CIA 9702: Step, Kickbox and Funk

Janis Saffell
Year Released: 1997

Categories: Floor Aerobics/Hi-Lo/Dance , Step Aerobics


I only use 1/2 hour of this 2 hour tape - the kickboxing section. The step routine I tried probably 4 times, and I never became a fan. I think the choreography was pretty fun, but working out with Janis can be mentally tiresome at times, and I just never got enthusiastic about the routine. I am someone who is not that picky when it comes to step routines especially if the choreography is complicated. However, despite buying the tape for the step routine I have not felt inclined to do this part of the tape again in the year I have owned this tape. I never really tried the whole South Beach Slam routine, so I can't really comment on that, but it seemed very low in intensity.

I really do enjoy the kickboxing section. Others have commented on how the intensity seems lower, because their heartrate droped when they got to this routine. That would definitely be true if you did the routine right after the step, because it starts out slow. I do this routine as a stand-alone when I am short on time, or combined with a weight tape, though, so the intensity level seems right to me. I don't do any warm-up, because the first combo is low intensity, and the intensity builds, peaks in the middle, and slows down at the end. I have to add my own stretching, but since I often pair this with Tough Tape or MIS, I just start the second tape at the stretching. I have found the more I do this tape the higher the intensity seems. The routine contains four combos with some choreography (you are not just doing kick and punching combos,) but it is nothing complicated - just a few grapevines, walking forward, and v-steps. I love choreography, so I don't mind this in a kickboxing routine, but I know others don't always like this. Another thing I love about this tape, is a kick where you spin into a side kick, then do a front kick. I don't know why I love it, but I do - maybe it is because it makes you feel like you belong in a martial arts movie. So this tape is a keeper for me because of the kickboxing. As more kickboxing tapes come out, I may change my mind, but for now I enjoy rotating it with Power Kicks, Tae Bo, CIA 9902 and CIA 9809.

Instructor Comments:
At first glance Janis is horrible at cueing. But after becoming more familiar with the routine, I realized a bigger problem is that Janis seems to forget her routine and which direction she is supposed to be going. After you learn the kickboxing routine, it is not a problem, because the routine is simple enough.

Lisa C

04/13/1999