Antoinette Urcuyo
Overall impressions:
This is an intermediate kickboxing video which I thought was similar in
style to Kathy Smith's kickboxing video. Overall I thought it was fun and a
nice workout for days when you have less time and/or energy (45 minutes
overall). Although I got it through the exchange, it's listed at Collage
as $14.95, which is a pretty good price. I'm a high intermediate/low
advanced exerciser who has studied Tae Kwon Do (ages ago) and has done Kathy
Smith's kickboxing video, Power Kicks, Tae Bo and a handful of lesser known
kickboxing videos.
Details:
Dorian Gregory from "Charmed" is the celebrity host of this video and does
all the intros, but Antoinette leads the workout. Along with Dorian and
Antoinette is Jaime Brenkus from 8-minute Abs. The two guys don't talk much
during the workout, but once in a while Dorian yells out cheesy words of
encouragement.
Warm up
Starts with some simple punching drills with steps and bobs. Then there are
some knee lifts.
The workout consists of 5 segments with simple combos that are built up
slowly: They always do the combo on one side then the other
1. Side knee lift with cross punch
Jab, Cross, Knee
2. Speed bag
Side Jab with Bob (punching up then down)
Front knee pulls facing the side
3. Knee lifts which turn into front kicks
Side taps which turn into side kicks
4. Hops with jab, speed bag
Jab, Cross, Upper-cut punches
Jab, Cross, Front kick
Jab, Cross, Knee pull and side kick
5. Block and cross punch
Front kick, Side kick
4 jacks, 4 front kicks
This was a great, fun way to finish off the workout. By this time I had
worked up a nice little sweat and I liked the extra push at the end.
Cooldown - step touches with a jab-cross combination
Leg exercises - these are done with a chair as in Kathy Smith's video and
Aaron Lankford's Power Kicks. This section is fairly short and consists of
slow side kick drills, then a set done in double time and a set of leg
lifts.
Stretch - basic floor stretch - I wish there had been some standing leg
stretches for the quads and especially for the hip flexor. Antoinette holds
the stretches for a long time, which is good.
Antoinette doesn't spend a lot of time teaching the punches and kicks during
the workout because there is an instructional 'Techniques" section at the
end led by Antoinette and Jaime. I prefer that, because I have done
kickboxing before and prefer to move right into punch and kick combos.
I didn't really notice much about the music during the workout. The set is
a boxing ring and seems appropriate for this workout. The production
quality is good.
Instructor Comments: Antoinette is a competent, straightforward instructor.
She is always giving reminders to watch your form. She has great abs!
The cuing could be a bit better because sometimes they just suddenly switch
to the other foot, but I didn't mind.
Caroline
1/27/01
