@AjCatanzaro]

Haha yep. I use same position no matter what, even when riding a pit bike and I feel like it’s just my calves making contact

[@MtlDeath]

Exact same situation here bein 6'3, Ive even resorted to puttin grip tape on frame :-) Great vid.. appreciate it

[@prestonbraaaps5343]

on the 2020 kx250 you can lower the foot pegs i’m pretty sure

[@aaronheinlein3438]

im 5 ft 8. and my bike is Taller then me by a hiar or 2 and I had to do the same thing

[@nicjgoss7069]

yes i am 5'9 and ride a kx 100

[@AverageDaveVideos]

Man, having a lesson with Aj like this would be amazing! I will never race motocross, too old now, but would love to be able to just ride the track well!

[@alexzanderarmstrong]

Thank you! Fastest 18min ever. I feel like having an earbud so you can explain on the fly would help? Or talk over as you video for when your students watch it later. So many good tips in this one!

[@AjCatanzaro]

Having an ear piece so I could talk to them in real time would be really cool!! Thanks!

[@davidgauvin8441]

@@AjCatanzaro Finding a cheap way to get clear 1-way (or walkie-talkie) audio would be ideal. Your student would not need to stop as frequently to receive instruction. You're a great teacher.

[@Chief-keefd]

Aj Catanzaro I saw people do that, its possible and cheap

[@snarfdwarf]

Indeed fastest 18 minutes, when the video stopped it felt like 5 minutes.

[@robb4496]

Wish you were around like 25 years ago when I was learning now I’m learning again at 47 good work love the videos

[@ajmotocross]

i love guys that help teach other people. We as men think we know everything. If you would just take the time to listen to others you might learn something from a vet or something from a beginning rider.. we are all students. Even the pros listen to tips from other racers.

[@weston5146]

I just started racing about 6 months ago and im faster than about 80% of the locals at my track. this was majorly helpful bro!

[@quincys4823]

Mannnnnn i love your vids. It's just so clean and well explained.

[@AjCatanzaro]

Thanks!

[@NubbyTV101]

Very helpful tips& lots of them. I’m a 49 yr old novice. Just bought a crf 250. Love this Channel. It’s helping me so much. 👍👍. Although not with the aching after I ride 😂👍👍

[@mandynotley8786]

Good on you! I know what you mean about the aching....I'm 51 and also a novice riding sherco sef300 mostly trails and enduro, but went to a MX track for the first time last Sunday 😊

[@mschumaker1]

great stuff. I"m not a motocross guy but I learned a lot just watching

[@ryanlester761]

14:28 well said and great advice! So common for new riders to just "plop down" on the seat. It's helpful to have video evidence to show the student examples of this. Nice work AJ.

[@robmosher6299]

I love your teaching videos AJ, you have such amazing patience towards every little detail when explaining what you want your students to do out on the track. Also, a lot of technique and motocross sense when describing what the student it doing right and wrong. Keep these coming Budd.

[@joejones711]

Just started watching your vids and I’m hooked. Thank you immensely.

[@colecooper1116]

Your tips are amazing and made me so much fast thank you

[@AjCatanzaro]

👍🏼👍🏼

[@YammyBoh7]

Hey AJ, I've really enjoyed watching your videos. I came from an off-road and extreme-enduro background but trained a lot of mx for skills, bike control and fitness. A lot of the jumping lessons you do are things I've battled teaching to some of the kids I've trained in the past. The natural instincts are just to throw their weight back in the "toilet seat" position and it's so dangerous. I love how you explain things even using technical concepts for kids that I never imagined they would understand. You're a great teacher so keep it up, very impressive.

[@jordanB472]

Absolutely fascinating! These videos are loaded with nuggets of gold. Paraphrase“If your inside elbow drops your chest rotates right and will want to steer you up and out of the turn...”

[@gasparpaz1667]

Wow! Man! You explain all with a lot of details! If you can explain the technique about use of the front brake on the ruts... I would appreciate! I love your channel! Greeting from Argentina!

