Tae Bo (Original 4 workout set)

I am going to give my unique perspective as an out-of-shape and unmotivated exerciser. I ordered the videos the night that my stairmaster broke. I thought it was a sign. It was.

Ordinarily, I have trouble forcing myself to exercise. Now, I can't skip a night of Tae-Bo if I try. I walk around all day thinking about kicking and punching, and sometimes practice when I'm alone in the office.

I enjoy the simple routine, because I have never been very coordinated. The only complaint I have about the video is that sometimes he goes so fast (double-time) that it is hard to maintain good form. I don't get bored at all, even though a lot of the movements are the same.

In addition, the music - although it's cheesy - is very motivating.

I got the advanced version of Tae Bo through the exchange. I did it about half a dozen times and then I traded it away. I should note that I only did the aerobic portion, so I can't comment on any of the floor toning.

I didn't find Tae Bo advanced to be a truly challenging workout. There were parts that were difficult-but just when my heartrate would go up, Billy would tell everyone to jog it out. For instance, towards the end of the aerobic portion, you do a series of jump front kicks. These are tough-but you don't do very many! When he said "jog it out" (or whatever he says) I was like "huh?" so soon?"

Now I'm far from a warrior queen, so that really surprised me. Power Kicks destroys me, and I even find parts of CIA 9809 (jump rope anyone?) to be challenging.

There was one thing about Tae Bo that drove me crazy. I didn't mind the lack of warm up, or Billy's shouting, etc. But the participants drove me mad! The almost religious ecstasy that preceded every move was really irritating. I mean, have these people never seen or done a side kick in their life? Please.

Tae-Bo (2 pak)

Instructional video: I read a few of the reviews that were posted previously. I figured it was time to throw my 2 cents in here. Since I am familiar with martial arts moves and the importance of maintaining good form while doing them I was pleasantly surprised with Billy's indepth instructional tape. Alot of you may already know the boxing moves from Aerobox, but it is very important that you take your time with the kicks and use the instructional video in this set as much as possible till you know that your form is correct, so you will not injure yourself. This is not a tape series that I would advance through too quickly. It takes concentration to place your kicks and not just throw them out there. Billy reminds you to keep everything in place, which is extremely important and he expresses this throughout the instructional tape. If you practice through the instructional tape his basic tape will go smoothly even during the fast moves due to the fact that you will be concentrating on your form as well as speed and not just flailing from move to move as another reviewer stated.

Basic Tape: This tape flows very nicely from the instructional tape. I usually do both tapes together, so I get more of a workout. I also feel regardless of how much karate (martial arts) I may know and do, I can always use the form instruction to remind me of what to do and how. Can you tell I think it is really important to know your form for these tapes?*L* This tape is a little faster and alot of fun. The moves are faster, but you can slow down, so that you aren't just flinging your body parts around, but you do it with purpose rather than ego. I can't tell you how much I sweated in this tape and how great and energized I felt after this workout! IMO this is a must have set. Just remember to control your movements and concentrate through them.

This video series has been thoroughly broken down by other reviewers. I resisted writing a review because I did not think that Billy Blanks needed another testimonial (he has a whole infomercial full of them). But I have seen and tried nearly two hundred videos (since 1988), and this is the best of the bunch. Not due to the precision or production of the workout - I will concede many of the flaws that have been discussed- but because it makes me glad to be alive and healthy. I find Billy Blanks so incredibly motivating that I cannot even find words to express it. When I completed the Advanced tape the first time, and I saw Billy and his crew holding hands and dancing, I began to cry. I was so elated to find a workout that would motivate me and knock all of the self-loathing thoughts out of my head. I love to do Tae Bo, and I regularly use all three of the actual workout tapes (basic, advanced, and sprint). Even better, my husband has tried it and is hooked. After the first time he worked out with the basic tape, he asked me to pre-order the two new tapes. Thanks to Tae Bo, we are looking and feeling better than ever. I cannot imagine ever becoming bored with Tae Bo. This is the best sixty dollars I have ever spent.

The video has a terrible picture. It looks as if it was recorded off of a TV with no cable. The basic workout is good but is very hard on the body. It doesn't flow real smooth so you are twisting and turning in strange ways to try and keep up. The advanced workout is even harder on the body and I find it less enjoyable. The music you are working out to is annoying and I find myself turning the volume down and adding my own music. This is probably one of my worst investments when it comes to workout videos.

