This is a review of only the advanced video from the Kickbox2000 4 video set. The other 3 videos are the instructional, nutritional and basics. Please refer to the comments about production, music, format, style etc. from the basics review. It is the same as for the advanced workout. The only differences are some of the movements are done at a faster tempo than the faster tempo on the basics and there are different combinations of kicks/punches. The total workout time is 50 minutes and I rate it as advanced. I could not keep up with the participants during the faster tempo in Round 1 (the aerobic segment) so I went at my own speed and John encourages you to do this and only work up to their tempo as you get stronger. I was able to keep up (for the most part) during the drills, but I did have to stop a time or two to catch my breath. The drills emphasize strength and power more so than aerobic. I have to applaud for the participants as they all seemed to have pretty good form even during the faster speed. At one point during the drills segment they were doing an extremely challenging leg drill and after the first set (10 reps), John says one more set of 10 and one girl in the back yelled out "I don't know if I can do it" and I hear a couple of grunts. At first I didn't know if I heard this correctly, but after listening it for the third time, I'm pretty sure that's what she is saying. The particpants look as if they are in pain at times during the drills so if they are finding this difficult, then it's no wonder I do too :-)

Okay....warmup is 5 minutes long consisting of weaves, punches, uppercuts, hooks, twists, lunges, leg and arm stretches and these unusual one leg pushups (you go down in a regular pushup position and then bend one leg towards your shoulder to where your knee is bent almost touching your elbow).

Round 1 (Aerobics Segment: 19 minutes)

1) R.Front Knee lifts (8 slow, 16 fast); R Front Knee lift, R Front Kick (8 fast); R. Front Knee Lift (8 fast, 4 slow); Left Back lunge up to a knee lift (4 slow, 4 fast); Left back lunge up to a front kick (8 fast); some side to side weaves then you repeat all of above in #1 on opposite sides.

2)R. Side knee lifts (8 slow, 16 fast); R. Knee twists (16 fast); Combine R.side knee and R. knee twist (forgot to note down count); R side Knee Twists (4 slow) Repeat all of above in #2 on opposite sides.

3)L. Front Kick (8 slow, 24 fast, 8 slow) and repeat on other side

4)R. jab, L. Jab (8 slow, 24 Fast, 8 slow)

5)R. Side kick (8 slow, 16 fast, 4 slow). Repeat kicks on other side

6)R. side kick (4 slow); R. side kick, R. Jab, L. Jab (8 slow, 16 fast)R. Side Kick (4 slow) Repeat all of #6 on opposite sides.

7) Alternate traveling side knee lifts (8 ea. side), then change the knee lift to a front rotating kick (I think this is the 'reverse' front kick)16 reps on each side and then finish with 8 alternating traveling side knee lifts

8) L. Jab, R. Jab (8 slow, 32 fast, 8 slow)

9)L. Side Kick, R. Jab (16 Fast); do the same L. Side kick, only change R. Jab to touching the floor (16 Fast); L. Side Kick, R. Jab again (8 fast); 8 squats. Repeat on opposite sides.

10)Does jumprope skips(imitating a jump rope), punching flurries, skips, uppercut flurries. Does 4 total sets of these flurries. (Flurries are very fast paced punches/uppercuts and feet doing the in place football shuffles).

11) Does some more punches, marches, weaves, combo of weaves & punches

12) 8 squats, then alternate side leg kicks with squats in between each kick (8 reps), then 8 more regular squats

Round 2 (Drills) 16 minutes)These drills are taught at a slighter slower pace for about 4-5 reps before the actual drill begins.

1)R. Jab, L. Jab (60 times).

2)R. Jab, L. Jab, R. hook (40 times).

3)Do same as #2 only add a R. Roundhouse Kick, L. Front Kick.(30 times)

4)R. Jab, L. Uppercut, R. hook, Left Jab (30 times)

5)R. Front Kick, L. Front Kick, R. Roundhouse Kick, touch foot to ground, then another R. Roundhouse Kick, L. Front Kick (20 times). This is the TOUGH one!

6)Double R. Jab, Single L. Jab, R. Side kick, L. Jab (20 times)

7)3 sets of uppercut flurries and skips

8)R. Roundhouse kicks as fast as you can go with proper form and repeat on opposite side.

Then there was an 11 minute glute/ab/pushup workout with most of the emphasis on lower abs. He has you lean on the wall and do slow and fast machine gun kicks (40 total reps on each side). He also says you should repeat this for 2-3 more sets on your own for glutes made of steel. Next the abs are mostly done with you leaning back on your elbows and he has you opening and closing your legs; moving legs up and down; legs push forward and back; swinging legs up and down, left to right keeping legs together; bicycle legs; then he has you doing some regular lower body crunches with legs in air. He then does 30 regular pushups, then 20 tricep pushups.

Again...there is no cooldown or stretch at end of this video so you would need to incorporate your own.

I really enjoyed this video as much as the basics...I just have quite aways to go before I can do this video with all the power and endurance that they all display. It is FUN...but not your typical choreographed aerobics workout.

Debbie Rolin