I've been doing Cathe's step and strength tapes since early autumn 2000, and I loved them so much that I've bought everything she offers, save the crosstrain express and Wedding Video. I'm working my way through her cardio "catalogue" chronologically, learning about a tape a month and mastering her challenging choreography.

To give myself a break from stepping, I went out of order popped in Cardio Kicks. The first couple of times I did it, I went only up to the exertion check--about 35 minutes into the tape--because I was training it with one of her strength tapes. At first, I wasn't too enamored of the workout, probably because the only kickboxing tape I ever tried was a Kathy Smith one that I did not enjoy. Because Cardio Kicks was a Cathe tape, I decided to stick with it and am I happy I persevered.

The more I do it, the more I love this workout. Once I got the moves down, I began to enjoy it. It's a tough one in terms of intensity, but really easy to learn. The best surprise of all was going past the exertion check into the drills. Whew, fun stuff and really tough. The first time I did the whole tape, my lats and shoulders were sore for a couple days! Keep in mind that I've been working out to her Pure Strength and Maximum Intensity Strength tapes, so I had a good base of muscle already.

There's no tricky choreography (although Cathe makes it easy for even a klutz like me to master her complex moves/combinations on the step). The only parts of the tape I don't like are: 1) a scoop forward series that goes back into slides--I just don't have the floor space to really make it work; 2) the scoop laterally, three knees, four punches in a circle. Again, lack of adequate space is a factor here, but the combo just isn't fun to me. Everything else is excellent--especially the power hop/jacks/kick sequence.

The guys in the video are ... inspiring. The ladies are good, too, but I look foward when Cathe gets the men into the front row. Watching them do the punch combinations is indeed something special, as well as motivating.

Even if you aren't a kickboxing fan, I think this video will grow on you as it did me. It's unique, fun, and tough-tough-tough!

I can't say enough about Cathe. She's right on target with the cues and she gives you just the right amount of encouragement without being cutesy or fake. Is it just my imagination or does she seem to really want all of us to succeed and improve our fitness/strength levels? She seems very genuine. Plus, you know she's working hard right along with you--she is in fabulous shape. Cathe is fit, strong, and healthy--quite a nice change from that horrible anorexic look that our society seems to think is so attractive. The woman knows her stuff and isn't just some "camera talent" demonstrating a routine that someone else developed. Brava, Bella Cathe, keep up the good work. Buying her videos is the best investment I ever made in my health and well being.

SusannaErin