Customer Reviews

Cameron Shayne - Budokon for Beginners

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(10)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I've been looking for a martial arts based workout on DVD for my home fitness routine. But besides the various kickboxing titles like Tae Bo, "Budokon for Beginners" was the only one I found. The good reviews prompted me to take a chance on it. I was delighted with "Budokon for Beginners," and ended up getting more than I bargained for.

The workout begins with yoga, goes into martial arts, and ends with a Qigong meditation. The overall workout is good, and I wish it were longer. But it's quite effective on its own if you're pressed for time, or even better if you combine it with another activity (like 20 minutes on a stationary bike, for example). Cameron Shayne's instruction is great - he cues well and is easy to follow. As both a yoga newbie and black-belt level martial arts practitioner, I felt comfortable with his teaching.

In the martial arts portion, he uses real techniques and stances such as the front kick and Cat stance. It's the closest I've seen to the real deal on a mainstream video workout. That's not surprising, given Mr. Shayne's background as a high-ranking black belt instructor. Indeed, it was almost like being in an actual Karate class. The bulk of the martial arts section consists of straight punches and front kicks from stances, which are among the first techniques we teach to new students at our dojo. With that in mind, as a Karate Sensei I would recommend this DVD for folks planning to begin a martial arts class, or even for current practitioners. The yoga will help build core strength and flexibility, also important for martial artists.

Speaking of yoga, "Budokon for Beginners" turned out to be a good investment in more ways than one. Besides its faithfulness to martial arts technique, it was my first exposure to yoga. I never thought I'd get into it, but this DVD led me to investigate yoga and add it to my workout regimen. As a result, I've enjoyed a number of yoga workouts by Rodney Yee, Baron Baptiste, and others. It's always nice to get turned on to a new thing that's good for you. Along those lines, I've also purchased Gaiam's "T'ai Chi Beginning Practice" and "Qigong Beginning Practice." So far I've been happy with the Gaiam line of workout DVDs and yoga equipment.

NOTE: The Gaiam website indicates that Cameron Shayne has a Budokon weight loss system nearing release that includes three workouts. From what I've seen in "Budokon for Beginners", I'll be purchasing it as soon as it's available. UPDATE 10/11/05: If you have this DVD, you don't need "Budokon for Weight Loss." The workout portions are very similar. See my review of it for more details.

I read about this DVD in a gossip mag and saw that many celebrities used Cameron's teachings. I thought, why not try it and see if I can get a celebrity body. I had experience in yoga before doing this tape, but even if I did not, the poses were easy enough to follow along. I like the layout of exercises. We started with yoga, then martial arts and end with meditation. It is the perfect warm up, work out and cool down. I love the way Cameron takes time in between each exercises to "find your breath" rather than rush through things like most workout programs. I found it to be moderately challenging and I broke out in a good sweat. I think this is a great program and it is nice to do something different to make exercising more fun. Highly recommend!

I practiced martial arts for a short period when I was younger and enjoy yoga more and more the older I get. Mr. Shayne's fusion of these two practices is intriguing but the video short changes the benefits of both. I agree with other critics that the martial arts section could be a couple minutes longer. What I found most disappointing was the hurried pace with which Mr. Shayne moved from pose to pose in the yoga section. The only pose held for any length of time is the perpetual downward-facing dog. None of the other poses are held long enough to warm up the muscles for the fast-paced kicks and jabs in the martial arts section. It seems like Mr. Shayne is determined to compress the entire ashtanga/power yoga cycle into the allotted 20 minutes. I recommend to the next instructor out there contemplating a similar workout video that they do fewer yoga poses, hold them longer and add a couple more minutes of martial arts. Also don't count the meditation finale into the workout time -I bet a lot of people are like me and heading to shower after one minute of searching for their center. Good points of this video, beyond the concept, are the pose guide and Mr. Shayne has a nice presence and good demeanor - unlike my old martial arts instructor.

I've been very pleased with this workout DVD, mostly because it uses yoga and martial arts in the same workout...handy if you are balancing strength, stretch, and cardio.

I appreciate that there is a long, instructional version, and a short version which has minimal instructions. This avoids tedious going over important details if you already have it down.

Cameron Shayne imparts a great attitude throughout the video...positive without chirpiness, gentleness without wimpiness, and brings in some of the more "spiritual" aspects of martial arts and yoga without being dogmatic or off-putting. I really like how he gives time enough to recenter and refocus and breathe throughout the workout. Definitely a great teacher.

I think is really a better workout for the intermediate exerciser. If you're just starting out in yoga or "kickboxing" workouts it may be too exhausting or difficult.

Oh, and even though the DVD states this is one whole workout, you actually CAN do just the yoga or just the martial arts if you're short on time. Just be sure to stretch before the martial arts.

I think this is the first in the series and I can't wait for the next one....it's a great mix of Power Yoga (vinyasa style) and Martial Arts. Cameron Shayne is a great instructor...he gives great form pointers. I want to mention that the setting is indoor (brick room) and the workout is straight forwards...nothing fancy but I like how you warm up your body with power yoga and add cardio-kick and ended the routine with a short meditation.

Budokon for beginners is definitely a beginners routine. It has a pose guide for both the martial arts and the yoga so that there is no problem ever following the video.It could not be easier to follow and can be done by just about any fitness level. I am a blue belt martial artist and have been working in yoga for about four years. I am concerned that I may get bored with this routine fairly quickly. Combining martial arts and yoga was a great idea, however, it is imperative that an intermediate and advanced routine is developed. No matter what level you are at, this is a good and rounded workout.

On the plus side, the DVD is filmed very well; he has an inspiring physique and the concept is a great one. I just don't think it adds up to the sum of it's parts. The yoga sequence is nothing like what he shows off with at the beginning and is pretty basic. The martial arts section is entirely too short for any kind of cardio benefit and isn't enough time for a beginner to really drill anything. I suppose I could rewind the section three times through, but I think it could just have been a longer section. While closing with meditation is a good idea, stretching would be safer. Having a Pose guide is nice, but I was also disappointed that there weren't other DVD extras, for the price.
I wanted to like this DVD as a good cross-training addition to my collection but it's just not enough.
Perhaps Cameron Shayne will really let loose with the follow-ups to this DVD

This workout really gets your cardio up and you can really feel it working. Its not overly hard, though it does challenge you. I can see myself using this system for a long time. The yoga really creates a good stretch, and during the martial arts portion it takes you to the limit with fun mooves and kicks. The meditation is the best way to end the session. It really relaxes you while clearing your mind. This is the best workout.
if you've tried everything else like yoga and pilates and nothing's caught your eye, this is the workout to do.

I did some martial arts some years back and wanted to get an intro to Yoga. This DVD did the trick. Shayne gives good detail throughout the program and the mix of MA and yoga is refreshing. I usually do the shorter workout during the week and the full workout on weekends. Even though the full workout has more pauses while Shayne explains some detail, I find I could sink into the pose a little longer during the explanation or during the MA section it gives me a few seconds to correct my technique. I've been using this DVD for about 2 months now and I feel good and lost a lot of aches and pains I used to live with due to stress. A keeper.

I love this DVD. I just finished my first time and see myself doing it for a long time. I work out 6 times a week, varying from Yoga to Steps, I get bored easily so I need to vary my workouts from time to time. However, I can see myself doing this one for a long run. I don't understand other reviews that said this workout is complicated ??? There is a whole section about poses, explaining everything. Anyway, I love it and hope we can get more DVDs like this one. This one is a winner.