Kathy Smith - Aerobox Workout (1994) Review

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(More customer reviews)I have to admit - when I first bought this video when it first came out in 1994 - I did it once and placed it back on to my video shelf. I didn't do it again until four years later. By that time I've develop a somewhat of a regular workout routine. (I try to workout regularly - try to, at least)
This video came out pre-Tae Bo and find this more effective and well-designed. It's a tough workout. Not even Kathy is in the later segements led by veteran boxer, Michael Olajide. The first time I did it after so many years, I ached the next day. But a good ache. My muscles woke up. I personally, dislike most aerobic routines out there and am always reluctant to do much-needed cardio workouts. This workout is fun and different. You'll feel energize once getting into the routine. As always, Kathy makes sure you understand and know correct form before doing the workout. But the workout is pretty much not lead by Kathy. She knows that Michael is the main developer of the routine and knows what he's doing as he takes the lead.
If you're not quite up to this, try Kathy's new Kickboxing workout. I don't like it as much as this one except for the actual kickboxing segement. But overall, that the Kickboxing video follows a more reliable routine. Aerobox is just more well-produced.

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Kathy Smith - Matrix Method - Ultimate Sculpt (2006) Review

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(More customer reviews)I've been using this workout for a few weeks now and have really enjoyed it. Although just a few minutes over 30 minutes for the Ultimate Sculpt portion of the DVD, you're dripping with sweat when it's over and feel sore the next day in a good way.
I've been exercising consistently 5-7 times a week for 3 years, primarily using The Firm for sculpting and Richard Simmons and The Firm for cardio. So I was surprised at the level of soreness I felt from the workouts - but even more so from WHERE I was sore. Like one of the other reviewers, I felt soreness in my rib cage area, but also from another hard to target area in the butt/glute/upper-side leg area.
The exercises themselves are different from the norm, which may explain why frequent exercisers are experiencing a surprising level of soreness afterward. This has made this DVD become a regular in my rotation. I was born without a waist :) and I am hopeful that maybe this routine will give me firmness at the side of my waist, even if my build isn't likely to develop a real defined waist. The time moves by quickly through the routine. It's a nice balance of being neither tricky or boring. There is variety in the movements, but no real "choreography" that you have to learn - just watch and follow.
One caution: I would suggest starting out using a lighter weight for many of the moves than you would typically use in a sculpting routine. Why? Well, many of the moves involve a certain amount of lunging or twisting or bending. The first time I did this routine was almost my last, as after just 10 minutes, my admittedly sensitive back was complaining and I had to stop.I would have written this one off, but I'll confess the rib-cage soreness the next day - and after just 10 minutes of this tape - made me want to try it again because it's such an unusual place to feel muscle soreness. So I backed it down from 7.5 to a 2.5 pound weight (Bowflex Adjustable, which increases in 2.5 increments, hence the weird amounts)and am very careful with form and have had no problems and have increased to 5 pounds, where I think I'll stay, as that's giving me a good workout.
I'd recommend watching through this DVD before working out to it - or doing it without weights the first time. This may help give you a better idea of what size weight to use. Though this DVD is named "ultimate sculpting", Kathy suggests doing it some days without weights. I also consider it a cardio workout because she has your heart rate elevated and I'm always soaked when done.
I have several of Kathy Smith's workouts and this is probably my most favorite of them. I will probably use other workouts for a true upper body sculpting routine, but I think this is an excellent addition, particularly for those parts of the body often missed (at least judging from my soreness) by them. This is available on Netflix if you want to trial this before buying - but with a price under [...], you can't go wrong.

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Studio: Cerebellum CorporationRelease Date: 10/24/2006

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Kathy Smith's Kickboxing Workout (1999) Review

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(More customer reviews)WOW! I love this tape. I usually don't do a review after one workout, but I really enjoyed this. It went by so fast too. This is probably the best retail tape you can find and I am usually not a Kathy Smith fan (although I like her book) at all (Aerobox is the only tape I like and she doesn't lead it). Also surprisingly Keli Roberts, who recently released a kickboxing video, is in the tape with Keli and actual leads a little segment (as well as her co-star Keith Cooke). First there is an instructional section that explains the different kicks and punches, but if you've kickboxed before there are also pointers in windows throughout the video by the Kickbox expert she got, Keith Cooke, who is kinda like a Keanu Reeves looking guy. Then you have a ten minute warm-up/stretch (yes Billy Blanks could take a few lessons here). The warm up does the punches and knees in mini combos with a pretty good stretch. She also includes elbows up over the head which is one of my favorite upper body moves. You then have a 25 minute aerobic section with lots of simple, but fun combos. Keli and Keith each teach a little segment. There are jabs, crosses, elbows, hooks, front kicks, side kicks, roundhouse AND back kicks in various combinations. She also does boxer's weaves and shuffles. Then there is a brief cooldown and onto drills. The drill section utilizes a straight back chair and you do a lunge front kick combo on each side. These are controlled and more for flexibility and strength. Then a back kick. Switch legs and do the same thing. Onto side kicks and round house, and then other side. She then does a pretty thorough stretch utilizing the chair. Now I have only done the tape once but it seems she forgot to stretch one hip flexor, but I could be wrong (like I said only done it once). Then she has a "bonus" five minute segment of back/ab stabilization strengthening. Very much like Abs and More by Keli Roberts and similar to the plank in Power Kicks. Then it's onto your hip and you do these side kick crunch things on each side, and it gets tougher when you extend your arm. The music is pretty good. The set is a boxing ring with the ropes missing, but not dark like in Aerobox or Kick Butt with Kristoff St. John. I think this video is great for beginner through intermediate, advanced would probably need to do more power or tack this onto another tape. For the low-cost this is a great intro to kickboxing or a great addition to any collection IMO.

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