Customer Reviews

Billy Blank's Tae-Bo Gold [VHS]

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

After using the original Tae-Bo (on DVD) for a few months, and doing the Advanced Workout without too much trouble, I decided to buy the "LIVE" tapes for some variety. The Instructional LIVE tape is much better and more detailed than the original version, but the so-called 'Basic' LIVE workout is way too fast and requires more rhythm/coordination than I currently possess. This GOLD tape is much better, because you can follow the moves and go at your own pace -- either slower or faster than Billy. If you're going to buy LIVE, buy GOLD too, and go from the Instuctional LIVE tape to the GOLD and then on to the Basic LIVE. But if you're an older person who's really out of shape or has a lot of physical problems, don't be fooled into thinking this is an easy workout. It's the same thing you've seen on the infomercial at a slightly slower pace. Also, there is no instruction on this tape. You MUST buy an Instructional Tae-Bo tape (either original or LIVE) along with this.

I'm in my late thirties and I can't say I'm in very good shape. I was intimated by watching advertisements for the other Tae Bo tapes. No one looked like "me". This tape has real people in it, is simple enough for me to do but still challenging and fun. I wanted something would increase my strengh and muscle tone in addition to giving me a good aerobic workout. This does it. While I can't do all the reps yet, I'm motivated to improve so that I can.

I am new to the world of Tae-Bo and have been working with the "Basic" video for approximately three weeks. I have several health problems which preclude me from doing all the moves on this Basic video 100% (among them neuropathy in both legs which has left me with little balance) and so was interested in the "Tae-Bo Gold" version for "people over 40." (I am 51 years old.) I do enjoy the "Basic" video. It is clean, well-taught, well-paced, and I am getting better at it. When I heard about the "Tae-Bo Gold" video, I believed it would be geared more to my immediate ability and the "come-on" that the music was the "oldies" I remembered gave it added attraction. When I received the video I popped it into the VCR and got ready to "rock." With the first warm-up I felt as though instead of "rockin'" I had had a rock dropped on me. I was EXTREMELY disappointed in the "Tae-Bo Gold" video. It is disjointed, the sound is inconsistent, it is difficult to hear Mr. Blank give directions, the setup for the exercises is too quick giving little time to get into the exercise, the number of repititions is too few, giving no feeling of "working out." I am returning this video and will stick to the "Basic" video and work into getting that video down pat. I can only think that Tae-Bo succumbed to marketing pressure and put out a video that was meant to be a "candy bar" for the elderly. Mr. Blank, I am disappointed.

I bought the Tae-Bo Gold tape for my 39th birthday. It says it's for the over-40s but I think I'm close enough.

I am quite fit running 3 or 4 times per week and I was a little sceptical when I saw that the running time on the video was only 35 minutes. After I did the tape I still felt that it was not challenging enough since I had no trouble getting through it the first time. However, I really felt my back and my hips the next day - always the sign of a good workout.

I do think that an unfit older person would have trouble with the video as there are a lot of combination kicking and punching moves. As my husband put it - if my 62 year old mother tried this, she'd fall over.

Also it is difficult to hear Billy Blanks at times because the music is very loud. As for Billy himself, he is terrific - very friendly, enthusiastic and motivating without making you feel like you are a failure if you can't do it all.

Though initially having qualms about trying this one after attempting with some difficulty the moves on the original Tae Bo tapes (owned by a dance-trained teen in my family), I found this definitely smoother and more do-able. This is NOT just for the "over-40" bunch but also for anyone from beginning to intermediate level who likes variety and/or wants to get an effective workout without feeling intimidated by the longer and/or more difficult tapes. This tape gives you approximately a 35-minute workout including warmup and cool down, and I found the time to go by quickly!

I do recommend getting (or borrowing) the INSTRUCTIONAL video that is sold separately or comes with either the original or LIVE 4-tape series, especially if you are not familiar with TAE BO and have not mastered the moves.

Also, unless you are naturally coordinated and catch on to moves quickly, I feel GOLD is a better tape for the beginner to start with than BASIC. Once GOLD is ma!stered, the 8 MINUTE tape for practice (or when time-limited) and the BASIC are both fine to "add" or grow into as you expand your WILL and make TAE BO at least ONE WAY to accomplish your fitness goals!

The most prevalent complaint I have heard about this tape that SOME experience is a lack of SOUND QUALITY. My tape is SUPERB in both PICTURE and SOUND QUALITY. I have no problem at all hearing Billy and his instructions. I also happen to LOVE the HIGH ENERGY "Billy Blanks theme" music some folks find "not so wonderful. It gets me moving, and that's what counts for me! I also LOVE the addition of 50's and 60's upbeat SOUL MUSIC that appears on this video for an added touch.

