Katalin Rodriguez Zamiar
Please note that I've only done this video one time. However, I'm posting
this since there have
been people that are curious about this tape. I really like this tape but
my feelings could change after I do the tape a couple more times.
This tape is a cross-training tape. It is 58 minutes. I would rate it as
advanced. You alternate between kickboxing and strength moves. The strength
moves are done with an exertube and an
O-ring. Some moves can be done with dumbbells but some cannot. I did this
tape yesterday and really feel my shoulders today.
The kickboxing moves are done fast. She only shows each combo once and then
you move at a fast pace. She said that you must master her Level 1 tapes
before moving on to this tape. I think the pace of the combos in the Warrior
workout might be slightly faster but not much. Since I've only done each
tape once, I might be wrong on this. Cadet training was on back-order at
FWOnline so I can't compare it to that tape. The combos are simple not
complex. It could something like jab, cross, hook, and upper cut with
alternating arms. You will do ten on one side and then ten on the other
side. Sometimes it can just be ten roundhouse kicks to one side and then
ten to the other. After each combo, you do a strength segment.
Here are some of the strength moves that I remember. Exertube exercises are
squats, lunges, standing butterfly chest exercises, bicep curls, rear
deltoids with plies, standing shoulder presses, standing tricep presses,
front and side lateral raises. Those are the standing exercises. O-ring
exercises are done with moving plie squats (I really felt this one) and a
unique exercise for the upper body. On the latter one, you have your arms in
a position where it looks like you are about to shoot an arrow. You then
move your back arm back so that if you were holding a bow, the arrow would
be moving back. You then go back to the starting position. I actually lost
my O-ring so I use a big exercise rubberband. You can probably tie your
dynaband into a small circle and use that. For the rear deltoids, I used my
figure 8 type band. You place it in front of you shoulder length, elbows
out, and stretch out the band. Katlin folded up her exertube to do this
exercise.
You will do lots of sets of each exercise but it is not boring. She
super-sets the exercises. So on one strength segment, you might do squats,
bicep curls, and shoulder presses. Then another
segment, you will do squats, the arrow exercise, and lateral raises. I'm
not sure if I got the order of the exercises right. I just want you to know
that you do multiple sets of each exercise. And for each segment, you
super-set with two or three exercises.
After the standing kickbox and strength sections, you will do floor work.
You use the exertube to do back row pulls. You sit on the floor with your
legs straight. You put the exertube around your legs and pull it back. She
said that you can put the exertube around your legs twice if you want more
tension. You do the rows with your palms up like a bicep curl and your
palms facing each other. You also do a floor exercise where you place the
O-ring around your feet. You move your feet in and out. She says this
helps with ankle stability which is important for kickboxing. But you don't
move your feet too much going outwards or else the band will go up. She
mentions this. You will also go down on all fours and do round house kicks.
You also put one leg out to the side and pulse it. The leg is straight out.
This one hurts my buns but in a good way. Maybe, I should say effective
instead of good.
There's push-ups and some lying floor work. You will lie down on your back
and place the O-ring around your ankles. You will then move your legs out
so that you are working your inner and outer thighs. I think you might do
abs at one point doing this but I don't remember.
There is more ab work and the final stretch. I know that I probably missed
a couple of the exercises. I just wanted people to get a feel for the
workout. I really like this tape because I've been looking for an advanced
kickboxing circuit tape. I like BodyBar Kickbox Circuit but felt that was
more of an intermediate level tape. Both the kickboxing and the strength
sections are harder on this tape. The only exercises that I think I will
grab some dumbbells for are the squats and lunges. I felt the exercise
using the exertube but I think I need more weight. I think using the tubing
will give a person more cuts than working with free weights. I think it's
because you can
really feel your muscles working throughout the movements. Another way to
increase the tension is when the tubing is under your feet, you place your
legs wider apart. You can also loop the bands a couple times around your
hands. But this feels uncomfortable sometimes.
Instructor comments: Katalin is very professional. She uses very good
jamming type music. It is similar to the Dynamix sound. Katalin gives very
good pointers throughout the whole workout.
Helen Stephens
07/17/00
I have worked out to videos since I moved to a small village with no gym
facilities. My first videos were the "Firm Strength" and "Firm Cardio",
"Step Reebok Power Workout", "Kathy Smith Aerobox" and "Ali McGraw Yoga Mind
& Body". I still practice Kathy and Ali faithfully but now depend on
Cathe's Pure Strength and Cross Train Express tapes for my cardio and
strength workouts. My fitness is at an advanced level, but at 33 years old,
my career takes up a lot of my time and contributes to stress. So, three
months ago, I decided to do less high impact, especially step videos, and
substitute kickboxing as an alternative cardio workout format. I am able to
perform Kathy's Aerobox at the fast pace set by Michael Olajide (even the
insane skipping speeds!), so I was confident in being able to keep pace with
the G.I. Jabb series. This turned out to be true, except that Aerobox does
not teach foot pivots, and learning to include them with my punches puts me
at an intermediate kickboxing level.
This is a low-impact, moderate intensity workout. At least I find it to be
moderate intensity because of the quick pacing. Katalin mixes up her
segments cross-training style. For example, a kickbox combination of "shin
block, cross, cross" might be followed by rubber band exercises of "15 reps
of squats, then 15 biceps curls", then back to a "jabb, cross, hook" combo,
then "15 push-ups", etc. The kickboxing combinations are medium-fast,
giving me time to concentrate on form. If your form is excellent and you
are going for intensity, you will want to work at a faster pace. The rubber
tubing strength training segments are again, moderate intensity due to the
high reps and no rest time but quickly moving from one thing to the next.
For my heavy workouts, I do Cathe PS with a 45-lb. barbell or Cathe CTX with
a 35-lb. barbell. The rubber tubing is comparatively light resistance. So
I look forward to doing Katalin's tape on a recovery day, to give my muscles
a light once-over and to enjoy practicing the kickboxing combinations. The
strength training includes biceps curls, triceps extensions, squats, plie
squats, lunges, fire hydrants (on hands and knees, lift leg up to the side),
push-ups, sit-ups, back rows and spinal erector extensions, but the toning
emphasis is on shoulders. If you carry tension between your shoulder blades
this tape will help erase it. I think I prefer using rubber tubing rather
than dumbbells for shoulders -- there are more angles you can work.
Although Katalin demonstrates perfect form and gives lots of form safety
pointers, her instruction on technique for the kicks and punches isn't as
detailed as on her other tapes. She peps up her cueing combinations by
switching from "jabb, cross, kick! Uppercut!" to "jabb, punch him in the
nose, kick him in the groin, cut under his guard!" She is petite and
determined, and she will quickly gain your respect and admiration.
Serena
30 March 2001
