AJ cantanzaro “moto x training”

He did a 1-day class at my buddies track down the road from me earlier this year, and I was really curious what it was all about. So I skipped work and joined the course, paid full-price. 

Overall, what AJ teaches and his theory on riding is correct. I talked with him quite a bit, he’s a smart guy and seems to be constantly learning more and expanding his theories. 

With that said, the structure of the classes does not work. There were 24 riders from 65 beginners, to olddd dudes almost looping out their 450’s and stalling, to A/B riders. How do you position the conversation to make sense to an 8-year old ADHD kid who’s licking the paint off his frame, a 60-year old who is barely able to get around the track, and an 18-year old A rider that thinks he knows everything already?

It started with everyone putting their bikes on a stand and him going over body positioning for over an hour. I don’t think anyone paid attention after 15 minutes. 

Then a short warm up with full laps, and then he began section work. The first section took us to lunch, and after the lunch break there was only time for one more section. With 24 riders of different age and skill level, the conversation wasn’t tailored to really anyone. Just kind of general discussion about what some specific riders were doing wrong. 

Again, the guy knows his shit. But I don’t think the business model makes sense. They need to charge more for less riders, or do multiple days split up for different bike size and skill levels. 

Everything AJ said and taught made sense and was legit. But applying it to all those people? Seems like a tall order, IMO. 

Interesting input. I never really thought about it that way but what you are saying does seem to make sense. It does seem like it's too broad of a range to get much accomplished, with that much variety in rider skill. I would've thought he would have it split or have different days to cater to certain groups. I do hockey clinics and while some things make sense for the group as a whole, the "section work" is typically divided into groups of matching skill. If he has an assistant on something, maybe that could help accomplish that? Like have the slow guys work on something in 1 section and then a faster group doing a more advanced technique on a different part of the track. 

He is the Dave Ramsey of moto training. Does his methods work? Of course but they are extremely over simplified and he definitely prefers perfection over speed. 

A great example of why you need to have assistant instructors. Especially for a class of that size.

Having instructed hundreds of students in a different discipline, I always had an AI. Class size was always kept small. Approximately 10-12 for two of us.

I have attended multi-day classes with anywhere 20-50 students. The students who struggle the most tend to always get the lion share of attention.

For a class that size he offered, having at least three instructing in his format would have made a profound difference. Four assistant instructors would have given a one to six ratio.

Takeaways... When signing up for moto classes be aware of the instructor to student ratio. Be humble regarding your own abilities. Attending training should be about your focus on the fundamentals. Perfect execution vs being that guy. You are doing this to learn. Maintain control and be smooth vs trying to ride fast and over your head. You will learn very little with this approach.

When I attend multi day classes, I am always focused on being slow and controlled. A conscious effort in perfect execution. I'm never the fastest guy because I do not need to be during the training. I can readily be fast when I need to be.... testing for score.

Lastly, do not be the guy/gal always raising your hand. It's great to ask questions. Instructors like engaged students. Just avoid over doing it. This behavior can slow down the tempo and have other students dis-engaging.

Just my opinion..

I do beginner off-road classes, but limit them to 6 people for exactly this reason. Even 6 people can be hard to manage. But I'm not basing an entire business model around it either, just trying to help out local riders. 

Does A.J. still post on here ever?

Isn't he the guy who has the little podcast sort of thing where he just has another guy there so he isn't talking to himself? Like a conversation "fluffer"?  

The few videos I've seen AJ do made it seem like he's a pretty good instructor. I'd have to take one of his classes to be able to rate him, myself. 

One thing I definitely noticed from taking schools in the past is that being able to do it doesn't mean you are able to teach it. I was disappointed in the Tony D motocross school, for instance - I was faster myself than both of his instructors, and I realized that Tony Distefano's knowledge comes from the '70s. He was good, but not great, and I don't feel like I learned anything I didn't already know. 

I was a guest instructor at an MSF event once, alongside two MX pros and an MSF trainer. At the end of the day, most of the feedback said I was the riders' favorite trainer. 😎

Anyone who has made a top 20 in a pro race has valuable insight to pass along to the folks looking to take his type of class. Cade Clason is now helping a lot deeper in his classes and that's another person that has knowledge for days to share that would be valuable to 99.5 percent of riders

Jett trained with him, That's pretty hard to argue against

All he needed was Jetts bike and he would have been a champion...

And didn't he say all he needed was a year of training? lmao

I think so lol

I hate to be so negative, because it seems like some guys have gotten some value out of his classes....but man after watching a lot of his stuff a while ago I just couldn't take his arrogance and narrow perspective anymore.

Then there was the whole Josh Woods/GPF fiasco. 

I get that not everyone likes AJ...but for me, I like the technique he teaches (along with Ryno)...I think it is largely how the Lawrences ride...and it honestly just makes sense to me in my mind, and it makes sense and feels natural to me when I ride.  