[@ChrisShigas]

I love how practical your advice is.

[@davidgillberg1793]

This Chanel should have much more followers! So much awsome content!

[@jeffenglish9132]

I’ve rode for 25 years and my current bike is a 2005 RM250. I’m 6’3” and my biggest issue is feeling awkward in transitional position. This helped me greatly

[@marshy1499]

Just started riding again at the age of 46 ..These videos have helped me alot..Keep the vids coming..love from liverpool... last time I rode I was 16 ,I cant remember the 250s being this powerful hence why the videos have help so much ...

[@mrrrrr1rob590]

Never knew about the front brake helping to guide the front in a rut. I always ride out of the rut. In 10 ruts, I ride out of 11. Makes sense now. I use the rear brake a lot to keep my road motorcycle upright and not falling to the side when making extremely slow, tight parking lot style maneuvers that I'm not countersteering for balance. It's fitting that the front brake has the opposite effect. Though this is something I've never heard anyone say out loud. This is the difference between riders that are fast and ones like you that are fast and can explain why. Thanks for being the latter and taking the time to help out the rest of us.

[@brianrichard1768]

enjoy your vids. 51 been riding a long time but you have good tips. At my age I've perfected the lazy man approach but it's cool that you offer all this advice to the next generation....for free.

[@AjCatanzaro]

Thanks!

[@AjCatanzaro]

I encourage to try and tweak the “lazy man approach”. When you learn to ride the way I do, there’s nothing easier!

[@sonnyspawn4435]

At the end he was killing it!!!good job bro

[@mikeraskin7319]

Awesome training, it's no wonder why you are a pro. 👍 I needed a rut refresher.

[@burnedsoul1100]

Every time with a great lesson and many many useful advises.thank you Aj for sharing your experience and your pro tips with all of us. I learn a lot from you and i always trying to practice at the motocross track. Greetings from Greece and thanks again.

[@caseybrown9321]

New sponsor: HGTV: Chip and Joanna build a race track episode on in the background 😂🤣

[@AjCatanzaro]

Haha!

[@stephendavis7707]

Good content again ,the techniques you teach are valuable to all off road riders enduro ,hare n hound ,mx etc i am 40 years riding off road but still learning .Thanks

[@AjCatanzaro]

Glad you enjoy them. What I teach absolutely will translate well to all of that

[@stephendavis7707]

@@AjCatanzaro the seating and gripping was well explained also how you made it clear that people of different staures will change the way they do it a little (blose) also the importance of elbows etc all very important ..but again you can show the benefits with the stopwatch so its fact ..,have you ever thought of racing extreme enduro ?

[@MOS09W1]

It’s amazing how much I learned from just this one video!

[@AjCatanzaro]

Love that!

[@fletcherwilkinson9073]

Surely Aj likes this comment 👉👈 😊 ... P.S. Watched all the vids (they have helped me improve as a rider)and the merch is top of the line! Also i was the 4th comment 🤙

[@AjCatanzaro]

Thank you!!!

[@TheKinety]

It's been a long time since I rode a bike let alone a track. And a lot of what your teaching came flooding back to me from my first lesson. And now I just want to start skipping meals to buy a new bike and start all over again lol.

[@Eric_4D]

61 year old rider, these videos have corrected a few bad habits that I’ve slipped into, never too old to learn hey..

[@AlbionEconomist]

just found ur channel what a gold mine

[@tomvan2468]

I'm 6'7" and feel like I'm way to high when I stand. I've got the KX450F Kawasaki. I feel forced to sit. At 52 years old I've been riding for almost 3 months so hopefully I havent gotten set in bad habits

[@rcafmaintainer3723]

Awesome stuff; I don't know if I missed it, did you mention vision? Leading with the eyes helps some of the fundamentals.

[@seansavage6468]

AJ. I wish you lived in Colorado, anywhere in Colorado. Awesome lessons. Please Keep posting.

