I have worked out to videos since I moved to a small village with no gym facilities. My first videos were the "Firm Strength" and "Firm Cardio", "Step Reebok Power Workout", "Kathy Smith Aerobox" and "Ali McGraw Yoga Mind & Body". I still practice Kathy and Ali faithfully but now depend on Cathe's Pure Strength and Cross Train Express tapes for my cardio and strength workouts. My fitness is at an advanced level, but at 33 years old, my career takes up a lot of my time and contributes to stress. So, three months ago, I decided to do less high impact, especially step videos, and substitute kickboxing as an alternative cardio workout format. I am able to perform Kathy's Aerobox at the fast pace set by Michael Olajide (even the insane skipping speeds!), so I was confident in being able to keep pace with the G.I. Jabb series. This turned out to be true, except that Aerobox does not teach foot pivots, and learning to include them with my punches puts me at an intermediate kickboxing level.

This is a low-impact, moderate intensity workout. At least I find it to be moderate intensity because of the quick pacing. Katalin mixes up her segments cross-training style. For example, a kickbox combination of "shin block, cross, cross" might be followed by rubber band exercises of "15 reps of squats, then 15 biceps curls", then back to a "jabb, cross, hook" combo, then "15 push-ups", etc. The kickboxing combinations are medium-fast, giving me time to concentrate on form. If your form is excellent and you are going for intensity, you will want to work at a faster pace. The rubber tubing strength training segments are again, moderate intensity due to the high reps and no rest time but quickly moving from one thing to the next. For my heavy workouts, I do Cathe PS with a 45-lb. barbell or Cathe CTX with a 35-lb. barbell. The rubber tubing is comparatively light resistance. So I look forward to doing Katalin's tape on a recovery day, to give my muscles a light once-over and to enjoy practicing the kickboxing combinations. The strength training includes biceps curls, triceps extensions, squats, plie squats, lunges, fire hydrants (on hands and knees, lift leg up to the side), push-ups, sit-ups, back rows and spinal erector extensions, but the toning emphasis is on shoulders. If you carry tension between your shoulder blades this tape will help erase it. I think I prefer using rubber tubing rather than dumbbells for shoulders -- there are more angles you can work.

Although Katalin demonstrates perfect form and gives lots of form safety pointers, her instruction on technique for the kicks and punches isn't as detailed as on her other tapes. She peps up her cueing combinations by switching from "jabb, cross, kick! Uppercut!" to "jabb, punch him in the nose, kick him in the groin, cut under his guard!" She is petite and determined, and she will quickly gain your respect and admiration.

Serena