Since most every review has explained the breakdown of the tapes, the moves and their faults: I feel I must submit a review that is more positive than most on the board. I noticed that several of the reviews state that the advanced tapes' floorwork with the donkey kicks and side kicks are unsafe because they are done on hands and knees, thus pressure is placed on the back. This got me thinking; I knew I had seen this same position in recent magazines. Shape, Fitness and Self have ALL featured workouts with this "unsafe" position in the last six months! Sometimes all the moves are done on hands and knees. The articles state that you may lean on your elbows if necessary, just as Billy says/shows in the tape!! Even my Reebok Legs tape with Kathy Khaeler and one of my Karen tapes uses this position. The key, as they all agree; is to make sure you keep your abs in to neutralize the spine and keep it from arching. The elbow position can also be "unsafe" if you lean too far forward and don't keep your abs in. It all depends on how comfortable you are in either position.

As far as the set, music and instruction: I don't notice the set because I am working too hard, the music is funky and I am sick of dance/techno for aerobic tapes anyhow, and I like the "whooping" action going on in the classes. All the participants actually have learned form Billy and the results are evident. The range of ages is around 18-55; and they all look great and HAPPY to be sweating. Never have I seen people clapping and slapping their thighs with such abandon. I can relate because before Billy, I hated cardio and got sick of the cheescake style I was getting from other videos.

I realize that most of the individuals who didn't like Tae-Bo are those who prefer the Cathe and CIA tapes; which are very high quality and have great instruction. I guess Tae-Bo is good for me because I feel like I am a part of the tape itself! And let's not forget results; I love that my butt/hips/thighs/abs and back are looking really cut and feel powerful. My flexibility and balance has improved immensely also.

Another point that has been brought up is the fact that the punches are not reflective of true self-defence tactics. It seems that Billy could have turned it into a self-defense class, because he is a seven-time world champ in Karate; he chose not to, and doesn't sell it as such. I will say that the warm-up is not very thorough in the advanced tape; I do my own stretching and a little step prior to jumping in. Overall; I believe this is the most fun, most effective and most happy-induced I have been with any tape I have in my 80+ collection. Hope this helps any undecided VF'ers!

The one complaint I have about this is that you can't buy the tapes separately. This is obviously a marketing ploy to bring in more bucks,(which I'm sure has worked!) under the guise of it being for our own safety- ie; learn the form and the moves before doing the advanced tape. However, the form points on the instructional tape could have been added to the Basic tape, and a warning that the advanced tape is advanced would have been enough, I think. (Cathe trusts complete beginners not to go and kill themselves on Interval Max, after all, she doesn't force us to buy Mega Step Blast with more advanced tapes)

However, that said, this is, IMHO, an excellent set of kickboxing videos, especially for someone of an beginning/ intermediate level who could work up slowly through the tapes and get full use out of all of them. People with a more advanced cardio fitness level won't find the Basic tape challenging enough, and the Instructional tape will only get watched a few times too. (NB the instructional tape, goes through every exercise slowly, and then faster. it could almost be a beginner workout except for the fact that he only does one side, as he is only demonstrating the moves.)

The advanced tape is fast, fun and motivating. My heart rate was well into my target zone throughout the workout (I consider myself an advanced level cardio) and the time flew by. Alot has been made of the fact that Billy often does more on one side than the other, but I didn't really notice this, and if I start to, it's quite easy to even things out. That may really bother some people, It doesn't me. Billy is really playing on his personality- he's playing the celebrity in a big way, with flashy outfits, a director's chair with "BLANKS" on the back, his comments "I'm always watching yuh...Even when my back is turned, I'm watching ...", and loves to show off his abs at every opportunity, but all in all he's likeable and this is an enjoyable tape. The background exercisers are great- more motivating than he is actually. There are two or three of them who really throw everything into it, dripping with sweat and screaming with the intensity of it all! It's all very dramatic and gets me going at 6am, anyway. The tempo is fast and furious, and although it's short,(about 30 mins) you'll work hard. The punching and kicking combinations are easy to learn and fun to do. You can jack up the intensity of the workout simply by putting more into the punches and kicks, aiming higher kicks etc. It's a workout that can grow with you in that sense.

I like the fact that Billy doesn't try to pass this off as "self defense technique". It's punching and kicking, set to music to give you an aerobic workout, and that's excactly what it does. The floorwork is quite intense, it tends to use big, swinging motions rather than small pulsing movements, and all are intended to strengthen kicking moves. A short, but intense ab section (with the infamous lopsided set), a brief stretch, and then for some inexplicable reason Billy decides to get everyone up to do some silly thing using cards, as a way of doing squats, and then start kicking and punching again! I just skip that part- it serves no purpose and just gets the HR up again after it's already come down.