[@milkman6712]

No wonder he learned so fast! Your such a good teacher!

[@AjCatanzaro]

Thanks!

[@curt248]

Excellent tips. I especially like the cornering through ruts with constant throttle and manipulating the front brake to control the lean angle. I’ve been doing it with throttle. I can’t wait to try it this way.

[@WINGNUT]

good video little abrupt on the ending there.. lol. kid was doing awesome hope hes back for more, I'd love to see how he progresses. I bet its fast!

[@AjCatanzaro]

Haha sorry camera died! 😂

[@WINGNUT]

@@AjCatanzaro 😂 check out my vid on C-class pros and let me know what you think of my assessment. maybe I come down and get some lessons as a collab. lord knows I need it!

[@santanaaazxturbo]

Such a helpful video!!!! I’m seriously considering booking one of these classes! Would do wonders for me!

[@sickofalldabscensorship721]

Hey Cat When someone books an appointment for one of your classes you should offer a choice. Either the normal MX techniques like in this video or to go ride with you in the hills where the big hits are. We got some spots with some ok size jumps but nothing real big around here in Nor-Cal bay area. I have one spot with a ramp 80-100ft but after awhile that gets boring. I'm sure people would pay to do that. My idea you gotta give me a free bee . LOL

[@martinmccoy9661]

Love to see you pumping out these videos as usual man this corona stuff is good for riding that’s all I’ve been doing, been riding the yz125 and we just got a hold of a yz250 two stroke #mix gas haul ass!

[@AjCatanzaro]

We’re lucky! Most people have their tracks & riding spots completely closed!

[@mixtips637]

These are so helpfull if you can keep putting these videos thank you

[@gandossi]

Very useful lesson as usual. Thank you AJ!!

[@ttvh8den819]

Good to know the part about being to low in the gears and pushed back or forward. I have the same problem and I’ve only rode once! I’ll try this next time I ride!

[@endlessprogression9543]

Nick where you at what’s your Instagram you did great. AJ! These are so dope, thank you for sharing all this info. I’ve watched this one a few times this morning. I neeeeeded this one bad 👊🏽. I don’t know any one that rides so while I’ve been teaching my self the last few years, these videos are making a huge difference. Thank you!

[@nicholaskrakowski]

Right here man! He is a great teacher! Definitely worth it. I will be going back

[@karlfriebel6080]

Super good info on body positioning

[@TheMxboy199]

Thank you for talking about the gearing. My friends are saying I’m in too low of a gear mainly 1st and 2nd and just a touch of 3rd in the straights. But they’re using gears 2-4 on the same track. Basically I know what you mean about it being way too responsive on both throttle and on breaking. It tried my best to use at least 3rd gear most of the way around the track and a little of 4th gear but I’m still to uncomfortable in turns where it’s rutted deep and wet at the same time so it’s both sticky and slippery if that makes any sense.

[@Runk3lsmcdougal]

Man that track looks incredible

[@Freaki91]

I love those vidoes! So much to learn and verry good explanation on why you have to do it. 🤩

[@snarfdwarf]

I can watch your video's for hours AJ. I wished this video was longer.

[@AjCatanzaro]

Thanks! Have another one dropping tomorrow morning! I’ll keep them coming

[@williamschuman4951]

Good stuff, I'm always learning.

[@christianlvas8727]

Thanls for those lessons man. I have been riding for 6 weeks now. I have the basic learings done now, now i need techniquie. Im 6 foot 2 inches (185cm) i weigh about 140kg (312 pounds) heavy dude. Only thing to adjust on the bike is rear spring. To soft for my weight. But now i want to learn better for sitting position. Feet position and speed in corners and acceleration. The track i train on, i have figured out about 2 jumps. There are 4 more bigger jumps, so i need more speed. But i will figure how to gain thrust to the bike and not get afraid if i go full throttle. I got a ktm 250 sx-f 4 stroke. Got plenty of power for me. Now its just getting faster and getting more endurance. Ill last just 5 rounds in a heat and im dead tired. I do atleast 20 rounds. But lately i got better and lasted atleast 1 round more eack week. Weightloss also. Lost 12 pounds last month. Not changing diet, just training

[@smokemboe1876]

Wow... i can't wait to see you hit 100k subs... ur a beast... u deserve it....

