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From:Janis Saffell , Giddyup Films ,
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User Rating: Amazon Sales Rank:#87807 |
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 Great Combo Workout, 2007-03-24
Janis Saffel and Guillermo Gomez really have it going on in this video. They take you through a warm up, several cardio kick boxing routines, which can at time be complicated, and circuit weight training. The kick boxing routines are challenging but I wish they were longer. They switch off as the instructors and have 3 ladies working out with them in the back. While it is a more advanced work out but it could certainly be more challenging. My one complaint is the jeweled outfits Janis and the other ladies wear. She designs "couture" activity wear but these are just silly, they are sparkling and a tad bit distracting, this isn't belly dancing.
1 of 1 customers found the following review helpful:
 good workout, 2007-01-13
I think this is a good workout. I have been doing Kathy Smith's Kickbox Workout and Kick Butt 2 which are both my favorites, and have had a hard time finding others that I like as well. I think Hardcore Kickbox is at that level that I was looking for. It is a long workout, which I like. I really feel like I am getting something out of this one after I do it. The instructors are both helpful,encouraging, and make it a fun workout. I also like the fact that I can break it down into segments if I choose to.
15 of 15 customers found the following review helpful:
Fun circuit-style workout alternating kickboxing with toning segments, 2006-10-11
I've enjoyed Janis Saffell's other kickboxing workouts, so I decided to give this one, which she teaches with partner Guillermo Gomez, a try as well. As the name suggests, this is a circuit workout which alternates cardio kickboxing sequences with both weighted and unweighted toning work. Janis and Guillermo switch off instruction of the various segments, with both cueing fairly well (Guillermo sometimes counts in Spanish) and mirroring the viewer. Janis, Guillermo, and their three female background exercisers all wear weighted gloves for the workout.
Guillermo begins the warm-up, introducing each of the four punches (jab, cross, hook, uppercut). He includes both jumping jacks and push-ups, so my heart rate got up there pretty quickly. Janis then takes over with some simple kickboxing choreography which feels very similar to her other videos, particularly the lower body segment of Quick Fix Cardio Kick. The only time I had a little trouble following was when she added a turn sequence, but I just skipped this (no modifications are shown). She transitions very smoothly into the first toning segment, mostly squats without using any weights.
Guillermo is up next. Most of his sequences were performed to the side, which I found kind of different and liked. He builds up his first kick punch combination, practicing this on both sides, then introduces a second kick-punch combination. I was a little thrown off when he combined the two combos--they start of kind of similar, so it's easy to get thrown off--but I was able to pick it up once I realized what he was doing. Next comes the first weights segment using dumbbells (I found that 5# weights were plenty heavy). There are traditional moves such as bicep curls and shoulder raises, but there is a bit of a kickbox flavor added in. My heart rate dipped a bit during both this and the second weighted segment.
Janis returns with another kickboxing sequence; unlike Guillermo, her choreography was front-to-back (without requiring much space). This was quite different, with quick jabs and a hook kick. Again, Janis included some turns, and again, I skipped these. She then does a very short weight segment concentrating on the shoulders. Guillermo returns, teaching the segment the same way as before: he introduces one kick-punch combination, practices it on both sides, teaches a second combo, and then combines the two together (I caught on more quickly this time!). There are some unique moves here as well, including a circle jab and a roundhouse-cross. Guillermo also leads the final toning semgent, which is again unweighted; this short segment includes more squats and slowly performed side kicks.
The cool-down, which is performed entirely on the floor, offers some nice lower body stretches; it finishes in a seated position with some brief neck stretches, bringing the entire workout in at about 52 minutes. The DVD also includes a bonus 10-minute Aikido workout lead by Guillermo. This is performed on the floor, and it's an interesting mix of back-stretches (mostly rolling back from a seated position into a sort of plow pose) and some leg work in the form of seated side and roundhouse kicks; these moves are supposed to add power to your standing kicks. The bonus segment ends rather abruptly with no cool-down. It can be selected off the main menu, which is well-chaptered with the individual workout segments but which does not let you string several segments together for a customized workout.
Overall, this is a nice kickboxing workout that kept me in my target heart rate zone for over 35 minutes. The workout was probably appropriate for low intermediate exercisers (there isn't much discussion of form, so I wouldn't recommend it to someone new to kickboxing), and the choreography is mostly basic, with some twists added in here and there as I mentioned above. I would recommend this workout to anyone who enjoys fun, easy-to-learn kickboxing combinations and doesn't mind a bit of toning work thrown in, and I'd rate it 4 1/2 stars.
2 of 2 customers found the following review helpful:
Good solid workout, 2006-09-28
I think this is a good 60 minute workout that should make you sweat. I'm sure there are some real cardio junkies who can go through a 2 hr advanced kickboxing workout and want more, but for most people this is a strong workout. This workout will work you through basic puches (jabs, crosses, hook, and upper cut punches) and basic kicks (round house, forward, and cresent kicks) like many of the kickbox dvds out there. The DVD moves continueously, but there are different things stressed. Some components focus on cardio while a few focus on sculpting (3-15 lb weights are suggested). I think this DVD provides enough of workout for the average person to feel worked out. I would suggest watching the DVD all the way through at least once to try and get an idea of the instructors sequencing. There is also a bonus abs section at the end that I found a bit challenging (approx 10 minutes long). Overall, you should get a nice workout from this DVD.
6 of 11 customers found the following review helpful:
 Moderate Workout for a light day of exercise, 2006-07-11
Alas, another moderate workout. I have been on the perpetual search for a workout that actually gets my heart racing into the cardio zone and this is just another one of those workouts that is left to the physically challenged. Sure there is the typical punching sequence, the kicks and complex sequences; unfortunately, if you exercise more than 3 times a week you will not find this DVD challenging. Why doesn't a hardcore workout exist on DVD? I don't know. Perhaps someone has the answer. Until then, I will be forced to do my own workout at home. Perhaps I will make a video someday that doesn't have an instructor that acts like they are having a great time when really they should be more focused on giving you a good workout. So in my search for a good workout, I'm afraid that this is not it. Hardcore it is not.
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