Rating: 
Summary: more professional than TaeBo
Review: After 2 months of TaeBo, I wanted some change in my aerobic routine, so on the advice of many here at Amazon, I tried Kathy Smith and am Very impressed. This video is much more professional than Billy Blank's. The instruction is precise and clear and comes at various points during the workout. She performs routines on each side for the same number of reps, unlike TaeBo which often loses track of the count and even what steps are being done. The music is much better and not in the way. This is a difficult workout and I could not finish it the first few times. Also, I am not very coordinated and have a hard time keeping my arms and legs and punches and kicks in synch when the routine gets complicated. I do recommend this video if you want a tough workout that is safe and easy to understand.
Rating: 
Summary: Great Workout!
Review: I bought this kickboxing workout video instead of the Taebo video because of all the great reviews. When I actually tried it, I was very impressed at the simple instructions and careful camera angles. I have other videos in which the instructor is doing some fancy footwork and the camera is shooting a close-up of the face! That gets really annoying because I end up not knowing what's going on for a few seconds. With this one, I was able to keep up with the routine the entire time. Kathy even cues you in at all the appropriate times. And by the end, I worked up a good sweat. All in all, it's a great workout!
Rating:
Summary: Lots of sweat!
Review: I have now been doing this video for 2 weeks. Before I purchased this video, I was a daily Tae Bo user, but I was BURNT OUT! I read some of the other reviews of Kathy Smith's kickboxing video, and it looked pretty good. I have to agree--this video is better than Tae Bo in terms of flow. You actually do the same number of sets on each side (unlike Tae Bo). It allows you to do the movements with more control because it's not as fast. But don't let that fool you--this video definitely works up a sweat just as good as Tae Bo. I feel like I could do this video for several months without getting tired of it. At least I hope so.
Rating:
Summary: Another great Kathy Smith tape!
Review: This is a tough work-out to do at first but gets easier when you get it down. I lost my last 15 pounds with this work-out and found that it really toned up my body and got me in shape. Kathy Smith is the best instructor out there and I am only going to buy her tapes from now on. They are the only ones I can stick too and she is in no way 'annoying'. She is very intelligent and educated on fitness. Most of the negative reviews are from catty women and I would take them with a grain of salt. If you are really out of shape and obese, I wouldn't try this one yet. It's very intense and requires a lot of endurance at first. When you are in okay to good shape, then use this tape to get the last stubborn pounds off. No work-out or Diet was ever able to get me to a size 6 and this tape did it. If you love to eat and hate to work-out like me, then buy this tape.
Rating:
Summary: Goes by very quick!
Review: This video is fun, short and easy to learn. If there is any down side to it, its only the exceedingly long introduction and the choice of workout partners. Kelli Roberts is VERY annoying (the person to Kathy's right in the video). She (Kelli) seems to want to be the star of the video. Otherwise, a thoroughly enjoyable video.
Rating: 
Summary: Not As Good As I Though It Would Be
Review: If you haven't yet jumped on the Billy Blank's Tae-Bo bandwagon and are looking for a good kickboxing workout, skip this one and pick up Tae-Bo instead. I didn't find it inspiring nor something to get me motivated to exercise 5-6 days a week like Tae-Bo did so well for me. While both Tae-Bo and Kathy Smith's tape provide an excellent cardiovascular and stretch workout, Tae-Bo was happy and fun to do while the atmosphere in Kathy Smith's kickboxing workout is a real turnoff- very cold and uninviting. The setting is a dark grey and black warehouse, with boxing posters and red boxing gloves plastered and strewn everywhere. I found that in particular to be innapropriate and a turnoff as kickboxing tapes today are meant to be fun and arobic and can have nothing to do with boxing the sport for most people. The music is also much too intense and the deep bass is pulsating and annoying- I had to turn down the sound nearly all the way in order to do the workout comfortably. I consider this still a nice variety for Tae-Bo fanatics only- but I wouldn't use it even 50/50 with Tae-Bo combined- just every once in a while. The change is nice because the steps include some new and different ones. Regarding my feelings why it should not be considered a replacement to Tae-Bo, in addition to what I already mentioned Tae-Bo has a beginners tape and an advanced tape, as well as Tae-Bo gold for elderly people and another one for kids, and there is only one Kathy Smith kickboxing tape available which I found to be about the level difficulty of Tae-Bo beginners. I can not recommend Tae-Bo highly enough- and if you're as devoted as I am, pick this one up for a change every once in a while- but it's not something to exchange Billy Blanks for nor to write home about.
Rating:
Summary: A Must-Have For Anyone Wanting Results
Review: After having a baby, I've tried to get back into a workout routine. I've tried Tae Bo, Low Impact, MTV Grind, Jane Fonda-- and nothing comes even remotely close to this intense, fun, safe-- and result-giving workout. If you don't have a DVD player-- this is the best reason to buy one. The design allows me to select exactly what I want to do and provides me unparalleled versaitility. The music alone inspires you to get off the couch and get moving. Kathy's motivational tone and instruction is another huge benefit. Within a VERY short period of time, I saw dramatic results. My calves and quads are hard as a rock. My "saddlebags" are non-existent and my butt is becoming something to look forward to putting in a pair of jeans. Most importantly, this is a SAFE workout. Impressed with the number and quality of stretches before and after, my physical therapist is now looking into getting her own copy. I've told all my friends to get this and to be ready to be amazed. You WILL get addicted and you WILL get in shape.
Rating: 
Summary: Fun for experienced kickboxers, NOT FOR BEGINNERS
Review: I started kickboxing with this video, only to find it too challenging. Though Kathy instructs you on careful and precise movements and good posture, you are really better off going to a class first where someone not only instructs you but checks that you are doing the moves correctly. However, after learning how to do the moves correctly, this video is excellent, though occasionally repetitive. Kathy and her friend can be a little bit annoying, but once you break a sweat, they are the last thing you're thinking about!
Rating:
Summary: Better than tae bo!
Review: highly recommend! great workout in short amount of time. don't waste your money on tae bo, i wish i hadn't! this tape has a thorough 10 minute warm-up and a full 25 minutes of kick-boxing. the moves are explained and demonstrated in a safe manner. this tape is good for beginner to advanced, because you can adjust the intensity for all fitness levels.
Rating:
Summary: Awesome Advanced Workout!
Review: Definitely not for the first time kickboxer! This workout gets your heartrate up FAST. No one is better at gradually building up moves into a routine- I never feel like I'll trip over my own 2 feet with this workout!
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