Tai Fit Basics, Workout & Strength

Lawrence Whitaker
Year Released: 1999

Categories: Boxing/Kickboxing/Martial Arts


Tai Fit comes in a 2 video set. The first video is called the 'Basics' in which this is strictly a 30 minute instructional tape (no workout). What is nice with this tape is he demonstrates about 95% of all the moves/combos so you can practice them...even the moves in the warmup and cooldown and all the strength exercises which mainly consist of abs and pushups. The only moves he doesn't demonstrate are the blocking upper body movements (but they are easy to catch onto). He even stresses that it is perfectly okay to modify your kicking height and shows you the different height variations.

The second video has two complete workouts in it called 'The Workout' and 'Strength'. The 'Workout' is 35 minutes long and the 'Strength' is 21 minutes. You could put these two workouts together for one long workout or do them separately. They both have a very short warmup and cooldown (no stretches though). Every 5-10 minutes the tv screen will flash how many minutes are left in the workout which I thought was a nice touch. The production quality isn't the greatest, but it was in no way bad enough to affect the workout. It just seemed unfocused during parts of the workout (especially towards the back of the set). Up close was just fine. The class participants are no fitness buffs...they look like your average every day person and there is no live interaction with them. I didn't hear a peep out of anybody except of course Lawrence. There were a couple of people right behind Lawrence that seemed more pros at it(You could tell by their form). The music is low and the style is more jamming rock type music. When I previewed this tape on my big screen tv with stereo surround sound system, I could hear the music much better than when I used it in my regular stereo/vcr without the big speaker setup.

I consider myself an advanced exerciser in regards to stepping & Hi/Lo and probably more of a higher intermediate in kickboxing since I'm still relatively new at this type of training. But I do LOVE Tae Bo and like Power Kicks. Power Kicks is like my vegetable tape. I get pretty winded doing both tapes. So with this in mind Tai Fit left me feeling just as wiped out as the advanced Tae Bo and Power Kicks, however it was not as 'fun' as Tae Bo, but not as boring as Power Kicks. I was breathing hard and my hair was very damp.

He has LOTS of kicking/punching combos that are not complex at all. I prefer kickboxing to have lots of kicks and this definitely meets that requirement. He uses all the basic punches and kicks, but there are a few new moves...such as round elbows, backward elbows and a reverse kick which works the hip flextors (you torque your hips and swing the legs in a circular motion in front of you). This move seemed awkward and until you catch onto the form you may need to be very careful with it or you could hurt yourself. He doesn't do alot of these and you could always modify it to a front kick.

He doesn't do any of the speed leg drills like Billy Blanks does, but he does have a couple of speed punching and uppercut drills. He does alot of 'toe drills' as he calls it which is a mini routine of jumping jacks, side hops, back & forth alternating feet hops, boxer shuffle throughout the workout and strength video. The strength workout consists of various ab work which is not your traditional crunches. He does alot of lifting your butt off the floor and does scissors, leg lifts while you have to stabilize your abs. More different exercies with your butt resting on the floor and an exercise that targets your inner thigh and abs by lifting your body up off the floor.

A couple ab exercises were similar to Tae Bo's. He also does different arm variations of pushups and even does those one arm swings (your on your toes and hands and raises one arm up behind you and keep alternating). A few pelvic lifts and tricep dips. One thing to keep in mind is there is some kicking, jumping or hopping on toes with no cooling down before the abwork..then back up with more kicking combos, toe drills and immediately back down to the floor for the pushup work.

This tape left me feeling really great afterwards even though I thought I wouldn't make it to the end. I plan on incorporating this video into my regular kickboxing schedule. If your expecting a motivational type workout like Billy Blanks Tae Bo...you won't get it with this one, but it is very effective and powerful!

Instructor Comments:
Lawrence is no Billy Blanks. He is more serious..doesn't smile alot. His cuing is very good as he always says what combo is coming up before you do the moves. However, he does count every single repitition which may grate on some people's nerves and he doesn't mirror you, but he is consistent with this so you get used to his style throughout the workout. His workout style is very athletic, appears to have good form and gives some good form pointers in the instructional tape as well as a few reminder pointers throughout the workouts. At times he loosens up and you hear a little Billy Blanks motivational speech come out.

Debbie Rolin

02/14/1999