Customer Reviews

Tae-Bo 2 - Get Ripped - Instructional / Get Started [VHS]

5 star:		(68)
4 star:		(18)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Ask any dancer or gymnast, and they'll tell you the secret to physical fitness is getting your abdomen and back strong and flexible. Tae Bo combines Pilates' attention to those areas with excellent aerobic exercise.

I've done a lot of tapes, and I've never found one as thorough as Get Ripped Advanced. Workout 1 is more intense than 2, but both are several degrees harder than the original Advanced tape from the first Tae Bo 4-pack. As a man in good condition, I find these workouts quite challenging, and that's something that can't be said for the vast majority of exercise tapes.

The great thing about Tae Bo is that you can ratchet up your workout as your technique gets better. I am even more exhausted when I do these today than I was when I started several months ago, because I'm paying more attention to working through the movements properly.

Even more aerobically challenging than running, and every bit as focused on the abs, legs and rear as Pilates. I wish there were additional Tae Bo workouts of this intensity to vary my routine even more.

GET THIS DVD...You will burn at least 1000 calories once you master the moves and can HANG until the end!!! If you do this DVD at least 4 times a week YOU WILL SEE IMPROVEMENT within 30 days, hands down. I give it 4 stars because of the off beat counting at times, but with Blanks new DVD Tae-Bo Cardio, much of this has been addressed and cleared up. You will workout and feel it, but at the end it is worth it. Also, KNOW THE TECHNIQUE before purchasing this DVD. If you do not, I advise to get the original Tae-Bo or Tae-Bo Live DVD's. These DVD's have the instructional section which will walk you through the technique. Many have complained of knee injury etc., remember when you kick you raise your thigh and extend your leg, do not just throw it out there, this is where injuries occur. And again, it is important to know the technique before jumping into any of the workouts, including the basic format.

The Get Ripped Advanced series are 60-minute workouts that will work your entire body, head to toe, and leave you drenched in sweat! Ever since I started using these workouts, I haven't been able to find any comparable to the intensity and challenge of them. I'm an advanced exerciser, and these tapes are strictly for advanced tae-bo fans. I love how Billy uses workouts that really work every part of the abs, over and over. You will DEFINITELY need a bottle of water during these...yes, his production level is still the low-budget, cheesey type; however, I'm still getting every penny's worth because these tapes are used over and over again; never boring...to me, that's worth more than high production value--forget the mountains, beaches, beautiful music and wardrobes; these workouts are for REAL people of all shapes/sizes, and they will work for you faster than any other workout. Don't be afraid to try them (they can seem intimidating at first); once you get it, you'll stick with it!

Buyers beware: "Tae Bo II: Get Ripped Advanced" is not for newbies! If you're just starting out, pick up the original 4-pack, start with the Instructional video, move on to the Basic and Advanced workouts once you have the moves down, and don't even think about buying "Tae Bo II: Get Ripped Advanced" until you can do the Advanced workout without feeling nauseous or faint! It took me six months to graduate from the Basic to the Advanced workout (yes, I was SERIOUSLY out of shape!), and another three months of doing the Advanced workout before I gave "Tae Bo II: Get Ripped Advanced" a go. Even then, it kicked my butt. I've been doing it for about six months now, and I LOVE it!

"Tae Bo II: Get Ripped Advanced" features two great 55-minute workouts - Tae Bo II: Get Ripped Advanced 1 and Tae Bo II: Get Ripped Advanced 2 (these naming schemes are starting to get confusing, no?). Each is extremely fast-paced and neither leaves you much time to catch your breath in between segments. This is a good thing - the more exercises they can cram into the DVD, the further my dollar goes. Plus, there's always the pause button if you start to get winded to the point of nausea.

I went from 140 to 120 pounds while doing the original Basic and Advanced workouts (just for reference, I'm female and a shorty at 5'4"). By the time I started the Get Ripped series, I definitely wasn't overweight, but I wanted better muscle tone - and Get Ripped delivered! Since I started this DVD, I've lost an additional 10 pounds and have developed good-sized biceps and surprisingly strong legs. Though you won't get as ripped as Shellie, Debbie, and Michelle (hey, they all weight train, too!), you will see a difference.

As an added bonus, there's also a 8-minute power workout included. Actually, it really runs 15-minutes - there's a 7-minute warmup that for some reason isn't factored into the total running time.

My main gripe with this TB DVD is the same as always - Billy sometimes neglects to repeat an exercise the same number of times on each side. This can of course be remedied by alternating your starting side so that one day your left side does more work, the next day your right side gets more reps, and so on. Otherwise, an awesome workout!

First of all, let me say that I am the biggest advocate for this work out series. It engages all parts of the body (yes, even the flabby waist). I HATE weight lifting. This work out tones you in addition to burning fat. The moves are difficult at times, but nothing that the average person can't figure out with some practice.

I've tried all kinds of work out videos, and most of them pretty much amount to "oh goody, another set of lunges." Tae Bo is fun, heart pumping, and really gets you into an energized "Kick butt" mode. Best of all, Billy is friendly, encouraging, and urges you to incorporate your spirit as well as your body and mind.

