Customer Reviews

Billy Blanks' Tae-Bo Cardio

5 star:		(40)
4 star:		(37)
3 star:		(20)
2 star:		(13)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

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 <i>Elite Forces</i> 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).

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.

Let me preface this whole review by saying I'm a LOYAL Tae-Bo fan and have been with the program since the first infomercial ran and I purchased the 3 tape set. I also was with Tae-Bo through the pay per-view on DirecTv back in 2000 and have continue to purchase the Live series and Get Ripped videos as well.

So imagine my sheer disappointment to give this product 2 stars. Seriously, 2 stars.

My title says it all. This is the SLOWEST Tae-Bo I have ever seen. The original instructional video probably burns more calories than this tape does. This is a rental at best.

So what's wrong with it you ask? Let me tell you.

You spend half the video doing the "butterfly" which is nothing more than shuffling your feet. The first 10 minutes is stretching, the last 12 minutes are cool down and you do that insane "butterfly" the other half of the tape. It isn't until near the end (prior to the cool down) that you actually lift your legs off of the floor.

The music is simply atrocious. It is slow and boring and doesn't get you into the workout at all. What happened to the great days of the Live! series where you actually had songs to work out to?

So before all of you loyal Tae-Bo users give me negative feedback, hear me. I am a loyal user as well and we deserved MUCH better than this.

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.

Its so so so sad that around 4-5 years ago I was able to do the 1 hour advanced tae bo from the very first set that was sold. I got lazy and stopped working out and here I am all these years later (and I am not even gonna say how many pounds heavier :( :( :( )trying to start over again. I read some reviews here that it is too slow but they must be in super shape. For a beginner this is an excellent workout because you don't just stretch and go straight into higher impact... he gradually takes you there so your body is warmed up really well. This kicked my butt and I breathed hard and sweat like crazy. I just finished it a few minutes ago and its the 4th time I've done it and its still hard!! So for those of you who think it is too easy---I am so incredibly jealous of y'all and I can't wait to get fit enough to be able to say that!! If you are a beginner I highly recommend this!!


***** update September 19, 2010 *****

I ended up doing this for no more than a month after I did the original review... not because it got too easy or anything-just because I got lazy. It was still a tough workout when I had quit. Well, it is now 5 years later and I recently completed a workout program called Chalean Extreme and am currently 2 weeks from completing another workout named P90X. They are both tough and excellent workouts!

This past Thursday I had been so exhausted from only having 2 hours of sleep the night before and was supposed to do Kenpo X (a kick-boxing workout) from P90X... but I was so tired I wanted to do a shorter workout and remembered I have this Tae Bo Cardio and decided to do it instead.

Well, I am happy and proud to report that I am now fit enough to join the category of those who say it is too easy of a workout. I only broke out in a very light sweat and barely was breathing hard. It was so easy I felt too guilty to consider it as if I had done a workout that day!

But it is still a great workout if you are a beginner :)

I have been doing Tae Bo for years now, and am at the advanced level. If you are like me, this workout will not be challenging. I gave it to a girlfriend who was in pretty good shape, but hadn't ever done Tae Bo. She loved it and thought it was a great workout. Bottom line: this DVD is best for people who have been doing some other form of exercise but are just beginning Tae Bo, and for those looking for an intermediate level Tae Bo workout.

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!!!

First of all, everyone who rated this video with a low score is an experienced Tae Bo exerciser. I don't think this video is meant for those who are experienced or in excellent shape. However, if you are a novice looking for a good way to start a Tae Bo program (or any exercise program for that matter), this is a solid video that will definitely give you a workout. I just started using it, and I'm going to continue until I can work my way through more intense Tae Bo workouts. This is a good choice for a beginner!

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.

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.