[@AjCatanzaro]

Thanks!!

[@thomascesternino6510]

Love your videos aj! Would like to see a video on clutch control. When to use it, how much, 4 strokes and 2 strokes. I don’t race but I have a small track on the farm that I mess around on and your videos help a lot. I’m just looking for basic knowledge to toy around my track. Thanks aj you da bomb!

[@ryanjacobi5348]

Awesome video! Thanks!

[@luigifiorillo7680]

Great video AJ. Funny at 18.03 stabbed your foot in the ground! ( that’s what it looked like any way) great video series.

[@jerseyjeeper1575]

Great front break tip for lean angle..

[@justin2475]

Who would dislike great vids keep it up

[@highsnburgers4862]

Great! Could have used your help back in '76.

[@nickchavez7839]

Hey AJ, I love these videos they are super helpful! I don’t really have anyone else who rides seriously in my family or friend group who can teach me things, so I really appreciate being able to learn this way. A few times I’ve heard you say to break without the clutch, how do you do that without stalling the bike?

[@kieranmacca9370]

Tonight’s viewing sorted already 🙌

[@canpromechanical3283]

his bike and gear are spotless brand new

[@jakeanton42]

I completely understand the knee above the bike, I’m 5’10 and on a kx100 and it’s a real struggle for me.

[@lukegodbout]

I wish a found this at the beginning of the season. I’m the same height as this guy and always had shorter guys telling me to grip with my knees forcing me to bend my legs more. I couldn’t finish motos the arm pump was so bad 😭

[@RockztarST]

Amazing work, My technique has improved a lot sense I started looking at these videos and I also feel more comfortable riding! May I ask what watch you are wearing? BR Sweden

[@AjCatanzaro]

Thanks! It’s the Polar Vantage M

[@yt-ll5mu]

I wish I could do a lesson but i’m all the way in MN. maybe dungey will start doing some coaching... anyways thanks AJ I really feel like your vids help out my riding and they especially give me more confidence for learning jumps and such. I’m a woods rider but I want to get better at mx since the principles between the two are really similar.

[@alycium201]

20yt03 AJ did one at Meadow Valley in 2018 with Christian Craig and it was amazing. He said he’d be back, so hopefully after this covid stuff is gone, he’ll be back 👌

[@AjCatanzaro]

Yep I’ll be back at Meadow Valley Mx July 20th!!

[@kirkdunn1379]

Thats alot of info to absorb for one corner bro, lol Front brake is so huge for controlling front end in corners, even as vet rider is was one biggest revelations i had in mx

[@GT4JB]

fantastic videos. Novice rider and got lotsa bad habits. This makes wanna go ride and try out new techniques.

[@keithbell8960]

Great video

[@Ottopaul484]

It's a 125, it scream a little bit... at 17:40 it starts to scream a lot😁 Tnx AJ you always give us a great package of tips!

[@AjCatanzaro]

👍🏼👍🏼

[@kokkiematematika1931]

Hi Aj I discovered your channel like two days ago. I am impressed. However, I am aging at 68 years now and only began riding, not yet a full 4 years ago. I am mainly doing the confusing 'adventure riding' discipline. After so many crashes at the beginning I went for adventure riding training. But dammm most is at very low speed. So I invested in a WR450F to do my own skilling. I think that I improved with my 'self-help' training. But sure, I am instating very very bad habits. So now, I am considering either MX training or enduro training. (I do not quite get the distinction). What do you advise?? By age 70 I aim at being a 'age solid' rider. Flippen

[@250txc]

Cool at the first of the video where you attempt to set up and show a good example with the virus saga we are living today.

[@xanderrage9137]

Hi AJ. Is there any chance that you could do some video footage of you using your front brake in the corners when you are in a rut?

