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4.0 out of 5 stars
Intermediate to advance workout, Jun 9 2006
This review is from: Caribbean Workout - Kickboxing (DVD)
I have purchased the 2-in-1 Aerobics & Kickboxing set, of the 2 i prefer the Kickboxing since the routines are a little easier to catch on to but the intensity is still very high. The DVD offers a combined workout like step and kick. The only problem is the required space in your living room, and you will need a lot more if you try the Aerobics DVD. I had to push out the sofas to be able to move freely and sometimes i had to stand still or else i would've kicked my TV off the furniture. Overall it could be a great fitness program if you are already in good shape and have the space at home.
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4.0 out of 5 stars
great intro to kickboxing, Feb 18 2007
This review is from: Caribbean Workout - Kickboxing (DVD)
This is my first real experience with kickboxing. This is a short workout, but I find it both challenging and effective. It offers great cardio-not to mention that it's a great way to release aggression! It's a surprisingly effective workout for the abdominals. Moves are simple and easy to follow, but do require some balance. Personally, I didn't find that this workout required an unusual amount of floorspace; I have an 8'x5' carpet in my living room and only 2 moves require me to "step off" my carpet space. My only complaints are that some moves are not repeated on both the left and right sides, and, some of the (attempted) video-production special effects throw the timing of certain moves off. Overall, a good investment- I use this workout often!
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25 of 25 people found the following review helpful
3.0 out of 5 stars
Versatile and pretty, but not my favorite., Dec 3 2005
By Sheri in Reho - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Caribbean Workout - Kickboxing (DVD)
There are four kickboxing workouts to choose from on this DVD--two that include an aerobic step and two that do not. I am already quite familiar with kickboxing moves, having used Tae-Bo Cardio, the 10-Minute Solution Kickbox Bootcamp and a Quickfix Kickbox workout. Because the cueing (letting you know what move is coming next) is inconsistent, there were times I had to march in place until I could figure out what I was supposed to do. I found the choreography in the step workout especially confounding and, considering I'm very familiar with kickboxing, I don't think that's a good sign (how is a person new to kickboxing supposed to keep up?). What makes it worse is that there are times when you are transitioning to a new move and you can hear her describing it but, instead of the camera person showing you their full bodies (or at least their feet so you can see what to do), he/she is busy zooming in on one of the exerciser's faces or chest. I found this beyond obnoxious. I had done one Caribbean Workout previously, so I knew to expect the cut-outs where the commercials were when it aired on FitTV. However, I don't remember that workout feeling so disjointed when the "blackouts" cut out and back in as it was in this workout. At least once, it even came back to different music...and every time it came back, they were on a different foot than I was so I had to stop to get back in step with them. Not a HUGE deal, but annoying. Also, while the Barbados locations certainly make for a pretty aesthetic, I really wish they would wait for a time when you're in a long period of repetition before they go off filming the waves and such...not being able to see the person you're supposed to be following is really disruptive, especially during a transition to another move. What I did love was a lot of punching and kicking, and the step workouts were an especially good workout. I don't think I would do the step workout again, because I felt that the step took away from the feel of kickboxing (not to mention the confusing choreography). While I really enjoyed portions of the non-step workout, I am glad that I didn't buy this DVD.
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
Fun, short kickboxing workouts..., Oct 12 2005
By Teedums - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Caribbean Workout - Kickboxing (DVD)
I have seen bits and pieces of these workouts on Fit TV, and thought I would get the DVD's. These are a great bargain, you get 4 - 20 minute workouts. Two of them use a step, the other two do not. Although the two workouts that do use a step, one of the background exercisers does not use a step so you can follow along with her if you do not have a step or do not feel comfortable using one. You will still get a good workout without a step. I often do cardio following my strength workouts so these are nice as add-ons, or just on there own. Plus they are short enough that you could do 2 or 3 of them if you wanted to. Each workout contains a brief warmup and cooldown, and there are brief commercial breaks where the screen goes black, but it is for just seconds, not too distracting. The routines are fun and easy to follow, lots of punches and kicks, some in combination with step moves for the workouts that call for a step. Some of the moves you will see in all the workouts, which might bother some but didn't bother me at all. Shelly McDonald lead the workouts and she is joined by Carolyn and Joanna. All three of them are in great shape. Shelly is a friendly instructor with lots of enthusiasm, and seems to be having a good time. She is good about including the background exercisers in conversation and makes it look as if she is working out with her friends. It seems like a nice atmosphere which draws me in and I have a good time along with them. The workouts are filmed in Barbados at various locations, on the beach or at the Sugar Hill Resort poolside that overlooks the ocean. The scenery is worth the price of the workouts alone. These would be more suitable for those already familiar with kickboxing as there isn't much explanation on how to do the moves, but those advanced would likely find these workouts too easy. But they are lots of fun, the music energetic, great deal for the price. Highly recommended.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
3.0 out of 5 stars
Great potential ruined by camera angles and production, Jan 27 2007
By Michelle "amesiowa" - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Caribbean Workout - Kickboxing (DVD)
It is so disappointing when a workout video could be great and is ruined by a production crew who obviously has never done a workout video. The setting of these videos is beautiful, the routines are interesting and heart-raising, and the instructor(s) competent. However, even for someone with LOTS of experience with both kickboxing and step aerobics, this workout was very difficult to follow. The reason for this is that at almost every transition to beginning a new move, the camera is focused on a close up shot of one of the instructors from the chest up and YOU CAN'T SEE THEIR FEET. This isn't just a momentary distraction...at some points the instructors shift to a new combination but the camera doesn't show their full body or feet for over a minute (during which I was marching and swearing, "show me their *&^%% feet!".) Because the instructor uses step-instructor language but with a different than normal meaning (e.g. her "V step" is actually step up to the side, tap the other foot on that side too, step to the other side, tap the second foot, step down and tap), the fact that you can't see her feet makes her verbal cues meaningless. Additionally, there are four 20ish minute segments on the DVD. Each has its own chapter, warm-up and cool down. Unfortunately, if you want to do more than one segment at a time, you have to forward through not only the medical warning but also a 1 minute commercial for other videos at the beginning of EVERY segment. Thus, after you complete 20 minute segment #1, to do segment #2, you must again forward through medical warning and commercial. I can't say that I'll never do this video, because I like the concept of step and kickboxing combined. However, if I had known about the production errors, I wouldn't have purchased it.
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