About this DVD: First of all, it's an all around good buy, with 2 long workouts and one 8 minute (which is different than the original one, and much harder).

I've been doing Workout 1 for about a month, and it still gets my heart pounding. On my lazier days, I sometimes even have to stop and rest. It incorporates a great deal of cardio, and Billy really shows you no mercy throughout most of it. My only complaint is all the standing butt exercises he does towards the end, which require a lot of balance and control. I usually end up skipping this part and doing Tae Bo Abs Boot Camp to make up for it.

Workout 2 is hard, but in a less "Oh sweet Lord, ANOTHER set??" sort of way. Personally I find it more fun, and a little less stressfull on the body.

Okay, I have just one problem: Michelle, the certified "Malibu Naturals Girl" who also got her lovely picture on the DVD cover. I would advise you not to watch her during the workout, as she is often way off-beat and doing the moves wrong. Just keep your eye on Billy and Shellie (Billy's adopted daughter) and you'll get everything down in no time.

Seriously, if you're already familiar with the classic Tae Bo moves, get this video to really take it to the next level. I'd even recommend it over the new Boot Camp series, which tends to rely too heavily on muscle-agonizing squat thrusts and about 80 different "Billy Band" arm exercises. Those workouts just tear your muscles down and leave you with painful exercise-hangovers. Those are the workouts you end up abandoning quickly, because it's simply not worth it.

These two advanced workouts will burn the fat, sculpt you, and show you an all-around good time. Get 'em.

I have been workin out for 6 months now on and off with Billy Blanks' First set of workouts ("Begginers, Intermediate and Advanced Workout"). I have now been only using the advanced segment for the last 2 months and I felt it was gettin a little boring. So, I looked on amazon and I found this Get Ripped Advanced Workout hoping I would be able to Follow it. I had no problem following Billy on both Advanced segments which are an hour each!! You definately feel the burn and sweat your butt off with these!! Also, I found that it was comforting that the first workout doesn't involve floor work, but the next day I DID FEEL THE BURN ON THE SIDES OF MY ABS...WITHOUT FLOOR WORK!! This DVD is totally worth the money and you can alternate between his old DVD and this one! There's also an 8 minutes section that's a killer!! Buy it now! I was really surprised!! =)

Excellent DVD, I've watched the inches disappear in the few weeks since I bought it. A very diffrent format from the Original Tae Bo - average people instead of all instructors, a lot of camera work and so forth- but every bit as good, maybe a little bit tougher.

I would recommend buying the Original first, to get the basics down and to sort of see the evolution of the series.

I have excellent aerobic fitness and muscle tone. Last year, I was very involved with Shaolin martial arts. I can run several miles without a problem. I take very tough cross training and kickboxing classes at my local gym. When I can't make it to the gym and I don't feel like running, I put in this DVD. I can usually get through the first hour although I am sweaty and breathing hard by the end and feeling a pretty deep burn at the end of the some of the exercises. If I keep going and try to do the second, then it just plain kills. If you're like me and need a strenous workout to feel something, then this is the only DVD to get. I haven't found anything else that makes me work as hard. It is a great substitute when you can't get out of the house.

I just bought this DVD yesterday, despite all the negative technical reviews. I was happy to see that it was indeed the same workout I had on VHS a few years ago that I loved. I did those tapes for 1.5 months, without changing the way I ate, and lost five pounds and dropped a dress size. Okay, so I also had to build up to it for a few weeks, but the results were phenomenal.

Unfortunately, I stopped due to going back to school. NOT because the workout was boring. His energy is contagious! Really, if I had kept going, I would have been a size 4 by now.

I think that if you can run a mile you can do this workout straight through. Even if you can run farther, as certain long distance runner's reviews say, this workout will still challenge all of your muscles for a great workout.

I say, even if you are not quite up there, you should still get advanced and take marching-breaks or only do half, so that you have something to work towards. Much more of an expandable workout that way.

Okay, so the technical issues. Back when I did this all the time, I mirrored him and did the reverse of what he is saying. I don't think that women really have to worry about bulking up unevenly from this workout not being even on both sides. These issues are not too much of a problem, given the results.

I think that Shelley, who others complain about, is an inspiration. She is like the Matrix meets reality. I see her and strive to be like that. I don't think she's annoying at all, but instead she drive me to try just a little harder...

This workout gave me the same weight loss results I got from running 4 to 5+ miles straight per day. (This was last year around this time. I'm really good at picking up exercises, getting good, and dropping them.) Plus, I didn't have the urge to consume entire pizzas, which kinda grossed me out about running that much...

It really does tone while it melts fat. That sounds so silly, but it's true. I can't wait to get back to it (have to get home first), and lose a few!!

I tried Tae Bo to replace some of the running I do, which has been hard on my back. At first, I didn't think this workout would
be challenging, as I had been a regular runner and in pretty good shape. But it is definitely challenging, and works the entire body... I was quite sore the first few times I did the workouts. After a couple months, the moves are still challenging and I am dripping sweat at the end of the session.
If you are a beginner, try the Basic workout first- this is a faster pace and for those who already work out. The music can get annoying after awhile, but you can always turn it down.
Overall, two great workouts!