Rating: 
Summary: Work up a sweat and have fun
Review: Kathy Smith is one of the grande dames of the home-fitness market, and rightfully so. Her workouts are fun and accessible for beginners while still providing a challenge for more advanced exercisers, and her Kickboxing workout is no exception.I've done several of Kathy's other DVDs and I've found this one to be a great cardio challenge. Don't be intimidated when you do this the first time and feel like you've missed half the workout - it moves fast and if you've never kickboxed before the moves take a little time to master. After doing this tape 3 or 4 times I had it all down, and I'm probably one of the most uncoordinated people ever. Once you get into the groove the workout is excellent and will really get your heartrate up. I was surprised to find that it's an especially great workout for your upper back and shoulders - my delts were definitely sore the first few times. That said, while the pace of this workout seems almost too fast at times, that pace helps make the time fly while you're working out. I'm an avid clock-watcher during my workouts and I hardly ever look over at it doing this one. Alternate this tape with QuickFix TotalMix (a very nice strength/toning DVD) and you'll be shocked at how quickly you can get into shape.
Rating:
Summary: Best on DVD
Review: I agree with the majority of positive opinions out there, but the DVD is the best way to go for this. I have 2 Kathy Smith DVD's and they are both customizable. The real advantage to DVD here is that the DVD has three different workouts: kickboxing, kickboxing challenge, and Tai Chi. There is also a "Learn the Moves" selection that teaches the fundamental moves. You can select an option to customize, and with a few quick buttons you have a fully customized workout, making the DVD worth the extra couple of bucks. The workout on the VHS is good, but I would strongly recommend going the DVD route, just for the extra 2 workouts. Varying your exercise routine is by far the best way to achieve fitness results, and it keeps you from getting bored with the same old video night after night. All of her videos are high quality and focused on safety, and the VHS is still a great standalone workout if you don't like DVD.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful video! Highly recommend!
Review: I got this video and was unsure if I would like it. I had tried the Aeroboxing video and liked it except for the jumprope portion. After doing this video though I realize that it is a complete workout leaving you energized! I don't mind doing this video and even not being highly coordinated, and even that is greatly improving! It is fun, you will see results in your body and attitude!
Rating:
Summary: Excellent workout!! Love it!!!
Review: This is one of my favorite cardio workouts!!! I have many DVD's & tapes. I feel awesome afterwards. It may be a bit tough to get the moves down but, keep trying. It is fully worth it. Excellent for stress relief!!! I rotate to a new cardio workout DVD/tape every 4-5 weeks and I can't wait until it is time to do this one again.
Rating: 
Summary: Boring....
Review: Well, I'm not saying it's a "BAD" workout...I just felt it was a little slow...okay, VERY slow. I didn't break a sweat and could barely finish it. I felt that I was standing around most of the time waiting to get started. I personally like Billy Blank's Tae Bo's MUCH more and find they are much better workouts.
Rating:
Summary: Basic martial arts moves in an excellent aerobics routine
Review: --"Kathy Smith's Kickboxing Workout" works your arms, legs, abs and back in a fun, well-taught cardio routine. The moves are based on punches and kicks (jab, hook, upper cut, elbow strike, front kick, side kick, roundhouse kick, jumping front kick). This workout offers useful conditioning and explanations of form for anyone, especially if you are beginning to study the martial arts. Cuing is exceptionally good.
-- As an intermediate/advanced aerobic-step exerciser just beginning to try kickboxing, I find the "beginner/intermediate" label on the package to be accurate. The workout offers new challenges, especially in balance, speed, coordination, precision of movement, and leg flexibility. The punches work the arms and shoulders more effectively than most aerobics workouts, and the kicks work the abs. True beginners, just make the moves smaller and do what you can; you will see lots of progress if you stick with it. The moves are interesting but not complicated.
-- 10-minute warm-up, 25-minute kickboxing routine (with instruction built in very effectively), 5-minute kicking drill, 3-minute stretch, plus 5-minute "bonus" abs and back stability exercises. You need a chair, a mat and enough room to kick; stand back or turn diagonally so you don't kick the TV! There is a lot of bouncing up and down with feet apart in a boxing stance.