[@lucabreed7077]

Man wish i could come to the US and train with you

[@11wogboy]

Dammm these videos are so good! Keep em coming!

[@brianflanagan5841]

Good stuff! Thanks

[@HughJasbawls]

NoVa has it pretty bad but down in SE VA, we getting the worst of it in VA. Thankfully a few tracks making it work. shout out to SFMX!

[@macadamienut067]

I spy a Hellion helmet. Let’s go!

[@joshuasmith5472]

What's helped me a lot when I was being coached was try to over exaggerate the elbows to get use to having them up once i get use to doing that my elbows are up in the right spot about 96% of the time the 4% something weird happens and I make a mistake.

[@tjsticky]

Could you do a video on flat turns without ruts? Please and thank you sir!

[@AjCatanzaro]

Good thinking. Can definitely do that

[@yaboiiprettyeyez]

Hey AJ, love your videos dude! U mention in this video that your knees are cut up from gripping the bike… What knee braces do you use? I’ve been looking to get a pair of the Leatt X-cross braces, however, I’m currently working on re-training my body positioning and sometimes find it hard to tell when my knees are actually gripping the bike correctly when I have the cheapies on. I’ve seen someone else teach the body posture using the “plate technique” where u hold paper plate between your knees and bike to ensure you’re in attack position and knees are consistently gripping. What do you recommend?

[@maryolee8303]

AJ I have a kx450f that I bought from a mechanic at Kawasaki of Sacramento. It is Factory built it is super fast & has more torque than a diesel , it is a great bike . It is an absolute rocketship. There is one problem though. It does not like to stop very much if at all. I have stock 270 mm front rotor and wondered if I slap a 320mm front disc brake rotor on the bike will it finally be more inclined to stop when and where I want it to? I need to fix that issue it has and after that is fixed I need to get it to want to turn more too. Im pretty sure that the last issue of turning is all me & not being on my YZ80 anymore a 450 is too big to manhandle, bad technique may play a small part but I cannot throw it around anywhere I want like my only other dirt bike that I ever owned before a 2 stroke Yamaha YZ80. Could you please tell me what I should do? Do you think a 320 mm disc will do what I want it to do? Thanks and I hope you see this and respond

[@Swaguley]

Please make a video talking about body position over jumps!

[@jenslaursen1]

Hey Aj, Awesome videos. Any advises for a seasoned rider who struggle to change the habit of not looking very far ahead? Thanks. BR Jens

[@hardcoro1715]

nice lesson

[@aliennetwork08]

Very informative

[@sadboisonly1004]

One of these private lessons would help me out so much, and also be a lot of fun. Only problem is idk how far away Tomahawk is from where I live

[@curt248]

Sad Bois Only type it in on google maps. It’s close to the east coast

[@sadboisonly1004]

@@curt248 I'm on east coast, and ik tomahawk is WV. Being from md I keep getting different answers fro my buddies who go there

[@shtoozie]

how do i get a private lesson with you aj? not for one day tho lol… id need u to help me for ab a month bc u would make an entirely different and better rider! i wish id have a coach like u helping me out constantly…. i wanna get a lot faster get rid of arm pump, and i want to start racing, so having u around would definitely help do much

[@CamRSaws]

Nik do be rockin the AEKTIVCO tho

[@nicholaskrakowski]

Gear is so sick! Love it.

[@CamRSaws]

Nicholas Krakowski yeah man it’s so nice

[@nicholaskrakowski]

Hoping they drop some more sets soon. I'd love to have a few more on hand to choose from haha

[@CamRSaws]

Nicholas Krakowski definitely they just swapped owners but their trying to get everything up and running soon as possible

[@keaneye280]

Hey I just had a crash and have a 3rd degree ac joint tear. I noticed you have a similar bump I have now on your left shoulder. Have you sustained this injury and how was the recovery? Love the videos!

