Product Details

• Actors: Katrina Barillova
• Directors: Michael Klaumann
• Format: Dolby, Full Screen, NTSC
• Region: All Regions
• Number of discs: 2
• Studio: Why Not Entertainment
• DVD Release Date: June 1, 2003
• Run Time: 180 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00065BEOA
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #211,491 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

This fast-moving, high-tech 2-DVD set features former intelligence agent Katrina Barillova leading three complete 45-minute workouts for fat-burning, strength, flexibility, speed, precision, and endurance. The exercises are tough and relentless, military style, with Max, Barillova's trainer, instructing by voiceover. (He cues for the performers, not the viewer, so ignore his left/right directions.) The Combo Workout is full-body muscle conditioning with various forms of pushups, moving lunges, weighted punches, weights, and abs. The Shadowboxing Workout consists of fast, intense cardio boxing drills plus stretching. (Watch the separate Basics instructional section first.) The Cardio Workout--"designed to be unattainable"--pushes you through fast-paced, high-energy boxing moves, jumping jacks, squats, and lunges, with stretching.

When you take a water break, watch an action sequence featuring sexy Barrillova clad in evening dress, nightie, or bathtub water, defeating villainous guys and telling them what they did wrong. Recommended for conditioned exercisers who want a tough, athletic workout. --Joan Price

Product Description

Amazon.com
This fast-moving, high-tech 2-DVD set features former intelligence agent Katrina Barillova leading three complete 45-minute workouts for fat-burning, strength, flexibility, speed, precision, and endurance. The exercises are tough and relentless, military style, with Max, Barillova's trainer, instructing by voiceover. (He cues for the performers, not the viewer, so ignore his left/right directions.) The Combo Workout is full-body muscle conditioning with various forms of pushups, moving lunges, weighted punches, weights, and abs. The Shadowboxing Workout consists of fast, intense cardio boxing drills plus stretching. (Watch the separate Basics instructional section first.) The Cardio Workout--"designed to be unattainable"--pushes you through fast-paced, high-energy boxing moves, jumping jacks, squats, and lunges, with stretching.

When you take a water break, watch an action sequence featuring sexy Barrillova clad in evening dress, nightie, or bathtub water, defeating villainous guys and telling them what they did wrong. Recommended for conditioned exercisers who want a tough, athletic workout. --Joan Price

See all Editorial Reviews

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

50 of 51 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars by far, the best workout DVD available, January 13, 2004

By 

Kaulika - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

Now, I'm pretty picky when it comes to workout DVDs. I like them fast, I like them tough, and I like them to be flexible. I don't want them to get boring, and I want them to look good. I was a bit skeptical when I coughed up the $60 for this set of workout DVDs, but from the first moment I put it in my DVD player and started watching it, I was impressed.

First off, the production values are incredibly good for a workout video. It feels more like you're working out along to a movie, rather than just another workout video. Second, the workouts really are challenging, but not so challenging that you could never do them. "Max" is encouraging and relentless, but also tells you to take breaks and keep moving if you get tired.

"Basics" is an important first step to this video. Even if you want to skip it, you should go through it at least once, because it'll teach you proper form. Particularly if you have bad knees like I do, you'll want to watch it for the section on roundhouses, or other moves that tend to impact the knees.

"Combo" puts together all kinds of moves - from kickboxing to cardio to Pilates and other kinds of mat work. It's sort of the "beginner to intermediate" workout, if you consider that a total beginner can take a lot of breaks and work up to the challenge over time.

"Shadowboxing" is so much fun. It's like Tae Bo in that you're doing kickboxing, but most of it is free-form. This means that you are given instruction on which moves and combinations you're working on, and then you get to do it at your own pace. You then combine this with slightly more choreographed sequences, and you've got a kickboxing workout that will never get boring.

"Cardio" is hard. It's really hard. But it's not impossible, certainly. It's something to work toward, and you'll feel triumphant when you make it through.

This DVD set is a group of tough, total-body, no-nonsense workouts that look really great. Bonuses are 3D wireframe models that tell you which muscles you're working, and countdown clocks that tell you exactly how much time your workout has left, and how much time you're spending on each section. Another bonus are the fun little spy movies - called "missions" - that begin each section (but you can skip these if you want). This set of DVDs, done regularly, will definitely whip you into the best shape of your life.

25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great workouts, unique and really fun!, September 25, 2003

By 

Andrea (Newtown, CT) - See all my reviews

After browsing Amazon's fitness section for over an hour, I decided to buy the Elite Forces Rapid Readiness Workout. The main reason I purchased this DVD was it really looked like it had something different to offer. (It has a girl with a gun on the cover, now that's different!)

At first glance I thought it looked a little expensive, but when I checked the DVD details, I noticed it had 4 volumes, additional features, and some graphics called M.A.S.S. I'm not the kind of person who reads instruction manuals, so I skipped the Basics volume and went right on to the Shadowboxing Workout. (Later I realized skipping it was a mistake. When I finally watched the instructions it explained how to do the kicks and punches.)

Let me tell you, the Shadowboxing Workout was TOUGH! I didn't finish the entire workout the first couple of times, but I've done it all the way through now. The other workouts are called Combo and Cardio.  I love the Combo, it has kept me interested, and I have used it the most. It's has a lot of different motions, kicks and punches and really keeps me on my toes.  

The Cardio workout (I must admit), I started, but couldn't keep up. But instead of slowing down what is a fast workout, I've decided to save that one for when I'm in a little better shape. (Yes, it's THAT Hard!)

All the volumes start with a little video, these are called "missions." In the missions, some bad guys (and girls) are trying to get the star of the video.  I was really surprised to see her parachute to a roof-top in one! In another she's attacked while taking a bath, well, you get the idea.  They are fun to watch, but do not last long enough for you to forget about why you are in front of the tv, TO EXERCISE! I don't watch them every time I workout, but I have noticed some of the workout moves I've learned used for self-defense in the missions. (I told my husband he'd better not bother me when I'm in the bathtub. ;)

So, while I would DEFINITELY recommend this video, I do have a word of caution: Pick an open area of your house to workout in. (I kicked over a lamp during my first workout!)

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Simply the BEST workout video I've ever bought., May 18, 2004

By 

Angela (Tacoma, Washington) - See all my reviews

As I've gotten older (and wiser) I've bought fewer workout videos because so many are just trash. (Who cares if some MTV kids can dance to a beat? That's no workout!) The Elite Forces DVD set has done the one thing I never thought possible: It motivates me to workout because I don't dread the exercises or the instructor. With almost all the other workout videos I've used, I'll usually watch a workout once, and be distracted trying to do the exercises. By the second or third time I watch I'm bored with the exercises, and irritated by the sickeningly-sweet instructor. This video has a totally different look, (the sets/background have kind of a techno-gym feel) and a group of people to learn the exercises from. It has really kept my attention as with this set I don't watch my clock for "how much longer is this thing." I find that I am distracted by the visuals, music and instruction, and time really flies by when I'm working out. For me, exercise is the only thing that helps me keep my weight under control, so a video that helps me keep my brain busy while working out is just what I need. This one is IT!