The 8 minute sprint is a cute idea if you wanted to tack on some kickboxing to another cardio workout.

All in all a good set of tapes. Billy's strength lies in his personality, and his teaching. In the instructional tape he comes into his own. He breaks down everymove throroughly and teaches very well.

Since all the videos have been pretty much described I will just point out things about each video.

Instructional: Did it twice three or four months ago. It seemed fine and showed you form well enough to do the workout.

Basic: I think this is the best tape of the four. It has a decent warm up and cool down, but I still think you need more of a stretch on your own. This tape should be a beginner beginner tape because honestly unless you really get on your toes and maybe even use weighted gloves you aren't going to break a sweat.

Advanced: I do like the workout, but I don't like that Billy will pay more attention to one side than the other. I also HATE the warm up, he actually does neck rotations at break neck (literally) speed which since gosh the early 80s I was told was a big no no. The floorwork is really intense, but not as intense as the Firm's Volume One or the floorwork in Cathe's new Pure Strength Legs tape. I like the ab section on this tape a lot too, especially his lower body work with the legs extended while you sit on the floor.

8 Minute Sprint: I do like to use this as a warm up or an addition for a shorter kickboxing video such as Tae Bo or even Fitness Kickbox. I think you should definitely do more stretching on your own, but I saw that with nearly all tapes because I love to stretch!

I think if you enjoy the kickboxing style and know where to make modifications, i.e. don't go through the break neck neck rolls, etc., then these are good tapes to add to your library. Billy is very motivating and not at all intimidating IMO. I do like the music and set, it is SO different than any tape I have so far. But if you are new to kickboxing I would suggest Cory Everson's Kardio Kick or my favorite Power Kicks for starters.

I know a lot of you will not agree with me on this, but I really don't like Tae Bo. I got the tapes a couple of weeks ago, and did the instructional and basic workouts, once --I just didn't feel like doing them again. Here's what I didn't like: (i) I found the workout boring, I expected to see punch-kick combinations, but basically he does 8 sets of jabs, 8 sets of crosses, 8 sets of kicks, and so on (in the navy....); (ii) I found the workout unsafe, to me it looks like BB sacrifices form for speed and the only form pointer he keeps repeating is about the abs (and I haven't done the advanced tape which is extra fast and includes floorwork which is really unsafe for your back) - also, I have been learning to Boxacise at the gym and the way BB teaches to punch is too low to be effective as self-defense (you should start your punches at face level and have one hand covering your face); (iii) I found the production of the video (setting, other exercisers, music, video effects) cheap-looking and uninspiring (particularly the disco effects during double time!). Having said all that, I must admit that the advanced tape looks like a killer aerobics workout, although the basic tape barely got my heart rate up (I am intermediate). Overall, I give it no more than a C, and I found it is definitely not worth the money he asks for it (I am glad I have a 30-day money-back guarantee!). My advise: get this from the exchange if you really want to try it, otherwise if you want to learn boxing/kickboxing routines try Aerobox (very well done) or other tapes (I am going to get CIA's 9809).

Billy Blanks Tae-Bo "Basic"

The set is boring. The music is horrible and very unmotivating. The warmup is not long enough -- he goes into the stretching too quickly. It's difficult to get a flow going in the basic video, becuase Billy begin and ends the execises abruptly, which cause you to feel uncoordinated and slopply. The leg kicks are killer. The jabs are borning. You will sweat, but you won't have very much fun doing it. Maybe the advanced tape or 8-minute workout is better. I haven't viewed them yet.

I LOVE the tapes!!! I've had them for about a month now and the advanced Tae Bo is the most incredible work out I have had in a long time! This is way better than Aerobox! It is so challanging! It was so worth the money - I live in Canada so it ended up costing about $100 for the set - but absolutely no regrets, it was so worth it.

I have to agree that the warmup in the advanced tape is too short. What I do is a few stretches and warm up activities that were shown in the basic tape while I wait for the advanced tape to go through the beginning Tae Bo promo. Then I'm ready for the sweat explosion to come on!

As for the floor work, you need to be careful and watch that you don't arch your back at all. Becareful with the fast circular move at the end of the leg work, I just do it at the mid speed to prevent back problems. He does give lots of warnings about keeping your abs tight and if you want to use the suggestion of doing the moves on your elbows or on your side. Most of the moves can be modified that way.

