This video is perfect for those who have been
stepping for quite a while and need a change of pace. Tim
Culwell is an upbeat instructor, and the music is
high-energy. Lots of power moves and very interesting
combinations. Once you learn all the moves, Tim goes
through it all from the very top - keeping you mentally
challenged too!.
Eileen
Boettcher
It kinda looks like a low-budget production, but it
is great fun. I've been stepping since the steps were
introduced, but my club has fallen behind the power
curve. Tim's video had lots of really interesting new
combinations with a sort of "funky" flavor to
them. The choreography is somewhat complex, but very well
cued and easy to follow. The step portion is about 40
minutes long, but once you've built up the routine, it's
fun to rewind it and do it "from the top" a
couple more times.
anonymous
I really enjoyed Tim Culwell's Cardio Jam. Its one of my
favorite tapes, and I have just about all of the major
video stars. The choreography is interesting, and not
hard to follow. I am an experienced stepper, but I did
not have a hard time following this video for the first
time. It's a sufficient workout but I did not find it as
intense as his Creative Stepps Videos. The stepping
portion is long enough to get a good workout, though, and
the queing is excellent. I recommend this video to all
intermediate/experienced steppers who want to try some
cool coreography. This video is very much like the
workout you well get in a Health Club atmosphere.
Kathy Lapinski
Tim Culwell's Club Cardio Jam
I love this, I love this, I love this! This tape is
so much fun, I have to make myself NOT do it every day.
The music is superb -- real upbeat and motivating. The
choreography is fun, too. Tim starts with basic to
intermediate moves, and builds them into a challenging
but do-able routine. Beginners would probably have a
tough time with some of the steps, but they can be
learned pretty easily with practice. The intensity is
pretty high, which beginners would also find difficult.
I use 2 risers on my step with this one, and by the
end of the workout, I feel like I've worked real hard but
had a great time doing it. I don't get bored at all,
despite the fact that you build on to one routine over
and over, and by the end, you're still doing that one
routine. There's enough "new stuff" so that you
don't feel like you're doing the same thing over and
over.
The music is a little funky, and Tim adds a little
funky
attitude here and there, but it's not real dancy or
complex. He also shows power moves that you can leave out
if you'd rather not do them.
The cover of this tape says "Volume 1," so
I hope that means we can look forward to more in this
series. It's fantastic!
Annie S.
I ordered Cardio Club Jam for a change of pace, and
because it received some good reviews here. All I have to
say about this tape is ACK, PTOOEY. It plain stinks. The
combos were dull, and he did one big one throughout the
tape, just kept adding on. At what seemed like the
hundredth time through I stopped the tape in disgust.
He'd also show the basic move, then show an alternative
"with attitude" way to do it. I hate that crap.
What is this stupid "attitude" thing some
instructors seem to think you need to have a fun workout?
The cameramen filming each other as they ran around the
set was pretty tacky as well. From now on I stick with
Cathe Friedrich. No more experimenting for me. For sale:
Club Cardio Jam, used once.
Debbie Kenny
3/97
Tim Culwells Club Cardio Jam is a really fun
step workout that I think is most appropriate for
intermediate exercisers with some previous step
experience, although beginners shouldnt have too
much trouble catching on. As an advanced exerciser, I was
somewhat disappointed by the intensity level, but by
adding my own additional propulsion moves I was able to
get my heart rate pumping a little harder. For those of
you used to Donna Richardsons Donna-Mite, I found
the intensity level to be similar. I think another
contributing factor to the lower intensity level was that
the music seemed slightly slower than the tapes that I am
most accustomed to (Cathe Friedrich, Kari Anderson,
Reebok tapes). Club Cardio Jam contains 40 minutes of
step along with 5 minutes of pushups and ab work, plus
the usual warmup/cooldown sequences. I thought that Tim
held the stretches longer in the cooldown than many
instructors, which I really liked. Some instructors rush
the stretches so much that I sometimes wonder why they
bother.
One thing that I noticed is that Tim showed lots of
modifications, but they were not always more intense,
just *different* variations on the moves. This took a
little getting used to, because I am accustomed to having
the variations add or reduce intensity.
The only thing that really bothered me about this
tape was the combination of the tacky red, white and blue
outfits/set and the too-cute funky jam
references. The cameraman was the funky jam
cam, the exercisers put on their funky jam
caps for the step portion, etc. This element seemed
a little babyish for me and kind of irked me.
Amy Brier
9/3/97
Tim is one of the best male step instructors on video. His videos are not talked about much, but they are excellent for the intermediate-advanced stepper. Step Cardio Jam is one of the three videos I have with him. The workout is 45 minutes and broken down into three sections. He makes it funky and fun (and I am far from "funky"). The moves are slow but intense, with large range of motion, giving a great workout. I took this tape out after a long while, and really enjoyed it. I noticed I never gave it a review, so here it is. If you can get this tape, I am sure you will enjoy it and wonder why Tim is not talked about more.
Instructor comments: A great instructor from Georgia. Very personable with underrated videos.
maryann parker
11/24/98
I have Club Cardio Jam and Creative Stepps III, and I can say that although I like both videos, I prefer this one. I feel that the choreography is more interesting, thereby making it less repetitive when Tim "takes it from the top." The intensity level is intermediate/advanced, and the choreography is moderate. Tim's cuing is so good that those used to stepping shouldn't have a major problem learning the moves. They are interesting without being dancy (although you are encouraged to add a little "funk" if you want). You can add power easily to add intensity (the impact is mixed throughout). The pace is slower than many (such as Cathe Friedrich), but you can still get a good workout. The cardio section is slightly over 40 minutes. There is a short push-up section and a short ab section as well. The cooldown stretch is great--not rushed at all. I really enjoy this one! To me this one is a great choice--an effective, not killer, workout that I don't have to psyche myself up to do, great cueing, good music, and interesting footwork that keeps you challenged but not tripping over your feet. Please do more videos, Tim!
Instructor comments: Tim Culwell is a great instructor! His style translates well to video. His cuing is excellent, making his moves very easy to follow. He has a very relaxed attitude, and it's obvious that he enjoys what he is doing. He has a good rapport with his background exercisers (one is his wife, I believe). I really like how he says several times that we are "burning butter" by doing this workout! I wish Tim would make more videos (maybe a CIA??? I can only hope!)!
Kristin Aziz
KAziz@prodigy.net
2/17/99
This video has been broken down before, so I'll just give you my
opinion(s). I found this video to be intermediate in choreography, but
high intermediate (maybe even low advanced) in intensity. There is a lot
of TIFTing, and at the end, he leaves off the last couple of combos
while TIFTing. Personally, I found it boring (give me Christi and Cathe
anyday), but felt like I got a decent workout. Because I wasn't
struggling with my feet, I was able to concentrate on coordinating my
arms and I think I actually felt funky during some of the moves (I am
funk-impaired). I think this would be a perfect video for an
intermediate who's progressed past Kathy Smith and Keli Roberts, but
doesn't feel quite up to Cathe.
Instructor comments: Very personable. Encouraging, lots of smiles
(the anti-Voight). He often opted to do the less intense versions of the
moves, instead of resigning some poor soul who is off-camera most of the
time to do the "low" versions. A little too much whooping for my tastes.
Jackie
giacchina@aol.com
04-27-00