[@AjCatanzaro]

Yes I did it in Australia 2014. Don’t think it took very long honestly. Maybe 3-4 weeks. Hurt really bad for about 3 days then I was pretty much ok

[@keaneye280]

Aj Catanzaro thanks, I appreciate the response! Good to know. I’m on my 3rd day and can’t wait to get back on the bike🤘🏼

[@yellowveedub]

Any instructions camps at tomahawk coming up next week?

[@danielarney9729]

We could use a basic skills check sheet, maybe on a t shirt, or underside of visors for quick reference when we get to the track, can study this great content, but it goes right out the window soon as first person starts riding your ass out there. Guess we could scratch down our own, elbows up, triangles on grips, pinch knees not past line of foot controls, weight balls of pinched feet, gear high, disconnected hips in attack position, chin over bars, look ahead, make brake chatter coming into corner at designated spots before turn, no clutch, over tank, body straight, weighted pegs, foot up to fender if needed, drag front brake in rut turns, look through turn, look past grooves in straights, use outsides to avoid in grooved lips. Probably would be good to have a warm up stretching/exercises routine sheet, and bike maintenance check sheet. Maybe make a coffee table book with pop ups for us slowskies.

[@AjCatanzaro]

Haha not a bad idea. Impossible to think about a hundred things at once though. Most individuals have 2-4 things that really stand out as needing work and that they should put their focus on

[@curt248]

Wow, you’ve been watching these things as closely as I have. Excellent run down. Can you print that on a shirt?

[@tormiraik]

Like watching myself. Also riding 125, legs are starting to work with bike but just cant keep the elbows up, like constantly have to tell myself to keep em up, but aint so easy and once i really start pushing myself they are like wet socks just hanging in the wind. Right elbow also comes down with the twist of the throttle and 125 needs to open like, a lot.

[@dawn-moon]

Stupid questions maybe; but why do you put your foot out so high ? ( almost touch the front fender ), is it to anticipate a front wheel wash out and to prevent the bike from landing on your inside foot ? Or for balance ? And why do MX riders move their bikes flat when doing bigger jumps ? ( does that make you faster, or is it because it looks good, NOFI ) Thx. I wish I had a track and coach like you to learn how to ride a dirt bike, great video's !

[@cooperunwin5921]

cheers need this

[@Moto--G]

Yo AJ quick question, I'm looking to get a newer 4 stroke bike within the next 6 months or so. I've had a 250f and a 450 before but never really rode on a track with them. I'm not a beginner on a bike but still a beginner when it comes to a track. I'm 21, 6'1" and 225lbs. Do you think I should go for a 450? I'm not planning to get into any serious racing, more or less just wanting to get some track time in with some buddies. Just curious if you had any recommendations for me. Thanks for the content AJ!

[@AjCatanzaro]

Hmm you’re definitely a bit heavy for a 250f but still light enough where a 450 is a ton of bike. I think you would be ok on a 450 and just put a slow mapping in it

[@Moto--G]

@@AjCatanzaro I kind of figured that, but I wanted a professional's opinion lol. Thanks a lot AJ!

[@exploringlifefam3274]

Nice new subscriber👌🏻🔥

[@typical_hq8931]

I wish You could teach me lol My next bike is a yz 80 2 stroke I have not rode it yet im getting to ride it on sunday

[@Frank-i-e]

Speaking of knee braces. What is your personal preference/what do you use? Thank you, AJ.

[@AjCatanzaro]

I use the EVS Axis Pro Sport brave. Love them!

[@AjCatanzaro]

Just the axis sport* the axis pro is the carbon version

[@Barnes_413]

AJ, can’t say thanks enough for doing your videos! They have helped a ton whether it is improve on certain techniques or pick up new techniques! I was just curious what knee braces you use and how long it took you to get used to them? I am struggling to get used to my new pods k8’s

[@AjCatanzaro]

Thank you! I wear the EVS Axis Sport brace. I love them and it didn’t take me any time to get used to them

[@Barnes_413]

Aj Catanzaro thank you for getting back with me!