But despite the two warnings these tapes are FABULOUS! Not only are they fun, my body is really looking better! My rear shoulders are getting toned and my obliques are tightening up - I had almost resigned myself to the toned level I had before Billy Blanks Tae Bo! This is the best fitness buy I've made all year. I can't wait for more Tae Bo tapes!

I just received the videos today. I did all of them except for the 8 minute workout. I think the entire set is too expensive, and I wish the set were divided up so that they could be purchased separately. The only two that I see myself using in the near future are the 8-minute and the advanced workout. The basic is too short and too basic. And the instructional video is good to learn form, but not something one would do each and every day, week, or even month.

The advanced is pretty good, except that the warm up is inadequate and I absolutely hate the flashing disco effect that Billy uses when he does the double-time moves. It is not properly sequenced and difficult to follow. I don't purchase workout videos to see a laser light show!

But it is a pretty good workout. I like his cast members a lot. They are really fit and inspiring!

The floor work is very good and my favorite part of the advanced video. I added 5 pound ankle weights and loved the effect. I do, however, have a problem with the really fast movements that Billy does. I think that a person can jeopardize form and effectiveness when she/he is focusing on rapid movements instead of proper execution.

I will use this video for variety and cross-training or those times I need a break from my Cathe and Firm videos. I will probably use it in conjunction with a Firm Parts video or with the weight portions from Cathe's "Body Max".

If you are a Firm Believer and/or a Cathe fan, my advice is to stick with their videos unless you crave a change of pace. I can never see Tae Bo becoming my workout of choice--its choreography is redundant and rather boring. And it is not as aerobic as a Cathe video.

Also, I am not someone who enjoys martial arts to begin with, so this may have affected my review. My personal taste runs to more of the Anna Benson type of production. Or the Cathe Friedrich type of complex choreography.

Grade for the Entire Set: C
Grade for the Advanced Video: B-

I review fitness videos for publication, so I've seen a lot of really bad stuff. In comparison to those, I found Tae Bo a pleasant surprise.

Tape 1, the instructional video, is made the way instructional videos should be made: every move demonstrated slowly and deliberately and enough times that you don't have to rewind or pause continually. Many moves do require better-than-average balance, but kicks can be practiced with support.

Tape 2, the basic workout, is also very good though the "warmup" is weird -- backwards neck rolls and shoulder rolls at the speed of light is about it. Nothing to actually get the heart rate slightly elevated or to warm up large muscle groups. That said, the rest of the tape is not bad at all -- a little repetitive at times, but you'll still get a good workout. I like the way Billy keeps reminding you to keep the abs tight, to never fully extend arms or legs, etc.

Tape 3, the advanced workout, is basically the basic workout on fast-forward. If you thought the warmup was fast before, wait'll you watch it here! The combinations are more interesting -- and more challenging, but I didn't find any of them impossible. But here's where something really strange happens: Billy includes a "butt" section on hands-and-knees, the old fire hydrant and donkey kick stuff I haven't used in a class in more than a decade. I could hardly watch this section, it was so unsafe! Besides the fact that he keeps saying how much this will work the buns and legs -- when you've just spent an entire 40-minute boxing workout doing just that.

Overall, though, I liked these tapes. They're a good combination of traditional low-impact aerobics, kickboxing and martial arts.

Wow!

Oh, I guess "Wow!" isn't really enough for a review, huh? OK, then, here goes...

So far I have done the Instructional tape once, the Basic tape once and the Advanced tape once. I think the Instructional tape is good for learning the moves, but really, after doing it once or twice, you're done. (Especially if you've done any other sort of boxing/kickoxing workout.)I think they could have combined this one together with the Basic tape and just made a 60 minute tape. The Instructional tape is not intended as a workout, and therefore he demos the moves on one side, but not always on the other.

The Basic tape is a good beginner tape. I am, oh, I don't know, high intermediate in terms of my cardio capacity, and while this kept me going, it wasn't terribly strenuous. It was fun, though.

The Advanced tape on the other hand...whew! Nearly an hour long and you can see from the reviews above that he packs in a lot! Sweat, sweat, pant, pant, sweat, sweat. This is definitely a workout that will have you collapsing in a blissfully exhausted heap at the end! Some of the double time moves were just too fast for me--so I just kept doing them single time. Also, I come nowhere near being able to kick my foot above my face, but that's ok. You can still get a great workout kicking no higher than your hip and using a chair or newel post or coffee table for balance at times.

