One-On-One Training--Abs & Upper Body

David Kirsch
Year Released: 2004

Categories: Upper Body Strength


A decent 30-minute strength workout that seems to cater to the not-so-experienced home exerciser. For an experienced one, I'd say this is good for a light day--if you don't have a problem with David. He would be very "distinctively annoying" to many, I think, including myself in some moods.
All the moves are done at a very deliberate pace. David works with one woman, presumably to evoke the "personal trainer" scenario. She does three sets of one-armed rows (the palms face different directions); tricep dips, a shoulder move combining side lateral and Arnold press, concentration bicep curls, chest flies, stomach crunches and oblique crunches. All the while David croons, moans and philosophizes ("go-oooo-d...distinctively David, it's quality not quantity...don't think about that turkey Cobb salad you're going to have in 30 minutes, stay in the moment. Go---oood...one more...Annndddddd...")

The setting is distinctively tasteful, the music is non-distinctively non-descript, overall I did not find this workout distinctively annoying or bad. It just is. I have no problem with it, having worked out to the equally vivid likes of Joyce Vedral or Crunch or other NY personalities. Good to add to the menu of short, reasonably good weight workouts. I haven't tried the Butt & Legs DVD on this seris, but I imagine it would be similar.

Instructor Comments:
I can see where he'd be a love-him-or-hate-him affair. He can come off as a bit smarmy with the "Distinctively David" mantra and the constant comments about how good you'll look in "those hip-hugging jeans that you like to wear" or "that dress you bought last night" and the model name-dropping. Yet, when all's said and done, he's a competent instructor with some good points about "staying in the moment" and "achieving your own goals." He's fine if you make up your mind not to take him too seriously. I would not say that he's worth it if you have a natural aversion to him.

acey

08/28/2005