Hardcore: Kick Max

Cathe Friedrich
Year Released: 2005

Categories: Boxing/Kickboxing/Martial Arts


Kick Max is a 74 minute flame inducing butt kicking workout. There are three sections: Kick and Punch Combos, High Impact Blast and Leg Conditioning drills. I only did the combos and leg conditioning drills.

Right off the bat, I'm afraid. Cathe looks like she might come through the TV and beat me up with the use of a single well toned pinkie finger. I get over my fear, however, and proceed the through the long (11 minute) and gradual warm up. It'd make a nice "just rolled out of bed and need to wake up slowly" warm up. It includes more kicks than KPC and has you in horse stance (plie squat) for quite a while. There is no reviewing the punches and kicks. She gives a few forms pointers but this is not the place to learn the difference between a roundhouse and side kick.

Next up are the combos. These are very very fast! I'd say they're even a little faster than KPC. Like KPC, she teaches the punches first and than the kicks. You really need to be able to whip those arms around at lightning speed to keep up with her. Quite literally you'll do a jab, cross, hook and upper in about 5 seconds. A warning, be careful not to smack yourself in the face (not that I did that.) The first one involves puncing and than doing kicks while moving in a circle. If you have carpet, Cathe wisely advises doing this in place (or consult an orthopedic surgeon for knee replacement surgery.) The second combo includes more punches (jabs, crosses, uppers) and than kicking with a balance element. You do a front kick and than without putting the foot down do a back kick and than front and than put your foot down. Tough to balance, not tough aerobically. Third combos has more punches (jab, cross jab) than low blocks and a hammer. This didn't seem to flow that well and was awkward. The legs involved three knees (again moving in a circle) and than a front kick. Fourth combo has double jab, duck upper x2 and than a really fast side kick, lunge, side kick combo. Cathe does not break this down at all. It's a see it and do it thing. I got it quickly but those without kickboxing experience will be dumbfounded. A warning, while this is advertised as a low impact workout, she does throw in jumping jacks in between combos and between sides. You can modify, of course, but this section isn't that tough aerobically so you really need these to get the heart rate up.

The leg condioning drills were a pleasant change. Okay so maybe I wasn't thinking pleasant thoughts while doing the drills but before I was cursing, I thought they were a pleasant change. The difficultly ranges widely on these. Some had me making noises that my neighbors probably interpreted as me a doing a different kind of Hardcore workout. This would include the roundhouse fast kicks (leg out, bend at the knee, in and out, very fast.) Others had me bored since they weren't that challenging like the side kicks. A lot reminded me of pilates style moves like chasses (sp?)

The cool down was yoga inspired. Cathe was subdued and didn't provide many form pointers. It was nice and long and held the stretches long enough to really get into them.

Instructor Comments:
Cathe has improved her kickboxing form. She and her two background exercisers are ripped to the point of gaunt faces. While Cathe provides a few form pointers, they are more reminders to experienced kickboxers than instructions to newbies. Her cueing is a bit late in parts and she doesn't break things down much. Very professional and encouraging. She and her background exercisers are obviously enjoying themselves and working hard.

Elisabeth

02/12/2005