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Billy Blanks' Tae-Bo Cardio

Billy Blanks' Tae-Bo Cardio

List Price: $19.95
Your Price: $14.96
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 4 stars
Summary: great intermediate workout
Review: Tae Bo Cardio is probably the best Tae Bo workout DVD I've done thus far - and having done the classic, live, and get ripped series, that's saying something.

What makes this Tae Bo DVD such a great buy is the greater attention to proper warm-up and cool-down, including ramping up the exercises gradually, instead of throwing you immediately into high-intensity moves that could cause injury or strain. There's also more of a focus on even movements, more attention paid to proper form, and of course, Billy Blanks's motivational speaking to keep you focused on the workout.

It is true that the music is somewhat repetitive (it's a simple hiphop track), but it's simple to fix by turning down the volume and playing your own music. The other benefit of this particular soundtrack is a certain consistency lacking with the other Tae Bo videos.

Billy Blanks, unfortunately, still has trouble making calls for the television audience, so you have to reverse the cues if you want to mirror the workout on screen. Also, if you're looking for an extremely intense workout, you won't find it here, unless you're a beginner (in which case, it will be intense).

This 40-minute workout is great for a beginner or intermediate exerciser. For the beginner, it will provide a challenging yet balanced cardio workout. For the intermediate level, it will provide a solid workout that will leave you sweating, but not winded. For advanced exercisers, you might want to skip it, but I'd still recommend it as a great, easy workout for you. If you're intermediate-advanced and you want a really good kickboxing-based workout, try the Elite Forces DVDs.

The bottom line with this DVD is, you'll get out of it what you put into it. If you put in a lot of energy and movement, flexing your muscles and really putting your heart and focus into it, you will really sweat and have a great time. Like any other workout video, if you just go through the motions, you'll only get a certain amount out of it, and will likely be bored with the soundtrack and annoyed by other less-than-perfect elements (like the directionally-challenged cues).

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Beginning Level Workout
Review: I am a big fan of Tae bo, but I am currently using the advanced level of tae bo. That being said - this video is not for me. It's for someone who is new to working out. It's definitely a great place to start. For instance, the new mom, someone who is a bit on the chunky side, or someone who just plain never did cardio before. If for some reason I can't do jump kicks for a while or do the double time moves in tae bo advanced I will definitely use this dvd to keep me in the fitness loop. Luckily for me if I end up in said situation I already have a great dvd on hand.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Great Workout to Mix Things UP
Review: This was my first Tae Bo DVD, so I can't really compare it to what the others were like. I teach pilates, spinning classes and aqua aerobics 2-3 times per week and on my own I run and do yoga. I just wanted some other type of workout for the one day a week that I wasn't doing any of the other things.

I thought it was great because it did get my heart rate up, although not like a challenging cycle class, but I knew I was burning calories. I also discovered a couple of muscles that must not be getting a good workout from the other activities. All in all, it was fun and a good way for me to mix things up from my regular weekly routine.

Yes, the music is a little repetitive and the people counting to eight constantly can be a little irritating, but I also think you can find something wrong with every single video you do, so whatever. It did it's job- good workout.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: It is not Advanced, but more Basic
Review: I have been using the advanced versions of the Taebo Live and Get Ripped and it burns the calories for sure. What I do like about this DVD Tae-bo Cardio is that the counts are more accurate, the timing more on point and the moves are instructed better. All this within 45 minutes. The cardio is 25-30 minutes and the cool down is the rest of the DVD. I thought with this more on the basic level that it would not pump me up, but wrong, it does for sure. The Blanks also have switched the DVD/technical aspect to GoodTimes which does much of The Firm and Windsor Pilates DVD's, the whole presentation is more professional and organized. You will see his daughter, Shelley, but a smaller room size and less people exercising (about 10-12 in total). This makes the organization of the whole DVD better. But as in all Billy's DVD's folks are sweating up a storm for sure. I thank Billy Blanks for these DVD's it has helped me loose weight, gain strength and tone all the areas that need it (abs, waist, hips, etc), if you do these exercises at least 4 times a week you will see a major difference in 30 days, guaranteed. Billy, I am waiting for another new advanced DVD!!!

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: disappointed
Review: when i got this dvd in the mail i was so excited because i have all of the advanced tae bo videos, including the get ripped series and i was hoping this would be a new advanced dvd. well, it's not. also, the music is really awful. very repetitive. i love the exuberance of his older videos, where u could see a ton of people working out behind him. there was always something new to look at. now the only interesting person to look at, besides billy blanks himself, is his daughter shelley. not that that's a bad thing. she's a walking advertisement for all the good things tae bo can do for your body.
so if you're into a slower workout, go for this one. if not, don't bother.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Great to combine with Taebo Flex
Review: I started out with Taebo Flex and bought this one a few weeks later. I disagree with all those who say it isn't for someone who has ever worked out before. I am not chunky or a couch potato, yet I get a great workout from these DVD's. I've worked out for years and I jog regularly, but it wasn't until a few weeks ago that someone asked me what kind of low-carb diet I was on. No low-carbs for me. Just Taebo. I love the routines, I love the results. Billy Blanks is not perfect, nor is he so annoyingly chipper like many female instructors, I just want to smack that smug little look off his face. The background music is not so jarring that you can't concentrate on what's being said. I would recommend this workout to anyone who wants to have fun and see results in a relatively short amount of time.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Boring
Review: I am glad I rented this from the library and didn't pay for it. After 10 minutes I kept checking the time to see when the boredom would be over with. The workout is okay, but I never felt challenged except in my ability to put up with the background exercisers counting 1-8 throughout the ENTIRE workout. I've done the original Tae Bo a few times and definitely felt more challenged and the time went very quickly when I did it. This workout also seems to "forget" to work both sides of the body evenly with less repeitions on one side or completely leaving out certain exercises when they switch to the other side. Very disappointing, rent it from your local library, don't buy it, if you want to do this workout. the one good use for this video is to teach your kids to count to eight.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: I feel strong!!
Review: This was definately a great buy!! I am a competitive swimmer who was looking for alternatives to do during off season to stay fit. I just started getting buying workout DVDs because i was getting bored with jogging for an hour straight. I consider myself to be in top shape but this dvd was still able to get me sweating. I'm excited to buy more dvds from billy!!

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: It's a let down!
Review: After hearing so much about Tae-Bo, I had high expectations for this DVD. Perhaps because of the build-up, I am very disappointed. I normally run or cycle 3-4 times a week and am probably at an intermediate level of fitness. I picked this DVD up for those days when I can't make it outside or to the gym. The workout fails to provide the challenging cardio I wanted. You can make it more high intensity by jogging in place, adding your own jumps, and repeating his sequences; however, it's not really worth the time or money.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: favorite
Review: I own several Tae Bo DVDs, but I'd have to say this is my favorite for one reason - not once did I have to come to a dead stop and say "oh come ON" because it was just too much and I was practically hyperventilating (and I consider myself in pretty good shape). It keeps you moving and sweating and definitely gets your heart going without being ridiculous. This would be the perfect one to start with if you own none of the others. Or if you find yourself flirting with a near heart attack in the others. I can see where it would not be as challenging for those who are used to the advanced workouts though.


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