Customer Reviews

Knockout Workout - Kickboxing/Aerobic Boxing [VHS]

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

 

 

I originally watched Stephanie's Kickboxing video before becoming a student of a 3-time world kickboxing champion, and I thought it was great because she actually taught the moves before beginning the workout. After going through my own kickboxing training with a real world champion, I watched both the kickboxing and aerobic boxing videos again. They are really terrible! It says on the box that she is a renowned kickboxing trainer. My question - to whom? She could not have possibly competed except maybe at lower level competitions. She has terrible boxing techniques and would have been knocked out in no time in the ring! Here are some of my criticisms:

1. Her hooks are deplorable! You do not make sweeping motions in a hook - that's how you get yourself knocked out! Furthermore, she does not even twist her upper body when throwing a hook (or her upper cut for that matter). It's the twisting motion that puts the real power in that punch. The hook and the upper cut are close range punches and are more follow-up than lead punches. The way Stephanie teaches it, she is reaching too far to throw the punch, thus her need for a sweeping motion. The sweeping motion she makes is reminescent of desperation "haymakers," which is what an untrained street fighter might try to throw.

2. Her cross techniques are not much better. She pulls her elbow back before throwing her cross. Wrong technique! Also, her elbows are sticking out when she throws a cross. It'a what kickboxers call "chicken wings."

3. Her balance when she does the roundhouse is not at all good. She should be able to do a roundhouse by kicking, then returning her foot to the starting position - WITHOUT having to place her foot on the floor for balance first. Any genuine kickboxer can do this simple move. This tells me she is not a genuine kickboxer, or at least, not a very good one.

4. She has completely left out side kicks, back kicks, spinning back kicks, and the spinning back fist which are always used in a kickboxing match, and are among the deadliest in the ring. Every kickboxer knows these moves and knows how to fluidily combine them with all of the other kickboxing moves. A video with a couple of kickboxing moves in it does not make a "kickboxing workout" video. There's so much more to it than what Stephanie covers. Side kicks are absolutely basic and essential to a kickboxer - where are they?

5. Stephanie does not use a proper boxing stance. She breaks boxing rules by standing straight up when doing all of her moves. A boxer's knees should have a nice bend to them. This increases the sturdiness of your stance, thus, making you more difficult to knock off balance and always prepared for any move.

6. The worst part is that people who watch this video will think she actually knows what she is doing and will believe they are learning genuine boxing/kickboxing techniques. Well, the techniques are passable, barely,IF all you want to do is use them in an aerobic class - NOT if you want to actually use them for self-defense and especially not if you want to compete (I would hope if you wanted to compete you would have a GENUINE, qualified kickboxing trainer rather than learning these moves on a video).

7. That Stephanie is a very fit lady with excellent muscle tone goes without question, but a renowned kickboxing trainer? Maybe to the stars, who may not care if they are learning correct technique but just want a good workout. Being fit and knowing a few moves does not make you a kickboxer or a kickboxing trainer.

8. In addition, Stephanie is not a partuicularly good instructor. She may be good one on one, but not with a group class. I think she is very nervous when she is being filmed so she appears dry, overly serious, and basically unhappy. If she could put in some of that personality you see at the beginning of the kickboxing video when she's with her family, it would make the video more tolerable.

9. Lastly, as far as aerobics choreography is concerned, it's horrible! She almost appears to have a problem with rhythm. It appears that someone named Chris Steele (husband? Brother??) actually did the choreography, not Stephanie. It seems like someone taught her these moves just to have her make these videos, and they taught her pretty badly.

I'm sorry I couldn't say more positive comments about these videos. They are okay for exercise videos as long as you remember that you will NOT be learning actual and proper boxing or kickboxing techniques. I enjoyed the videos before I became a kickboxer myself and trained with a 3-time world kickboxing champion. Now, I can see all of the mistakes and poor techniques Stephanie is using.

This is, without a doubt, the worst workout video I've ever purchased. The instructor doesn't teach proper form, instills no power or excitment into the moves, has a boring set, and uses uninspiring, slow music. I wasn't even able to give this one away!

Being a certified cardio kickboxing trainer, I purchased Stephanie Steele's video pack in the hopes of gaining a few new ideas for my own classes. I was disappointed to say the least. Her routines were unimaginative and utilized only a fraction of the kicks and punches available for a total body workout. In addition, I would not recommend these videos to anyone without some boxing or maritial arts background as there is very little instruction on proper form. Ms. Steele puts the beginner kickboxer at risk by failing to cue proper alignment or to explain the importance of not overextending the joints. The more advanced kickboxer may feel underchallenged.

