Customer Reviews

The Kung Fu Kickboxing Workout

5 star:		(26)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I just rec'd this last week and I can't stop doing it. It's great to add on to a weight workout due to the segments each being 20 minutes. I have been doing weight circuits out of a book that which take me about 45-50 minutes to complete and then I tack on a segment of this to round the workout out to just over an hour.

The production quality is excellent (as is with all Acacia productions I've ever purchased). I love the music on it. It's very different and I recognize some of it from Duncan Wong's Yogic Arts DVD.

I just love Tiffany (she's the is the one that instructs and works out with brother Max). Tiffany has a straightforward ....let's get down to business demeanor. She's really cool. I'd love to see more DVDs from her and Max.
They are both serious in this workout and if you put your "all" into it, you will get a good workout. Keep in mind that the cardio effect of this DVD is broken up a bit by going to the floor for different moves for the abs, pushups, etc. Therefore, it has more of an interval effect.

I have A LOT of kickbox and martial arts workouts and nothing compares to this. I really love it. You must try it. I've never written a review for a product on Amazon (and I buy a lot of exercise DVDs). I really hope they come out with more workouts, as this truly is in a class of it's own. Love it!!!

I bought this one based upon all of the 5 star reviews on Amazon. Unfortunately, it's just not for me.

There are a LOT of variations on pushups (which I am Not a fan of) and quite a bit of plyo (also not a fan). I was really hoping for a bit more kickboxing type drills (a la P90X Kenpo X) but this workout seems to be mainly drills, drills, drills of all kinds!

Tiffany seems to be a bit stiff and self-conscious in this workout, and there's no mirror cueing unfortunately. Also, I don't recall hearing any music while doing the drills.

I'm sure this workout is great for building up strength and endurance for better kickboxing, but I didn't find the workout to have any kind of a "fun" factor (like Turbo Jam, my personal fav). If it ain't fun, I just won't do the workout.

If you're looking for high intensity drills/plyos and you don't mind the high impact (or lots of pushups/variations on pushups), then this is the workout for you.

If you like low impact kickboxing with a fun factor and a decent musical beat to workout by, I don't recommend this one.

I just got this dvd thru netflix. I like to preview before I buy. Haven't done it yet. So here are my comments. When I do it tomorrow, I'll add more:

Setting: Boxing ring
Teachers: Max & Tiffany
DVD layout: There is too brief stretch and an aerobic warm-up, ie boxers footwork that you would do with a jump rope. As the previous reviewer said there are 3 20 minute workouts with increasing difficulty. If you have never taken ANY boxing or kickboxing classes before, do not buy this dvd because I don't think they spend enough time on technique. I know the punches, and kicks from taking boxing classes at Crunch. If you think, well I've done tae bo and I can do this. This workout is much harder than tae bo, in a different way.

In addition to standard punches, there are round house kicks, knee kicks, exercises where you puunch, kick, hit the floor (sprawl) jump back up, switch legs and do it again.

Set 1 is 4 rounds of 3 exercises, 30 seconds each, except round 4 which is the hardest and most cardio intensive. It is fast feet and sprawl about 6 times in a row with 30 second intervals between sets
Set 2 is 4 rounds of 4 exercises, 30 seconds each
Set 3 is 4 rounds of 4(?) exercises done at 10, 8, 6, 4, 2 1 reps whew!!

After each set the dvd automatically goes to the stretch exercises.

Max and Tiffany do the exercises at a fast pace. Tiffany is in voiceover. Max is barefoot, Tiffany wears boxing shoes. She tells you to go at your own pace. The exercises do not match the music. It appears that the music was added after the exercises were recorded, just as background music.

Production: Camera work can be a little funky as it switches back between the two teachers in the middle of a move. Otherwise the production is great.

Personalities: This really doesn't matter to me, but I'll include it because some people care about that sort of thing. Tiffany is quite serious. Max doesn't say much. Both are cut and fit.

When I actually do set 1. I will write more. UPDATE: I did workout 1 this morning and all I have to say is wow!!!!!!!!!! I sweated up a storm in the 20-25 minute set (including warm-up and cool down) I was gasping for air. I can't wait to do this again. Tiffany keeps saying to go at your own pace and not to try to keep up with her and Max. You'll appreciate this advice. This is so much better than tae bo because you don't have to listen to Billy Blanks!!!

If you like boxing or kickboxing and you know how to NOT hurt yourself, then get this dvd.

I am not a fan of aerobics and most kickboxing workouts , but I do like this one , this is not a choreographed aerobic workout disguised with kickboxing moves ,this is a real kickboxer's workout with different drills and exercises and you don't have to remember complicated moves , but you do need some stamina and core strength as these workouts are tough! there are 3 20 minute workouts in different levels but you can do 2 or all of them together if you'd like ,there's a short warm up segment and a stretch segment. Honestly I found the "the basics" workout harder than "the kicker" probably because it is more cardio intensive than the second one which is mainly different exercises that requires more muscle strength (like alligator pushups)now I do both of them together. I haven't tried "The Killer" yet , but I can't wait to try it soon. The production quality is excellent like all other Acacia DVD's. Highly recommended.