The tape reminded me a lot of Kathy Smith/Michael O.'s Aerobox but without the jump rope and with kicking, which you *will* feel in your hips and obliques. The floor work that follows had my buns screaming for mercy and the ab work was pretty intense, too. Throw in a couple of sets of push-ups and you'd have a *great* total body workout (Of course, you can just add those at the end on your own.) This one should go into the Favorites or Hall of Fame--it will at least go into *my* personal favorites list.

Since it seems that everyone else can give info on the GOOD points of Tae Bo, here is what I DON'T like about the ADVANCED TAE BO

tape:

The "warm up" lasts about 3 minutes (it's hard to tell when it ends and the

workout begins). Billy starts with having us roll our heads from side to side at what I consider "breakneck speed"- right to left and back again in little more than one second. Then we do shoulder rolls, first both

shoulders, then separately. That is the warm-up, unless punching from side to side is included in it. BB seems to think that "advanced" means not needing warm

ups or stretches! (The basic tape HAS a real warm-up section.)

Then, the workout begins. I feel very ambivalent about it. On one hand,

there are some fun and effective moves. On the other, BB is in dire need of a math lesson. For MOST exercises that do sets to one side of the body before going to the other side, he miscounts sets. For example, you do 2 slow sets, then two fast sets of punches to the right (he says left, but it

is the viewers right), then go on to do two sets of slow....OOPS! forgot the fast!... to the left.

After a "cool down" that consists of stepping side-to-side a half dozen times or so, you go to floor work. This consists of variations on leg lifts from an all fours position, with some very intense versions. (Billy has his class get in the ands and knees position, which I thought instructors gave up a LONG time ago, because it can put too much strain on the back. Luckily, he does give other positions as options, and reminds people to keep their abs strong. Unfortunately, Billy stops the action on one move on the right leg (we've already done the left leg version--or is that right???---a series of slow, then medium, then fast "biking" movements) to show how you have to keep your butt tight. The exercisers all pause during the slow version for a count of ten or so while Billy pokes one of their butt's to show how you should keep the area tense, then goes on to the mid-speed and fast versions, while never doing the reps for the slow version. As I recall, Billy was thoughtful enough to include an instructional tape" with this pricey set of videos. Wouldn't THAT be the place to give this pointer?

There is an ab section, concentrating on lower abs and obliques. At one point, Billy miscues reps again (for the oblique twists), and this time, he realizes it and says "I know we're doing more on this side, but that's o.k." (Maybe in a live class, where the routine would change some each day,

but not if you want symmetry and you use this tape often). There is a short stretch of the legs after the floor work, then, you get up again and do a "fun" move. Put 6 cards on the floor lined up in front of you, going away from you. Then, squat down (with or without a front kick) and pick up the

first card. Then, squat and put down the first card on top of the second card (I think this is what they are doing, and not just "pick up the cards and put them down" as Billy cues it). Then you squat, pick up the first card, squat and pick up the second card, then squat and put down the first card then the second card on the third card, and so on. (Didn't we just "cool down"? Why put this move here?) Then Billy and the gang kind of scoop from side to side and clap hands to

the music, and we "dance" our way to the end of the workout.

After my first workout to the tape (which I put off for several weeks, because most of the above stuff annoyed me to no end during my preview of the tape). I was very ambivalent. I was still annoyed by the glitches(even more so, after being led to work out the "first" side for 3 sets, then going on and doing the "Second" side for 2 sets of the same exercise..how can I get that third set in!!). On the other hand, the glute work was effective, some moves were really fun, the music has a great driving beat, the "class members" are dynamic and energetic and have great-looking arms, Billy is a very motivating instructor.

Suggestions for those trying Tae Bo:

If you want to try TAE BO, see if someone is offering the intro tape and basic workout on the exchange The intro tape and the basic workout are good (the basic workout HAS a sufficient warm-up and cooldown! Even the "8-minute" workout--which is really 11 minutes or so long--has a better cool-down/stretch than the advanced tape!) and Billy doesn't miscount. Unfortunately, the basic tape it's only 25 minutes long. BUT, you can make it more intense by working on higher kicks and more power.

Suggestions for those who have the advanced tape: To compensate for the glitches, use the warm up and stretch from another tape, remember the miscounts and make sure to work both sides equally, or switch sides you begin with each time you use the tape---one time follow what Billy and the gang DO, the other, follow what he SAYS concerning right/left.

