Larry Lam
Production/Look Excellent. Very Hollywood. This looks to be filmed on a large
sound stage, very industrial looking metal framework along the edge of the
stage with lighting along it. The stage is dark with an occasional smokey
look, but not interfering with the workout, reminds me of the first couple of
Reebok step videos with Gin and that "MTV" look.
As far as the background people…size of the crowd changes during
sections…but it is a good size group, like a Tae Bo audience. Once again,
very produced in wardrobe department as well. Crowd is dressed in black
outfits from various makers with splashes of red and white here and there for
contrast.
Sound Great sound done by Power Music.
Equipment/Space A chair or support is needed for the lower body tape. Very
little space is required. Longest combo is 4 shuffle steps to the side.
Intensity/Modifiability Larry has this tape split up into sections allowing
beginners to experienced kickboxers the opportunity to get a super workout in
one tape. There are instructions and reminders throughout to modify your
workout toward safety for beginners and if you are an experienced kickboxer
and put your all into this tape…you won't be disappointed.
The workout
If you want drills and the feel of a live KB class taught by a Martial
Artist, this tape is for you. But, if you are looking for cool choreography
with dancy moves and multiple combinations that build into a routine…you
won't find it here, this is strictly a punch and kick, get your heart rate up
workout.
Instructional-4mins Larry has in-put from an Aerobic person, Debra Yates,
during the intro and Debra is usually working out next to Larry on the right
of the screen. This intro is the best instructional section I have ever found
in any KB tape. Larry explains/demonstrates punches and kicks extremely well
along with showing clips of the class in slo-mo demonstrating the same move.
Debra's input is showing modifications and differences between aerobic kicks
and KB kicks. They both stress safety and the importance of form first.
Warm up-6min Larry starts the class with a traditional Martial Arts courtesy
bow. The bulk of the warm up is bob and weaves, simple bounce moves, jab &
punches but not with all out effort..yet. Jumprope movements are used to keep
the energy up. All this with some lunge type leg stretches interspersed
throughout.
Basic-10min Your feet are moving constantly in this section. Shuffles, side
to sides, an L step…all of these with punch combos with more intensity.
You'll see jacks, speedbags, knee smash ab crunches and some front kicks will
be introduced. Larry has the beginners end when this section is over. He says
cool down, watch the rest of the tape and get some water. Might not be a long
workout for beginners, but if you haven't done too many KB tapes and are new
at it…this could be enough for you.
Advanced-10min Everyone changed clothes..still looking hip..and dark, the
crowd also got bigger. This is certainly more advanced. Starting with side
knee crunch combos and you'll be kicking more here, roundhouses and sides.
More focus on intensity with all your moves to get the most out of it. You
end this section with flurries..very fast uppercuts and it leads you into the…
Burn-5min Another outfit change and the crowd is now smaller. The music is
much more hip and fast. You continue with flurries and fast moving combos…you
feel like you are in Flash Dance with that ultra fast foot work. Then there
is a fast side punch combo, punching hi and lo while squatting. Then slowing
down getting ready for the cool down. Loved this section..the music was
right, the drills are fun and it's the end!
Cool down-3.5min Soft piano music. Standing stretches and deep breathing with
a couple of martial art type of moves for the arms…ending with the courtesy
bow.
Bonus tape-lower body workout-14min Great lower body workout consisting of
standing kicks. This is where you will need a support. Very basic but
effective. Larry demonstrates proper technique on kicks and puts you through
45 second drills with each leg. You will be doing front, roundhouses, side
and a combo round/side kick in this section. I love this tape. I am not a big
fan of the "on the floor" lower body work and I am thrilled when I can do it
standing! Also like that it's a separate tape…easy to tag on to another
workout. Anyone who wants to learn proper form for kicks should buy this tape
for the instruction alone!
Quirks
OK…things that were a little off and might bother folks. During the warm up
static stretches, everyone bounced with the beat until the last one and
Debra(the aerobic world person) told Larry "no bouncing"..it was cute because
Larry told everyone to stop or Debra was going to kill them…almost like it
had happened in rehearsal and you can't teach an old dog new tricks.
Beginners may not like getting left at the end of the basic section and
having to fast forward to the cool down.
Larry cues his own right or left instead of ours.
Occasionally the camera is on the crowd instead of Larry with a change of
movement or different punch so you see them slowly catch on and you might
miss a beat or two into the change.
Over all…I love this tape. I guess I am fairly advanced exerciser and I like
a lot of intensity. It's more important than choreography for me and this
tape was right up my alley. The visual look of this tape also played a big
part of my liking it. I am partial to good production. I also felt like I was
in a live class very similar to one that I take which made me happy:O).
Instructor-Larry is superb. He is very natural in front of the camera and has
no problem cuing, reminding everyone of technique and motivating you at the
same time, he makes you feel comfortable and part of the crowd. I can't
stress enough how good he is on instruction and form.
