Challenging and AWESOME!
Added 11/20/2009
I loved this DVD and I wish there were a sequel! It was very challenging and an intense workout within a short amount of time. If you are looking for a challenge get this DVD.
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Serious Kickboxing Workout
Added 10/16/2009
This is one of the best kockbox workouts that I own, specifically because it gets into other areas of martial arts training. This is not an instructional kickbox video, but a really serious martial arts conditionong workout instead. I workout 6 days a week. and I still sweat doing this one. Add a weighted vest for an excellent, serious martial arts training workout.
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This IS NOT TaeBo...it is the real deal
Added 4/4/2009
First, for those who suspect that 5-star reviews are coming from friends of the Chens, let me state that this is my first time ever hearing of the Chens. They are in NYC and I am in California. I just purchased this DVD on sale at Borders, and must say I am quite impressed.
Now--If you are looking for a bouncy, "TaeBo"-like or aerobic class type of work out--this is not the DVD for you. Go buy TaeBo or one of the other classlike workouts. If, however, you want a serious kickbox workout--check this one out. WARNING: THIS DVD CONTAINS NO FLUFF, NO FRILLS, AND NO JOKES, just kickboxing drills that will give you a killer, full body workout combining core, strength, and cardio moves. It is well balanced and presented with proper form.
I practiced Kajukenbo and kickboxing for several years. This DVD makes me feel right at home and is much less annoying than some of the videos by instructors who have never set foot in a dojo in their lives. You can definitely see and feel the difference. Billy Blanks is a martial artist, so if that is the style you like, go for it. Personally, I love this DVD as it works me--just like in the good old days back in the dojo.
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A good work-out video
Added 2/24/2009
I got this video in January, and have been working it into my rotation for almost 2 months. It's a good short work-out -- each of the 3 sets is 15 minutes of actual exercise, plus some short voice-over transitions, plus warm-up and cool-down stretching (comes close to 20 minutes). If you want to really get at least 20 minutes of solid burn in, you probably will want to supplement with 5 minutes of extra jumping jacks or aerobics. This being said, though, this is not really a beginner's exercise video, the burn is fairly intense, and I suspect that most people who like this video will be using it to supplement other types of physical training as well (weight lifting, running, etc.)
Others have talked about the three kick-boxing work-outs in detail. All of them are a good burn and involve some strength elements, although I find the third ("The Killer") to be most aerobically demanding. In my opinion, the biggest difference across the three work-outs is not so much the intensity level, but the complexity of the moves. The first work-out ("The Basics") involves only one move at a time -- jumping front kicks may initially be difficult for your endurance or balance, but it's not hard to understand what the instructors are asking you to do. By the third work-out ("The Killer"), they are having you do 4 or 5 boxing moves in sequenence (e.g., hook, cross, round-house kick, side kick). Beyond being aerobically challenging, it takes time to learn these sequences, so you can do them without having to think about it.
The one other thing I'd point out is that this video does have a bit of the feel of fight training to it. They make you do neck exercises, for example -- you certainly won't find that on a typical aerobics video. Although they do not teach you any complicated kung fu forms, they do expect you already to know the basics of how to do a decent round-house kick, or a thrusting side kick, for example. They do not coach you on proper form for these kinds of moves -- I guess you can pick them up on the fly, but it's certainly easier to do this video if you've had any martial arts training at all in the past. (I'm almost 20 years past taking such classes, but even so, it was enough for me to feel reasonably comfortable getting back into kicking form.)
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Awesome workout!
Added 2/7/2009
It's been a great workout for us; definitely challenging, but it's already working after just a few weeks. And it's a lot easier to stick with then something boring like yoga or step aerobics. Most importantly, it's quick, 30 minutes from warm up to cool down.
The first workout is suitable for a pretty small apartment, two of us are able to do it at the same time pretty comfortably in a fairly small living room. Haven't made it to work outs two or three, yet, but it looks like they might require a bit more space.
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