The video starts with head and shoulder rolls, side reaches and overhead then he punches right in. He starts with side punches

then on to upper cuts. He reminds you through the workout to keep your abs tight and turning your hips into the punch. There's no choreography, just sets of punches and jabs. About the only moving side to side is when we do knee lifts right and left 3 counts with a punch on the end. Also, a grapevine with punches. So this video doesn't require a lot of room. One series he goes through is like a jumprope move. You shuffle heel toe while alternating lifting your arms overhead. Also V step while punching and 3 claps. We jog in place a couple sets then lift your knees while jogging. This really gets the HR up. A couple of my favorite moves, deep squats with a front kick and step side, kick, step back and squat. There are lots of kicks like side kicks, front kicks and to the rear, then a combination of front and rear kicks. Then that machine gun kick. Love that. This move calls for stability and balance, while keeping your leg up to the side, kick it out. Then onto the floor for some killer legwork. He gives great form pointers all along the way to keep your abs tight. He starts out with leg raises to the rear, then firehydrant lifts, knee into the shoulder, then a combo of all, circling the leg, slow at first, then double time.

My favorite ab move, lay on the floor with knees bent and over to one side. Lift up shoulders and knees to contract the obliques.

This whole tape gives your abs a workout. I think that was the most sore part of my body when I did this tape.

The music reminds me of rock style jazz.

This is one tough workout that lasts about an hour. I was drenched unlike any tape I've done. I would give this one 5 *****.

Tae Bo is a set of 4 tapes consisting of an instructional, basic workout, advanced workout and an 8 minute challenge tape.

The instructional tape is excellent for learning the moves and for those who have never done any kickboxing before, you will learn the moves very slowly and after Billy shows them slow he shows them at regular tempo and then you do them with him and then move on to the next one.

The basic workout starts with a very short warm up consisting of neck rolls, shoulder rolls and some side stretches moving on to some basic stretches for the lower body. The workout starts with basic punches and jabs then moving to double time doing them out to the side and to the front with marches in between exercises. Then you do a move like you are using a punching bag at a quick tempo. The next move is a knee lift but you go acrossed your body working your abs, always contracting your abs throughout the whole workout. Then you get into some combinations, you do 2 knee lifts, 1 side kick and one punch to the side, lots of fun! The kicks require alot of balance and leg strength to stay balanced. Then you do knee lifts to the side using your obliques. Next is a set of side kicks at a very slow tempo which is very hard trying to stay balanced on one leg. After that you pick up the pace a bit with the boxers shuffle and doing different jabs and punches. Then you do front kicks and on to kicks to the rear. Then more side kicks at a quicker pace and on to the cooldown.

The advanced workout is almost exactly the same but you do the boxers shuffle in place of the marches and everything is at a quicker tempo making it very challenging. He adds some new moves to this one. He adds in a set of jumping jacks with jabs and a move called the Machine Gun, this one is very challenging. You stand on one leg and bring your leg out like you are doing a side kick, you bend the knee and then as you stand there you straighten and bend your leg from the knee out at a super quick pace, it's hard to stay balanced on this one. Another fun and tough one is a side quick with a very low squat in the middle. You do a V-step with jabs and then onto the punching bag move but at a super fast pace. Another fun move is a knee up, turn to the side into a small lunge position and punch. Another combo is a punch, jab, punch, knee up, slow and then double time. Then you do a combo of a front kick on one leg and immediately go to a rear kick on the other leg. One that is very intense is towards the end, you do a low squat with a front kick and then a squat with a front kick on the other side and you keep that going til your legs and butt are burning. Another very intense move is called a swivel kick to the side at a slow pace and then double time. Then on to the floor for some tough table work. You start with kicks to the back on each leg, then you raise your bent leg out to the side, a new move where you straighten your leg out to the back and bring it in to your shoulder bending at the knee, then you bring your knee out to the side and raise your leg up and bend and straighten from your knee out, very intense, and a move that combines all of them together. On to ab work, you do oblique work lying on your side and then sitting up your bring your knees in and out to the front and you do the bicycle ab work. Then you get to stretch.

The 8 minute challenge consists of a warm up, an 8 minute short version of some of the moves you already learned in the advanced tape going at a quick pace to get your heart rate up and then a tai chi cooldown.

I know this is long but i wanted to give you an idea of what each tape consists of. This is an excellent ab and lowerbody workout as you can tell by the descriptions of the exercises.