Nancy C.
NAConfer@aol.com
10/02/00
I just got done working out to this and absolutely loved it!!! Nancy C
did an excellent job reviewing this video in detail so I won't go into
too much detail...but had to share my enthusiasm. I've been looking for
a workout comparable to Cathe's kickboxing and Billy Blanks and think
I've found it. The music was just awesome and very motivating. I'm a
music person and if the music isn't there for me I don't enjoy the
workout even if it's a good one. I also prefer my workouts to be
athletic with moves to keep intensity high as Nancy does. This was not
dancy or choreographed at all. The energy level in the class and with
the instructor was outstanding. The production & stage setting is just
as Nancy described it and I also like this 'look'. I really liked Larry
Lam as an instructor and would not hesitate at all to order another
video from him should he put one out...which I hope he does! The moves
were totally fun and very Taeboish like...yet you have that opportunity
to punch and kick with power and emphasis like with Cathe's new
kickboxing videos. I'd say the intensity was an intermediate to
advanced. The 'basic workout' was more intermediate but still elevated
my heart rate and the 'advanced workout' really kept my heart rate on
the higher end...although I'd have to admit it was never as high as with
Cathe's tapes. There were a couple disappointments. The major one was it
was too short!! I think the cardio (minus the warmup and cooldown) was
only about 25 minutes. He also showed clips in slow motion so I found
myself losing the rhythm but there were not very many instances that he
did this. He also did not do any back kicks.
I also tried out the Lower Body Burn which is his chair companion
workout and that was very tough!! He did an excellent job demonstrating
how to do the front, side, roundhouse kick and then you practiced them
at a slow pace for 45 seconds for each side and it's tough to do them
that slow. I think it averaged to about 25 kicks per leg for each form
of kick. But my legs are still aching from that.
Thank you, Nancy C for submitting your review as I would never have
found this gem :-))One more final comment is I felt this video is like
what Bodypump is to strength training. The music and stage setting make
Bodypump unique just as the music, stage setting and energy level makes
this kickboxing workout unique. He had so many participants working out
with him especially in the advanced workout that I couldn't count them!!
But like Nancy mentioned it really makes you feel like your part of a
'live class'.
Also..my cardio love is kickboxing so I'm always partial to these type
of workouts too but then I'm also usually very picky with them too and
have come across many disappointments:-) I know everyone has their own
style of kickboxing workouts they prefer but to give you an idea I did
not care for Todd Gheisher's advanced workout, nor Debbie's Boxingbody.
I liked only a couple of the GI Jabb workouts. I tend to prefer the
Taebo and Cathe kickboxing style. So for those who prefer these type of
workouts too, then I think you would really enjoy the XKO one
Deb Rolin
10/01/00
To put this review in perspective, you probably should know that I''m waking
up from a huge kickboxing binge and find that I'm a staunch Tae Bo Advanced
Live series devotee. The only other kickboxing videos I can see myself doing
as frequently would be Katrina's GI Jabb Cadet Workout, maybe Cardio Kicks,
and, now, definitely, XKO Kickboxing. (Dawei Cardio Kickboxing is
challenging, but ... I'm not worthy. Someday.)
Thanks to Deb and Nancy for introducing XKO Kickboxing to this forum!
XKO is a compatible change of pace to Tae Bo. The videos have great visual
and sound clarity, a high-energy cast, and a very motivating club-music
soundtrack. Larry Lam? I really like him. Whatta nice guy! He has a
motivating yet down-to-earth stage presence and is careful about form. His
athletic choreographed style of kickboxing reminded me a bit of Billy Blanks'
style. Highly recommended to those who tend to prefer athletic-style
kickboxing intervals over CIA'ish kickboxing choreography..... Really, I
can't imagine anyone not liking this series, but you might not if you prefer
complexity.
v
This is the perfect add-on tape. The cardio is too short to do on its own,
unless you want a shorter workout. I'm using XKO: The Xtreme Knock-Out
Workout solely as a add-on to my Tae Bo Advanced Live workouts that have
shorter cardio sections (Volumes #6 and #9 come to mind). After I'm done
with XKO, I pop my Tae Bo back into the VCR and finish with the rest of the
Tae Bo workout.
As with Tae Bo, I like the fact that there isn't lots of jarring high impact
with the XKO workout. My knees and feet never bother me after I complete XKO
(-- unlike Cardio Kicks). If you want to lessen the impact in your cardio
sessions, this might be another reason to look into XKO.
I give this video a big A+, particularly when used as an add-on kickboxing
workout. I also hope that Larry Lam produces an advanced, one-hour long
kickboxing video in 2001. I'll be first in line to buy it.
Michelle Easton
December 23, 2000
