Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1 Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated) Binding: DVD EAN: 9780738920535 Format: Color ISBN: 0738920533 Label: Sony Wonder (Video) Manufacturer: Sony Wonder (Video) Number Of Items: 1 Publisher: Sony Wonder (Video) Region Code: 0 Release Date: 1999-06-01 Running Time: 45 Studio: Sony Wonder (Video) Theatrical Release Date: 1999
Kathy Smith's Kickboxing DVD includes customized workouts, multi-angle tutorials, 3 special advanced workout segments, Spanish language or music track only options, special interviews with Kathy, and much more.
Spotlight customer reviews:
Customer Rating: Summary: A Good Workout Comment: This is a worthy addition to any home fitness collection. You begin to feel the burn during the warm-up! You can choose to play the DVD as a 45 minute beginner workout or as a 55 minute challenge. Note: The "challenge" is the 45 minute workout with some supplemental material tacked on the end. Kathy leads the initial 45 minute workout. The challenge material features Keith Cooke (a martial arts champion/expert who appears in numerous Hollywood movies, including Beverly Hills Ninja) demonstrating some very cool moves that you can follow along with. A nice cool-down stretch is included, as is a brief segment of "light toning" that contains moves that will help you put more power behind your kicks and stabilize your core muscles. Also present on the DVD is a short Tai-Chi inspired workout led by one of Kathy's back-up exercisers.
The only drawback is, in my own opinion, that sometimes you stand in place punching for too long. I cool down really fast and standing still punching for very long makes my heart rate creep below my training zone. Customer Rating: Summary: Great Workout! Comment: This is one of the first exercise DVDs I ever purchased (I bought it about 3 years ago) and I really enjoy it still. The workout is a good length and the moves are easy to master. I like all of the bonus features, like being able to add on the advanced combos and the Tai chi session. I also feel like this video gives you a good amount of warm-up and cool-down time with plenty of stretches to avoid injury.
One of the things I really like about the cool-down/leg exercises near the end of the workout is that she does all 4 kicks slowly using a chair for balance. This provides a good cool down while showing you proper form and conditioning your leg muscles so that you will have better kicking form next time you do the workout.
On a side note, Kathy instructs so that you can mirror her (i.e. she punches with her left and tells you to punch with your right) which I have an easier time following than the other way around.
Customer Rating: Summary: Perfect for teaching you the basics, and for helping you keep your form. Great cardio if you work it, too. Comment: Important Note for Beginners:
If you have been working out regularly, and want to get into kickboxing aerobics, start here with Kathy Smith and Keith Cooke. If you are totally out of shape, start with something easier that will help you build some strength and endurance before you get into this DVD. I'd suggest starting with Extreme Makeover Fitness - Weight Loss Workout for Beginners.
**This is a kickboxing AEROBICS video. It is meant to give you a workout that is based upon kickboxing. It's not intended to teach you how to do professional kickboxing. If you want a fun and challenging workout, kickboxing aerobics is a great choice.**
I'm in great shape because of kickboxing aerobics. It's one of the few cardio exercises that really works the whole body at once. It's also empowering and fun.
Few kickboxing aerobic DVDs teach you proper form. This one does. Keith Cooke is a professional with multiple titles, who teaches real kickboxing classes. He is given a side window on your screen throughout the workout. He teaches you proper footing, form and how to execute the drills safely. Kathy Smith does the main aerobics instruction. She offers a few alterations for beginners. She also helps Cooke keep the instruction going at times when he gets too quiet. As a team, these two give you all you need to get started and to practice drills that will help you keep proper form.
WHO TO WATCH:
BEGINNERS:
Watch Kathy Smith. (Watch Keith Cooke when he is given the side windows. He is going to teach you how to execute the punches and kicks properly.) Kathy Smith will show you easier alterations to some of the tougher moves.
INTERMEDIATES:
Watch Keith Cooke or the female behind him, to the left. (She is introduced as Murmur, dressed in black and white.) Keith and Murmur have almost identical form. While the rest of the instructors tend to be a bit "dancy", these two are no- nonsense boxers. They have a lot of energy and tons of power behind their kicks and punches. Keeping up with Keith's speed will make you sweat, no matter how in shape you are.
I don't suggest following the third main instructor (Kelly Roberts). She tends to throw her body awkwardly off balance while kicking and punching. She's very "showy" and doesn't really follow Keith's suggestions for form.
HOW TO ADD MORE CHALLENGE:
Use weighted gloves and ankle weights. I use Altus Athletic AWK-PK Pink Walk Kit. While I hate pink, this set of gloves and ankle weights is mostly black with pink trim. However, the price ($19.99 for the set of gloves and ankles all together) is right and quality is good.
Do Keith's "Kickboxing Challenge". If you do the whole 55 minute "kickboxing challenge workout", you'll have Keith's 5 minutes of challenging combos at the end. If you want to do just his 5 minute challenge, you'll find it under the main menu in "choose your own workout".
Double- time the kicks and punches when Kathy slows down to teach beginners the moves. By the time this video loses it's challenge for you, you'll know the moves well enough to get right into doing them at tempo.
Once you have the moves down, you might want to try some more kickboxing DVDs. Here are some suggestions:
Quickfix - Total Cardio Kick (Beginners. You can do this before Kathy Smith/Keith Cooke. Just know that you won't be taught proper form. Do it only for a fun workout.)
Janis Saffell Kickbox Strike Zone(Easy to Intermediate levels.)
Hard Core Kickbox Circuit (Easy to Harder Intermediate levels.) Customer Rating: Summary: Good for training, not for cardio Comment: I'm really surprised and disappointed that so many people gave this video high marks, especially since I bought the video based on those reviews. I rarely contribute comments on videos, but after doing this video for the first time today I was so disappointed I have to comment. It is a great instructional video for the beginner who has never done a kickboxing workout before. But if you are looking for a cardio workout, this is not it. Kathy takes so much time to teach and build up all the components of a move. Then when you finally do the complete move, the number of reps are very low, and you are back to training for the next move. I barely broke a sweat. If you are looking for a great cardio kickboxing workout, buy Power Kicks (Aaron Langford). I'm desperately searching for another great kickboxing video to have some variety, but with Kathy's video I'm disappointed yet again. Customer Rating: Summary: Best workout Comment: I have a lot of workout videos, but this is the best all around kickboxing video I own. I really toned up great just using this video. It can be used by a beginner or an intermediate and still get great results. They show the proper way to punch and kick, which I don't get on a lot of other videos. I felt very empowered using this video.
