Tae-Bo Workout; Instructional and Basic (TaeBo; The ultimate total body workout for men and women)

Personally, I would recommend Kathy Smith's Kickboxing Workout if you are interested in a similar type of workout. It is easy to follow, provides a great workout (approx. 45 minutes) & is much more affordable than Tae-Bo. Also, for you females out there , any video by Donna Richardson is wonderful (not to exclude males, but her videos typically feature all women & are more geared towards women). She has a variety of aerobic & strength training workouts & she is extremely motivating. My favorite of hers is the 4-day rotation workout...great when you are busy and only have time to fit in a short, but effective, workout. The video includes four 15-minute strength training workouts, 1 each for abs, arms, thighs, and buns. Anyway, I hate to go rambling on about other videos...but I have discovered in the past few years how much of a difference exercise can make and I hope my recommendations can help someone else discover the same.

My concluding thoughts about Tae-Bo are: 1) If you really must try it, go rent it at the video store first (many stores carry workout videos) before spending the money. 2) Look into some other videos because there are better ones out there. 3) Don't believe all the hype...TaeBo isn't THAT great. 4) Finally, I just can't resist this one... I know it doesn't matter because the workout is what counts, but what is up with the CHEESY set & the flashing lights (during double time segments) that they used in the video?...I'm telling you it looks like it came straight from the 80's and the music is BAD. I could come up with a better set & film a better fitness video with a few of my friends, some CDs, and a camcorder. Sure seems like a money making scheme to me.


The Instructional Tape is not meant to be a workout!   March 28, 2000
87 out of 89 found this review helpful

When ordering this tape, you will want to buy the Basic also. The Instructional tape tells you how to perform the moves. I use the Basic tape and refer to the Instructional whenever I feel I need to improve my form. Taebo is a very fun and effective way to get in shape!


this is not a workout folks!   February 23, 2000
juliette wages (Plantation, FL United States)
78 out of 82 found this review helpful

lord have mercy, for all of those of you who say this workout sucks or is not a great workout, hello, this is not meant to be a workout. Do you realize what Instructional means? this is showing you the moves. so please, do not expect a workout with this tape. it is only INSTRUCTING. once you have viewed the moves, then you will realize the rest of the tae bo tapes are worth purchasing.


This instructional video is great!   November 17, 1999
65 out of 67 found this review helpful

I have never seen an instructional video as thorough as this. Billy takes the time to explain to you how to properly execute every move. If you are looking for a video to help you get started or if you have a Blanks video and you are not sure if you are executing the moves correctly this is a must have. One thing to point out is this an instructional video and not the actual workout video. Beware you still will work up a sweat!


Aerobics for the clumsy   March 26, 2002
61 out of 64 found this review helpful

I am not an exercise fanatic. I'm not even an exerciser. I don't like being sweaty, I don't like being worn out, and I don't like being around people who do like those things. Plus, I am just not the most physically coordinated person on earth. I remember a soccer game in gym class, my sophomore year in high school, in which I tripped over my own feet four times. Part of that was probably nervousness, but even now, nearly ten years later, I occasionally stumble into a doorway as I'm walking through it, even alone in my own apartment. I could fall down and somehow miss the floor, I'm so clumsy.

You won't believe this--I can do Tae-Bo.

The moves are easy. I mean, E A S Y. It's an incredibly efficient system of very basic punches and kicks that truly do work the entire body. I've been doing the Basic workout now for just under a month, and I can see muscle pairs developing that I have never seen on myself. Not only that, but I can do this workout, every day, in my living room, without tripping myself up. Or knocking anything over. Or even stepping on my cat.

You will get tired, and sweaty, but after all that's the point of an aerobics workout. I find Billy Blanks a lot less annoying than most the people on these kinds of tapes; he has a an engaging presence and takes the workout seriously, but not too seriously. This is the first experience I've had with doing anything athletic where I felt real success, and I recommend it to people whenever the opportunity arises. If you decide to try it, I suspect you will, too.