A step and weights spice up the traditional taebo moves in this 45 minute workout. As with the other new videos, the setting now sports a sci-fi futuristic feel and the music, although still instrumental, is much more upbeat and faster than in Capture the Power.

A medley of standard taebo moves, like in-and-out, torso twists, all sorts of knee raises, kicks and punches. There is one new and initially confusing (to me) move that starts as a simple enough two-step (sort of like a V-step) that turns into a fast side-to-side affair with punches.

After about 10 minutes he incorporates the step for such moves as the in-and-out, step-knee-forward punches and side leg lift crunches. The step really adds intensity to the moves!

After 30 minutes he goes into weight work with 1-lb weights. This series is reminiscent of Slim Series--slow then fast reps, moving quickly from one body part to another. After that he does floorwork with the back kicks and roundhouses. Then pushups--Billy makes Shelly lie atop him while he does them! More punches and twists, then he gets cut off by the musical "end" cue and finishes it up belatedly.

While this didn't seem as intense as his hardest videos (AL 1 Original, Get Ripped), it's certainly back up to the level of his old videos in general and should cheer up those fans who were disappointed with Capture the Power.

Instructor Comments:
Billy Blanks is at his most vibrant here. If you are a fan of his, you'll love it. Especially during the weight section, he sings, raps, rhymes and prances about, doing his motivational thing. He almost sounds like Rev. Jesse Jackson at points! (but stays secular for this video). Then he goes into hip-hop mode, complete with a bad-a$%$ strut that he makes everyone do. He actually made me laugh aloud.

acey