-- Kathy Smith runs the workout well, with no whooping or howling. Karate expert Keith Cooke explains the moves. He comes across as a very nice guy and excellent teacher. Little split-screen displays pop up with Keith showing the correct form. Keli Roberts (who has her own exercise videos) runs one sequence. She is awesome but she reminds me of the East German Women's Olympic Swim Team (remember those bad old days?).
-- The set looks like a boxing ring. The music has a good beat. There is a mix of ethnic backgrounds among the six-person-total workout team, and they wear modest boxing-style clothes (unlike Billy Blanks in "Tae Bo", which I am too embarrassed even to look at).
Rating: 
Summary: Good cardiovascular activity that'll make you feel stronger!
Review: This is a good cardio DVD to include as part of a varied exercise program. (This is primarily for exercise, not for self defense, but you will feel strong enough to stand your ground after using it.) It is best suited to someone who is not a newcomer to exercise, as you will need some stamina, but it is intended for relative newcomers to kickboxing. Make sure you take advantage of the tutorials and Keith Cooke's pointers. If possible, have a mirror in your workout space or a friend to check your posture and form.
The DVD advertises three workouts: the basic kickboxing workout (45 minutes), a more advanced kickboxing workout (55 minutes--it's the basic workout with 10 minutes of strength conditioning type exercises added on), and a Tai Chi-based workout (12 minutes). I have no previous experience with Tai Chi, so I found this workout confusing and not very helpful, although Keli's stretching segment isn't bad. I usually do the warm-up, the 25 minutes of cardio (which really works your body and heart), the kicking drill using a chair, and the cool down (but make sure you stretch out your other hip flexor). The abs and back strengthening section, which comes after the cool down for some reason, is very challenging and a nice change from crunches, but I usually skip that to do Pilates.
As an instructor, Kathy Smith is very perky and encouraging, but not too much so. She is aware of her program and evens her reps out well. The music isn't bad and is easy to tune out. The camara operators use some funny angles and effects, not always at optimal times, but overall the program is visually and audibly easy to follow.
I purchased this DVD after using a Tae-bo DVD. Tae-bo users will know that there is no intermediate level workout on those tapes. I find that Kathy Smith's Kickboxing DVD fills in that gap. It's more challenging and interesting than Billy Blanks' Basic programs, with more combinations. In fact, I'm no longer using Tae-bo but sticking with kickboxing.
Rating:
Summary: This workout is awesome!
Review: I LOVE this video! I've used it since it came out about 3 years ago and I'm still not bored. I also rotate this tape with tae-bo, but I prefer this one. Kathy Smith is a much better teacher than Billy Blanks. She cues well. Also, at certain points, Tae-bo requires double-time kicks when I think the fast movement actually hurts my joints and encourages bad form. I took 3 months to travel cross country this summer and gained about 20 pounds (because of long hours in the car and fast food). Thanks to workouts like this, I've lost more than I gained!
Rating:
Summary: Kickboxing?
Review: I have no experience in Kickboxing, have studied Kung Fu, and Tae Kwan Do (to a slightly higher than novice level). These moves are familiar and easy to follow. I was able to pace myself without getting behind when the workout picked up to double time. There are sections of the DVD that have additional detail on the moves to help you with proper form. So now the negatives... Skipping forward a track takes me to the middle of a routine which is annoying ( I have only done this a couple times - I know - cheating), and maybe it is me, but the music is not keeping time with the moves... Latter in the workout I was tripping over my feet until I became more familiar with the workout ( once I did catch on, I felt good about the accomplishment), and there is a Tai Chi section that seems a little fast (Once again no expertise speaking here, just a comparison with two Tai Chi videos I have) If I were to compare it to another video (I own), Tae Bo is the closest. If you have never ever studied any type of martial art, I suggest you find an expert to help you. I really do enjoy this workout, and to me the negatives are acceptable.
Rating:
Summary: A lot of FUN!
Review: I have a lot of fun with this video. I will admit, like a lot of other workouts, it takes some getting used to. I had to do this three times before I learned all the routines. There are very few workouts that I can pick up on the first try.
Kathy Smith and Keith Cooke take you through every move and I don't think they are too fast to keep up with. They stress to go at your own pace, anyway. (Taebo is just too fast for me) The first time I used this video, my back muscles were a little sore. I also lift light weights (Kathy Smith's weight training of course), so I am used to using my back and arm muscles. I like this video much more than her 'Aerobox Workout'.
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