Customer Reviews

Billy Blanks' Tae-Bo - Instructional Workout, Basic, Advanced, 8-Minute Workout

5 star:		(124)
4 star:		(54)
3 star:		(21)
2 star:		(10)
1 star:		(16)

 

 

I'm a TaeKwonDo instructor from the US living in Korea. I've been here for 6 years. I started doing the Tae-Bo DVD with my wife. She's not very athletically inclined so she thought this would be a good way to get in shape. I find it hard to believe some of complaints I've seen about this series. Who cares about the production quality or the fact that the music isn't something popular? The point of this series is to get a workout and I for one think it delivers. Some people complain about injuring themselves or about the moves being impossible to perform. I've also noticed some of those complain about the level of the workouts. Obviously, it's hard to ramp up from absolute beginner to professional athlete in just 4 tapes. As a martial arts instructor I would offer this advice. Start with the Instructional video. Do it all the way through. Practice the techniques. Do them on both sides. Use that as your workout for at least two weeks. Watch the way techniques are done and make sure you are doing them correctly. I would be willing to bet that people who injured themselves did so because of poor technique or trying to do too much, too quickly. By the end, you might want to do it twice through each day. Then step up to the beginner workout. If you find it difficult, put it on pause for a few minutes, catch your breath and then keep going. Actually, Mr. Blanks suggests that himself on the video. After you can comfortably do the Basic workout (at least 1 month after, probably more for older adults), add the 8-minute workout to it. I would suggest doing the 8-minute workout first, then the Basic. When you've adjusted to that, do the Basic workout twice in succession each day. Then, when you can do that comfortably, go to the Advanced workout. As a workout, I think it's excellent. From a self-defense standpoint, I wouldn't really recommend it. Of course there is some protection benefit from learning basic techniques and getting in shape but he teaches these techniques from a workout perspective not proper martial arts technique. As one example, he stresses that when you execute techniques you should tighten up various muscles. This creates more resistance and so gives a better workout. This also slows your techniques down. When practicing martial arts, you want to stay loose until the point of impact. This gives you more speed and ultimately more power. If you really want to learn self-defense, take a martial arts class and stick with it.
As a last point and small pet peeve, Koreans actually pronounce TaeKwonDo just as it looks with Tae sounding like Day not Tie. I think this got confused with Thai kickboxing early on and just got spread that way.
In summary, if you want good production quality, go sit on the couch and watch Titanic again. If you want to learn self-defense, go to a martial arts class. If you want an excellent series of workout videos, buy Tae-Bo.

I bought this 4-pack of Taebo almost 2 years ago - January 1999 and I am still using Taebo today after almost 2 years and 52 pounds ago. I recommend Taebo to everyone I know who is serious about losing weight, getting in shape and being healthy. I only watched the Instructional tape twice but do recommend that people do this several more times than I did. I used the Basic tape for 4-5 months before starting on the Advanced. I like the Basic tape but I think some of the faster moves at the end may be a bit too quick for a Basic tape. Remember to always go at your own pace. The Advanced tape is awesome. The first time I did it (and I paused the tape often) it was very difficult but I put it down for a while and when I picked up it I couldn't believe my increased stamina, endurance and strength. I must admit that I have never done the 8 minute workout. If I'm going to sweat, it is going to be longer that 8 minutes so I really can't recommend it. To the other reviewer who asked for more Taebo tapes -- there are more. Unfortunately, Amazon does not carry them. They are available only through the Taebo website. I have 14 Advanced Taebo tapes (yes, I am addicted) but the Advanced tape in this 4 pack is one of my favorites. The moves are much slower that some of Billy's newer tapes and it helps me focus on what I am doing. Plus, it only gives me a sense of where I started. I won't say the Advanced is easy but I have come a long way and can now do this tape all the way through without pausing the tape and it used to initimate me. Taebo is an amazing workout. It has slimmed and toned every part of my body: abs, thighs, arms, back, chest, calves, butt, etc. Someone recently asked me if I was lifting weights because of the definition in my arms but all my toning is from Taebo. I workout 6 days a week doing the Advanced tape and I've never been in better shape. Even after almost two years, Taebo is still challenging and never boring. If I feel sluggish or tired, all I have to do is an hour of Taebo and I'm refreshed. If your New Years Resolution for 2001 is to lose weight, get in shape or get healthy, please buy these tapes. I wish I discovered Taebo sooner. I have gone from a size 18 to a size 10 and I'm still losing. My life is much better now. I'm more confident and more outgoing. Please realize that working out is not easy. There is NO QUICK FIX to losing weight and being healthy. You have to work at it everyday but Taebo is fun, explosive, challenging and inspirational. Give it a try. It has changed my life and it will change yours too.

...Tae-bo is excellent. I have tendonitis in my right knee due to many years of basketball. As a result it's often difficult to find a good workout that doesn't jar my knee. Aerboics often contains too much jumping. I realize every knee problem differs, but I have used the Tae-bo basics tape on a daily basis without knee pain.

I must say, I'm not sure buying the four-pack tape set was necessary. I used the Instructional Tape once. The information contained here is important but if known beforehand, owning the tape is a moot point. The gist of it is, don't overextend your joints while kicking and punching.

I've used the 8 minute workout when I get up late in the morning. However, I almost wish I didn't have the option as it creates greater opportunity to slack off. 8 minutes really isn't enough to get your heart rate up to a point of significance, in terms of exercise.