Does he exaggerate the technique in his schools/videos?  Absolutely...and I believe it is intentional...its the "this rig makes wide right turns" leadership principal...In order for that trailer to clear the curb, the truck has to go clear to the middle of the intersection...in order for students to adopt the correct technique it has to be taught in an exaggerated manner.    Does he care about technique over speed?  In his classes I think he does...he knows that proper technique raises the speed ceiling (and I agree)...I go to a riding school (and I've been to many of them...none with AJ, though) to learn technique, not speed.  Then I go home and practice that technique until its muscle memory, and then the speed comes as the technique is perfected.  

the problem is, he's not that guy. he's probably the BEST fit for the mid-tier rider.a CEREBRAL and attentive mid-tier rider. he's not an elite coach and the "correct" price will get him laughed out of the room. nicoletti could command 3x his fee without even trying, sorry. 

Yeah AJ is always correct , the squid always talks him up & of course AJ is always right & looked so fast. I thought about doing the same hire a squid but hv 2 hot chics too. Saying oh yeah baby that was stylish & hot.  Then travel the country doing mx schools . But my students r like what the hell is this. Lol  it’s like there reading a bad script . Probably because we rehearsed it & are. Lol 

Im way past taking a moto class. But have always wondered why Big James , Jennie Carmichael and a few more are are considered good teachers . Not sure there kids got all of the talent from the parents.

isn't that how you develop speed?.....or do you just go out and mash it?

He should buy and open a training facility instead of traveling to teach his classes…

Ask RC or Deegan. Hell even Jett  lets it hang out occasionally. You think on their hot laps they are saying I need more technique?

I’ve taken his course before and it’s great for a beginner, however once you build real speed sometimes it’s not a one size fits all like he teaches(feet on the pegs in every corner for a quick example). Ryan Sipes, for instance, teaches much better technique for a more advanced rider. Technique doesn’t build speed. It makes you safer at speed. 

Didn't he try purchasing GPF and ended up fucking the other person over? 

Yes that was the joke. 

deep cut joke

The self proclaimed Jesus of riding technique. I can't stand watching his videos.

I attended one of his classes several years ago. I'm old, slow B rider with bad habits. That was my first class I have ever taken and I did learn a lot that I still apply to today. It was interesting with kids on a 65 to very fast A riders in the mix during the lessons. I know his take is a way of riding, not the way of riding. I also learned that my core was absolutely weak and I could barely stand straight up for the next 24 hours. 😂

I took one of his classes a few years ago and my only complaint was they had to many riders. We had around 30. If they'd cut it to say 12-15 I think it would be a lot better. 

I think a lot of people have to high of expectations on what these classes are suppose to be. I've never done one of his week long camps but the single day sessions are him showing you the basic things that you should be working on - on your own. Correct riding position, leaning forward as you accelerate, getting the body back when braking etc.. The one hand drill was pretty brutal for me also. Didn't realize how weak my lower back was.

By far the biggest thing I learned from him was proper braking. Coming into corners a bit slower and getting off the brakes sooner and dragging the front brake a bit if you're about to pop out of a rut literally took me from mid pack B rider to winning B the following year.

The stuff they teach works but in the end they're only showing you the basics that every rider should be working on. For me just know what to work on was worth the money of the class. I've spent more on more pointless shit than dirt biking thats for sure.

Thought I was the only one who noticed. There's some guy in his studio who's only job is to hand AJ his talking points , and agree with his replies.  This shit is comical once you look past the smoke. 

Did a 2 day class of his last year. What finally click for me was I didn’t understand the purpose of the 1 hand exercise. It’s to keep you foreward on your riding position so when you accelerate your not going to fall off or whiskey throttle with your one hand only being on the bars. It also helped with arm pump as you have less arm use to go from sitting to standing while accelerating.

The boots and the balls of your feet helps with that as well.

I learned how to ride by just watching others in the faster classes, Being a slow learner I did realize that the faster riders did all have their head over the number plate. How one gets their body position to do that  and keep your center of gravity low is what AJ teaches.

Do I look like a porn star bent over a park bench when I ride …. No but I have adapted something that works for me.

Just my 2 cents and point of view.

I have never trained with him since I live on the other side of the world, but I have trained kids my self and had multiple schools and camps in both motocross and enduro for close to 20 years now.

The thing is that you need to over exaggerate most things to get the riders to do it correctly.

If a rider stand with really bent knees, you need to tell him to lock them and he will hopefully get the legs straight at least. If you just tell him to straighten them, he will do something in between bent and straight but he thinks that he is doing it correctly.

I have not seen something about his training that sticks out in a negative way for me other than his large groups and that he uses his stark varg to ride on while speaking to the group.

In my world it’s better to be standing still with your helmet off (and all the other riders to) so you can keep eye contact with everyone and make sure that they listen. Then you show, and after that you can talk a little more.

And as someone else said, just because you are good at something doesn’t mean that you are good at teaching. Many pro’s don’t have a clue on how to communicate with a group in a constructive way how you should do something.

The main thing is that you know what you are teaching and understand how to deliver it. Or do you guys thing that RC’s mom is a badass on the bike?. 

I feel that AJ get unnecessary amount of shit on the internet. Some is probably deserved but certainly not all of it..