I'd only done one other kickboxing program before and wasn't crazy about it, but my boyfriend is a huge fan of William CC Chen and wanted to do this with me -- and because I love the other Acacia DVDs I've tried, we gave it a shot.

WOW! I love the first two workouts -- the interval training style seems to do more for me than other workouts I've tried and I just read an article in Oprah Magazine last month about how you will lose more weight through explosive plyometrics for 30-second intervals in between more measured movement for 30 minutes than you will in a 90 minute steady pace workout. After trying this, I believe it.

I'm still not coordinated enough to pull off the last workout, but I adore the first one and I'm getting more comfortable with the second one all the time. Tiffany's coaching is awesome. And my boyfriend (who follows such things) told me that Max just won another fight and is getting closer to qualifying for the USA Team in the Olympics in kickboxing.

This is SOOO different from an aerobics gym girl teaching a "cardio-kickboxing class" -- which I find really annoying. This is the real thing that real fighters use to get in real shape, broken down into workouts that let you start off at a beginner level and work your way up.

I'm not a fighter, but this has done wonders for me. I love it!

First, for those who suspect that 5-star reviews are coming from friends of the Chens, let me state that this is my first time ever hearing of the Chens. They are in NYC and I am in California. I just purchased this DVD on sale at Borders, and must say I am quite impressed.

Now--If you are looking for a bouncy, "TaeBo"-like or aerobic class type of work out--this is not the DVD for you. Go buy TaeBo or one of the other classlike workouts. If, however, you want a serious kickbox workout--check this one out. WARNING: THIS DVD CONTAINS NO FLUFF, NO FRILLS, AND NO JOKES, just kickboxing drills that will give you a killer, full body workout combining core, strength, and cardio moves. It is well balanced and presented with proper form.

I practiced Kajukenbo and kickboxing for several years. This DVD makes me feel right at home and is much less annoying than some of the videos by instructors who have never set foot in a dojo in their lives. You can definitely see and feel the difference. Billy Blanks is a martial artist, so if that is the style you like, go for it. Personally, I love this DVD as it works me--just like in the good old days back in the dojo.

William Chen should be very proud of his offspring. They've come up with a system that's well thought out and exicuted. They have bodies that we all aspire to and make it look easy. The exercizes go from basic to challanging and the instruction increases in detail. Tiffany's voice is soothing, encouraging and confident without being intimidating. The short appearance of Master Chen is inspiring.

This DVD does a good job of covering most of your muscle groups. The two main workouts (The Kicker and The Killer) are pretty intense, and definitely keep your heart rate up.

The Kicker
This workout has a number of exercises in 30 second increments, with little to no rest between them. This is very good for keeping your heart rate up. Basically, these are calisthenics for kickboxers. The first time I did this workout, having done Tae Bo and a few Yoga/Martial Arts videos, I had a tough time. I finished, but had to take a 60 second break.

The Killer
This workout is a series of kickboxing exercises (punches, kicks, etc.). First you do 10 reps, then repeat the whole set with 8 reps, then 6, 4, and finally 2 reps. I was unable to get through this workout non-stop until the 3rd attempt.

I typically do several exercises per week (usually, 2 per day), with both of these workouts being part of the rotation. Today, I did the Killer workout, followed by 30 minutes of weights and core. On other days, I do inline skating, long distance biking, trail biking, jogging, or Yoga. I've used this system to slim down quite a bit (30 pounds and 4 inches). However, even more important (for me) was the added stamina. The biking and the Killer workout are the two that push me the hardest.

I recommend this video for anyone who is is reasonable shape looking to improve. This is not a video for beginners. Warm up and stretch before this workout are critical, to avoid injury.

This is a really great workout. I try run 3+ miles at least 3 times a week and occasionally do TaeBo on my 'off days'. As I am a fair-weather runner, I was looking for a new aerobic activity that I could do during cold or inclement weather. I found it! In fact, I may never have to run again! Within 10 minutes I had broken the sweat that usually doesn't start until I begin mile 2 during my run. After the stretching and warm-up, there are three 20 minute workouts. So far I've only completed first one: The Basics. I will probably stick to this one until I'm moving through it more easily. I like how the exercises are broken down into intervals. You do one exercise for 30 seconds, move to the second exercise of the round, then repeat each 2 more times. I've always hated exercises that just leave you hanging there, burning one single muscle for a ridiculous amount of time such as Billy Blanks does this in TaeBo with his floor exercises. He leaves you there repeating the same movement while he's walking around telling you he's watching you and you'd better not quit. That's the point I normally turn it off. Anyway, if you enjoy working out and are looking for something new, you won't be disappointed with this DVD. If the 20 minute workout time isn't enough for you and you're serious about getting 30-50 minutes of activity during your workout, it's a great appetizer to a yoga session. Buy it!

This is a real working work-out for the serious martial artist as well as someone who wants to keep in first class shape. Max and Tiffany Chen, in their own incomparable style, present a conditioning work-out that is accessible to anyone at their own pace, while developing the power-packed punches and kicks for which they are are famous.