Billy Blanks: Tae Bo Cardio Explosion

Billy Blanks: Tae Bo Cardio Explosion is a workout session that is comparable to  Billy Blanks: Tae Bo Advanced  in the sense that it is filmed in the same studio with the same smaller group of participants. Tae Bo Advanced is a longer workout; it is slightly more intense and does not include a warm-up. Together, these two sessions complement each other and can be used alternately. Both DVDs feature some jumps and push-up moves that make the workout a bit more intense than Billy's usual kick and punch sequences.Tae Bo Explosion advertises a 67 minute exercise program and while, yes, the entire video does have over 60 minutes of feed, it includes the Tutorial portion time in its overall length. The actual Cardio portion is around 52 minutes; this includes a warm-up, cool-down and Billy's usual motivational words.The music on this workout is comparable to that on the Tae Bo Advanced (Please, do not confuse "Advanced" with the original Advanced workout that came out in the 1990s or the Advanced Live sessions) DVD-its muted, computer generated and fairly paced to keep your heart rate moving. Of course, Billy does introduce each of his sequences at the slower pace and then "explodes" into his faster cardio rhythm. For the most part, he keeps both sides exercised and does not include any awkward sequences that break the momentum.On the whole, you will get out of this workout what you put into it. If you concentrate on Billy's instructions, and focus on your body while you perform each of the moves, fast or slow, you will find yourself perfecting each kick and punch and working the parts of the body intended. If Billy's slow moves are too slow, you can pick up the pace yourself by lifting your legs more. When he halts the movements slightly by getting a little too motivational, just run in place or do jumping jacks to keep your heart rate up.This workout contains no floor work other than a few plank moves that evolve into in place runner's sprints.Bottom line? Tae Bo Cardio Explosion is a good 50 minute workout which includes a good beginning stretch and cool down. The pace is adequate. Use it in conjunction with other Tae Bo DVDs for variety. Wish Billy would bring back his original 12 Advanced Live Workouts--the music on these sessions were great, motivational and upbeat. Recommended despite the tinny music.Diana Faillace Von Behren"reneofc"

This is my 3rd purchase of Billy Blanks Tae Bo DvD's. I rated this one 4 Stars for the following reasons:1) This workout was much more difficult than his "This Is Tae Bo" workout. Beginners Beware! this one will leave you crawling on the floor gasping for air and water.2) Cardio Explosion doesn't fit some of the exercises. At the end of this video he does some machine gun sidekicks. Not exactly an "EXPLOSION". I viewed an Explosion as an intensity, Hard punching not fast punching, Hard solid form kicks not machine gun kicks.3)***Observation**** He added stretching at the front and back of this DvD. I am now very used to doing my own stretching routine and then turning on the DvD ready to go. I was let down a little to find out he added that so now I did 2 rounds of stretching.4) Few things I like: The combination of kicks, Doing speedbag while jumping, the hammer fist exercises, the Backfist exercises.5) Things I dislike: Stretching front and back of DvD, Jumping jack Punches, Machine gun sidekicks, Leg lifts were way too fast and some exercises were way too fast.I like this DvD but I was a wee bit disappointed. I'll keep it in my library though. The workout is a bit shorter due to the stretching at the front and back of the DvD. I purchased the "This is Tae Bo" DvD and I like it the best. I'll Flip Flop these 2 vids to keep it mixed a bit.

I workout 5 or more days a week (walking, Zumba, elliptical, Pilates), and this DVD kicked my butt. I couldn't do all the quick reps as fast as Banks and his crew, but I hung in there the best I could. My heart rate was up and I was really sweating, so I'd say this was great for calorie burn and muscle strengthening.The full working is about 55 minutes: 5 min of active stretching at the start, 45 minutes of intense cardio kickboxing, and about 5 min of cooling down & stretching. The disc has a tutorial that I didn't watch, only because I have taken kickboxing and done older Banks videos before.Advice: Work on getting the moves down correctly, especially the footwork, before you try too hard to do the quick "explosion" versions of the moves. It is more important that your body is in the correct position than it is do it quickly, or you risk injury. Also, be sure you can easily pivot on whatever surfacing you're working out on. You don't want your feet to stick and then twist your knees.Lastly, I can't do floor moves that require supporting myself on my hands (wrist problems), so I just grabbed my hand weights and ran in place or did lunges/curls during those few moves. But most of the moves are not on the floor.I do really like this DVD and will be using it a few times a week.

I wanted a workout that was a little longer than the 30 minute ones I have at home. Saw that this was 67 minutes long in the information. However, the actual workout is only 52 minutes long (The other minutes must be from the tutorial). BUT...its a great fast workout. I will admit when they go for the 'explosion' part (meaning double time) it is very hard to keep form. I think that will come better as I get stronger.The absolute best thing about this workout is we got to the end and I thought.. we are cooling down? Are we going to abs or something? That can't be almost an hour..and it WAS! This workout goes by SO INCREDIBLY fast - and THAT I love! LOL!!!There is one section of burpees.. I can't do those due to a fused wrist bone, so I just did whatever else I could for that quick minute. Was glad to see that set of moves was the only one on the floor like that and didn't last long.I really like it and the parts where I couldn't kept up I went at my own pace, if I couldn't do the double-time moves - I did them fast as I could - never stopped moving. All in all a really good workout that changes up so often that time passes quickly.Awesome!

more than perfect

Finally-a cardio DVD that IS Cardio. I was able to keep my heart rate up the entire time. I like how Billy goes slow at first and then blasts off...however the constant "12345678" counting that his background crew does for EVERY SINGLE MOVE gets quite annoying after a while. Some moves are very tricky but its a well done DVD!

I've been doing Tae Bo 3 times a week for the last year. So I've done 4 workouts and they had a lot of the same things in them. But this one surprised me, new moves, new combinations, loads of challenges. I really enjoyed it! The only minus is that I live in the second floor so I can't jump and there was 3combinaisons with jumps, that I have either to modify or to skip. But aside that, it was a refreshing change and an excellent workout!

This work out gives me that boost of energy afterwards. It really works the muscles, I like how it is fast paced to keep you moving. There is not much time between exercises which keeps you motivated. The music and the counting helps keep you motivated because it introduced a rhythm to keep up to. The only downside is after a while it gets repetitive which all work out DVDs do but I would recommend this one.

This is one of the best work outs ever. You feel your entire body has worked out each time you do this. The title is really accurate. Amazing results from my abs and thighs lost some weight already and body is more firm. I like the workout