I review fitness videos for publication, so I've seen a lot of really bad stuff. In comparison to those, I found Tae Bo a pleasant surprise.

Tape 1, the instructional video, is made the way instructional videos should be made: every move demonstrated slowly and deliberately and enough times that you don't have to rewind or pause continually. Many moves do require better-than-average balance, but kicks can be practiced with support.

Tape 2, the basic workout, is also very good though the "warmup" is weird -- backwards neck rolls and shoulder rolls at the speed of light is about it. Nothing to actually get the heart rate slightly elevated or to warm up large muscle groups. That said, the rest of the tape is not bad at all -- a little repetitive at times, but you'll still get a good workout. I like the way Billy keeps reminding you to keep the abs tight, to never fully extend arms or legs, etc.

Tape 3, the advanced workout, is basically the basic workout on fast-forward. If you thought the warmup was fast before, wait'll you watch it here! The combinations are more interesting -- and more challenging, but I didn't find any of them impossible. But here's where something really strange happens: Billy includes a "butt" section on hands-and-knees, the old fire hydrant and donkey kick stuff I haven't used in a class in more than a decade. I could hardly watch this section, it was so unsafe! Besides the fact that he keeps saying how much this will work the buns and legs -- when you've just spent an entire 40-minute boxing workout doing just that.

Overall, though, I liked these tapes. They're a good combination of traditional low-impact aerobics, kickboxing and martial arts.

Instructor Comments:
I liked Billy's personality a lot -- just enough motivation without sounding fake. Thankfully, he holds off the "believe in yourself" sermonettes until Tape #3, so there's little of those inspirational messages.

Shari