(I have found, however, on other Tae Bo videos I've experienced, that there is sometimes wide variations of sound and/or picture quality, even in different copies of the SAME video. For example, I found two BASIC videos in the Live Series, where one "skipped" over sound and picture but was! loud and clear otherwise, and another with perfect picture but very subdued sound. However, I also found the TAE BO headquarters had good listeners who may replace a tape that had defect in copying quality or workmanship with a new tape. Their website has a place to email them as well as post comments.)

Since I believe Tae Bo and BILLY stand by their product, and since this tape I own displayed no defects, I believe it merits five stars. The red-carpeted exercise floor and enthusiastic bunch of participants in the WELL-ATTENDED CLASS, with memebers appearing to range from less than middle-aged to about early 80's. each at various stages of fitness developemnt, creates an unboring atmosphere that gives the home participant the feeling of "being right there."

Billy gets right up in your face at times, admonishing you to not give up. He is a very motivating and inspirational instructor who encourages you to do what you can and gives you space to NOT DO what! you can't. He encourages you to compete only with yourself, feel GOOD about yourself for doing what you did and not feel discouraged about what you can't YET do. He comes from an spiritual space as well as a physical one, and this can be felt and sensed. This tape does work me into a sweat and lets me feel the effects afterwards--feeling more energized and with tighter abs, arms, legs and glutes. The combination of this class with Billy's instructions, sincerity, and enthusiasm makes for an interesting and effective workout video.

I recently purchased Tae Bo Gold and I can't say enough about it. I am 45 years old and practice martial arts, but found that was not enough and I wanted something to help boost my endurance. I have viewed other Tae Bo workouts and they were good, but were a little too fast paced for me. As I browsed the fitness tapes and lo and behold I happened across this particular one. The first time I used it, I was hooked!!! It not only gave me a good workout,[it was a little slower paced (but not too slow)], I could keep up with it the whole way through. I not only felt rejuvenated, I felt good about myself. I can't wait to do the workout again today. I like this because I really don't care for aerobic exercise. I highly recommend this workout tape for anyone. Billy keeps you motivated and keeps saying take it at your own pace....I like that. So for those who want to get into the Tae Bo craze, but aren't quite up to pace, this is the workout tape for you.

At 29, I can honestly rave about the tape. I am not in the age range that they targeted this video to, but I bought it. I was attracted by what seemed to be the slower pace and music that I like. Well, I was pleased. Sure it does fluctuate in volume now and again and sometimes Billy is hard to hear, but overall I give it a 3. It's not his best work, but it sure is great and worth the money. I own the original Tae-Bo and find the pace frantic and sometimes jarring. I feel peaceful and like I'm learning the exercises. I work up a good sweat and feel accomplished. I do plan on moving back to the original when I've mastered this, but this tape is a great beginner tape or great for anyone of ANY AGE getting into a workout. You can keep up them...and feel accomplished!

I am an over-40 Tae-Bo veteran who found myself bored with the Basic tape and not willing to spend the time needed for the Advanced tape. So I was stuck in the middle until I purchased the Gold tape about 8 months ago. Although Billy is hard to hear at times, the tape is not as jarring as the Advanced and the music is much better than the Basic. I enjoy seeing regular people like myself in the video and the Motown music is a real motivator for me. Others have knocked this tape as a "sell out" for Blanks, saying he caved in to popular demands, but isn't that what exercise is all about? If it gets you moving, it's worth it.

Although I'm only 36, I decided to try this workout as my first Tae Bo video because I'm still fairly new to kickboxing. Taught by Tae Bo instructor Billy Blanks, this workout is extremely low-impact yet also surprisingly tough at the same time. Billy leads a class of mostly middle-aged participants, but they are all in very good shape, including the 70-year old woman who can kick MUCH higher than I can!

After a few minutes of warm-up stretches, Billy begins an easy to follow kickboxing routine. He emphasizes punches more than kicks, although some kicks as well as quite a few knee lifts are included. Unlike other kickboxing workouts I have tried, there are few combination routines; instead, Billy teaches in an 8-count style, often repeating the same movement for several sets. Following the 25-minute aerobic segment, you hold a static squat for 1 minute, and then you move to a hands and knees position for about 3 minutes of work on the butt area. The workout ends with a 5 minutes stretch: 4-minutes of yoga-like stretches in a seated position and then a final 1-minute of standing stretches, making the total workout time about 34 minutes.

As an instructor, Billy Blanks is very likeable and extremely enthusiastic. Plus, he offers many modifications in this workout, even showing how some of the kicks can be done seated in a chair. However, his counting is not always accurate, and he frequently completes an uneven number of sets from one side of the body to the other. Also, the Motown music used for this workout is quite loud, making Billy's instructions a bit difficult to hear at times, and the transitions from song-to-song did not flow smoothly with the workout. If you can overlook these minor flaws, this is a fun workout for anyone who is already in fairly good shape but looking to give Tae Bo a try.

This is a great video for someone like me who has been somewhat out of shape and wants a video that isn't too difficult. What I really like about this video is that the move sequences are easy to remember and the entire workout from warm up to cool down is only 35 minutes, so I can make time for it in my busy schedule.