I am not an advanced kickboxing expert, but I know enough to realize this person has little to no knowledge of kickboxing principles or techniques. She is very clumsy in her moves, and does not use proper technique. I noticed at the beginning of the video, she was speaking during the movements and became short of breath after just a couple of minutes. The video then changed to a recording of her voice while she performed the exercise. I wonder how conditioned she actually is for this type of workout or if she is even experienced at all in kickboxing. Just look at the back of the video package. She is posed in an uppercut with her fist turned in....a good way to break a wrist!

The video package says she is a "renowed kickboxing trainer with ten years experience in designing workouts", but gives no proof or additional information of this. I would like some further information on her credentials.

First off I'd like to say that I really did enjoy the video. However, my only complaints on it would be that Stephanie isn't one of the most charismatic instructors out there. On the other hand, Stephanie is a good instructor and does the moves at a high level of expertise. I have gotten others tapes with instructors that really cant throw a good jab or do a good roundhouse kick correctly. I know lots of people like the hyped up energy that some instructors do and I do admit that it helps motivate you into doing the program. In short all I can really say is that she may not be the most motivating person, I can and do appreciate a good workout that this tape does provide. Furthermore, I did like the two tapes and I switch back and forth depending on my moods.

I've read reviews of other people complaining about the fact that Stephanie Steele doesn't have the best technique and that she's not the most energetic workout instructor around, but I find this workout to be very good. I didn't buy this video to become the next Bruce Lee, I bought this video because I enjoy martial arts and I think kickboxing-styled workouts are pretty fun. It gets my heart pumping; I break a nice sweat; I can feel it in my legs the next day, and it really relieves stress. As I said, if you bought this video to learn self-defense techniques, you bought it for the wrong reason. In-fact, I think they have a disclaimer at the beginning of this video warning against such things. I purchased this video about 6 years ago and used it off-and-on for about three years until I decided to enroll in a Tang So Doo class. I trained for two years and learned proper technique and form. I trained in Tang Soo Do until I had to have surgery at the end of last year. I gave it up after that because I was afraid of injuring myself (the surgery wasn't the result of Tang Soo Do but I didn't want to take any chances) but recently, I started using this video again and I really enjoy it. It does the job if you're looking to burn a lot of calories, if you're looking to learn self-defense, you need to be in a class.

These videos are awful! I have bought bad ones before, but this set stands out as the most boring I've ever seen. Really, I never even tried to do the workouts; I fell asleep while previewing the set after my purchase. I actually watched the first tape and most of the second one. Both were really bad. I only wish I could get my money back from the store where I bought them. I plan to donate my copy to the local charity thrift store. I hope they can make a few bucks from it, but I feel sorry for the hopeful soul who buys it.

I bought this video years ago, to test the kickboxing waters, so to speak. I cannot believe this thing is still in print. Complete waste of money. Try any other kickboxing workout, please. There are so many out there now.

I was so excited to get a kickboxing video, but very disappointed in what I got. This video was down right boring. Stephanie Steele leads the video in a boxing ring and doesn't do a great job. She doesn't give commands until she is in the process of doing the new exercise so you end up lost or doing the wrong side. She does combinations of punching, 10 on each side, right and left. Then she goes into a very simple kicking sequence and then puts the punching and kicking together. The video progresses this way for 3 sections. The advanced section is just all the moves you've learned put all together into a long sequence rotating right and left sides. It's kind of hard to keep up with the changing of the sides and the changes in the moves due to the bad cueing. The only good thing I can say about this video is that my arms did end up being slightly stiff the next day (but I really put some effort into my punches). All in all this wasn't a good video. A beginner would pick it up after doing it 2 or 3 times and then would feel stuck in a rut being that it gets boring and repetative.

In the kickboxing half, Steele (alone in a boxing ring) presents three short routines designed for beginner, intermediate and advanced exercisers. She demonstrates four punches and two kicks, then mixes and matches them in various three- to five- step moves. These moves are repeated throughout the tape, at different speeds and intensities. Because I have kickboxing on three other videos, I thought this tape was a bit too basic. Steele does take the time to break down moves that many other instructors don't bother to explain, namely, the simple jab and other punches. The kicking part of the routine is less impressive, however. She only includes two kicks--the front and roundhouse--and doesn't explain how to execute them as clearly as the punches. The routine is very slow for the first half, so it's not the sort of tape you'll be doing over and over for months. Steele is a bit bland, but not annoying. The music, however, stinks. One logistical problem I encountered . . . Throughout most of the routines, Steele has you move first facing right, then facing left. Consequently, if your TV set is not in the center of the room, you're doing half the routine with your back entirely to the screen. Video instructors usually try to move you forward and backward, or side to side, facing front.