The Advanced Tape is really hard! Also, this one tended to hurt my knees. There are some lunging moves, and a whole lot of floor exercises that require you to kneel for lengthy periods of time. I think the decision on whether this tape is a good investment really depends on the level of activity you are looking for in an exercise video. This tape is long and strenuous, but I'm certain if you use it regularly you'd be very fit. Personally, I've never found the time commitment or the desire to use this tape more than a couple times.

Tae-bo Basics I would rate as five stars. Buying the four pack really depends on individual interest, I can only offer my experience with the pack. On a side note, the music is pretty goofy, but I like Billy's positive attitude.

DVD is a great medium for workout videos. You can instantly go to any workout (although there are not chapters within each workout - which makes sense when you think about it). There is no tape to wear out and repurchase, which, with something you watch every other day or so, is a nice feature in itself.

The instructional workout is actually a little harder than the basic full speed workout as you are moving through the excercises in almost slow motion. However, it is invaluable for learning the correct form for each movement.

Be warned (in a good way) that this is not the aerobics workout from the mid-eighties. It feels like practice for a sport rather than modified dance and makes you feel more powerful when you have mastered the kick, punches and combinations. Be careful of hyperextending knees and elbows (which Billy Blanks stresses several times in the instructional section).

These workouts make a nice complement to weight training. And remember this - Billy Blanks does not look like he does from just doing aerobic excercise. He obviously spends many hours in the gym with weights in addition to this type of workout. But if fat burning and cardio activity are what you want, it doesn't get much better than this

I began this tape set with the Instructional video for about a week before moving on to the Basic video, which I did for about 2 months. I am now doing the Advanced video four times a week, and have lost 20 lbs in five months.

The weight loss, however, takes second place to how I feel. Stronger, leaner and more flexible are words I never used to describe my post-pregnancy body - until now. I now wear a size 8 comfortably and my goal is to reach size 6 by the end of summer.

The only complaint I would have about the Tae-Bo tape set (other than the lack of production quality) is that the video editing is shoddy in some parts. On the Advanced tape, there are several portions where you hear Mr. Blanks talking and, unless you're watching the screen (difficult at best while doing the foot-circles), it's very easy to lose count. Also, some of the moves are rather fast - moving more slowly through a repetition (particularly one that imitates strength training) makes the muscle work harder.

After using the basic Tae-Bo tape, I purchased the four pack and am I glad I did. Tae-Bo even manages to give me an aerobic workout and I participate in high altitude climbing, ultra marathon biking and lots of skiing. Billy Banks is a master instructor anyone can feel comfortable with. The moves, drawn from Martial Arts are impressive and the pace gives the body a workout it will come to love. Beginners should watch the instructional video more than once and practice the moves more slowly so they will then be comfortable during the more advanced tapes and workouts. The body was MEANT to MOVE! I think Banks knows this and we'd all be better off if we'd follow his lead. As to those who say these tapes are just a money making scheme, I have to ask--have you ever seen an exercise video that wasn't? The difference is--Tae-Bo delivers and that makes it worth the cost at any price! Can't recommend them highly enough!

I love Tae-Bo. I started in Feb of 1999 and I've lost almost 30 pounds. More importantly - I've gone from a 14 to an 8 in women's dresses because my muscles are so toned. I combine the basic and the 8-min tapes or just do the advanced 5-6 days a week. One caveat - take it slow it first and make sure to not overextend your limbs when punching/kicking.

If you're serious about getting in shape at home -- this is the tape for you! I am a female over 40 that WAS over-weight and out of shape. I started watching my eating, and doing the instructional Tae Bo tape. I followed the instructions carefully, and gradually worked up to the next tape, then the next. In just 5 months I've lost 40 pounds and 2-3 dress sizes! If you do exactly as Billy says, you get a great workout, firm up body parts, and gain energy. And, IF you follow his instructions, there is no chance of getting injured - he emphasizes no locking joints, and taking it at your own pace! Best workout I've ever had!

Great work out even if you haven't worked out in a long time. I primarily use the 8 minute workout and feel it working every day. Both the beginner and 8 minute workouts are great for the new or intermediate Tae-bo 'wanna-bes', I haven't used the Advanced Tae-bo yet. I've been doing Tae-bo for 3 months and I haven't felt this good in a long time. I've lost about 30 lbs in 4 months and I can thank Tae-bo for most of my success, it keeps you interested and energized on a daily basis. Great 'defensive' moves for women, gives you the confidence you need.

I always wondered if these reviews were real or not. Today I decided to write one for taebo. Lets face it when you're overweight you get depressed, you want a quick fun and relatively easy way to lose weight. TAEBO IS THE BEST! Im 18 and male, I started taebo a week ago and have lost 3 kg. Billy Blanks combines boxing, kickboxing, and dance for a great cardiovascilar workout. I am still doing the basic workout because advanced is way to difficult. I guarantee that even some of the fittest people alive would have trouble with the advanced tape. You can tell that Billy Blanks also gets tired because in the middle of the workout he will stop and start talking to the people around him. HE PUSHES YOU HARD AND I GUARANTEE GUARANTEE YOU WILL GET FAST RESULTS. DONT GIVE UP AND TUCK IN THAT STOMACH. The only thing that got me angry were that my tapes were a little faulty. One tape is in black and white. But I would never send it back because I LOVE IT Thanks Billy