This boxing video is approximately an hour long, with a warm-up aerobic section, toning section and a cool-down. I would rank this video as an intermediate or beginner / intermediate video - depending on your experience aerobic boxing and whether or not you add weights to the toning section. The warm-up and cool-down are pretty good - basic but good.

The aerobics section consists of a 40 minute aerobic boxing section, which features basic boxing routines of punch combinations, jump roping (they do not use ropes)and shuffling (bob and weave). The patterns are fairly basic and easy to learn. The group of exercisers occasionally group into a circle to move in a circular motion together while using their arms to do speed bag work with their arms. The same type of action can be accomplished at home by moving laterally back and forth across the room and moving your arms as if there were an imaginary speed bag in front of you. Going in a circle isn't necessary. Sugar Ray keeps the group constantly moving (always on those toes!) to keep the heart rate up and does have a heart-rate check shortly after the main aerobics section and re-emphasizes going at your own pace. Throughout the video Sugar Ray and Jill frequently remind participants to use good form and keep tight abs.

After the aerobics section, there is a 20 minute tonning section which consists mostly of ab and lower body work. Not all of the toning is on the floor (they do lunges and squat combinations with some arm movements like bicep curls) and you can easily add some light hand (or leg) weights to the toning section to increase the intensity. The ab exercises and table work are classics with some variations.

Having never done Aerobox by Kathy Smith, I cannot compare it to this video; however it is an enjoyable alternative on a light to intermediate day when you're not quite up to kickboxing but want a boxing-style workout. I think you will be able to see some upperbody toning if you concentrate on the moves. Again, you can add to the toning by adding hand and/or leg weights where they can be included.

The background exercisers (4) are male and female and generally exhibit good form. Music is o.k. - kind of hidden in the background. The set is a boxing ring in a gym (but is not tacky or dark like Kick Butt).

Instructor Comments:
Sugar Ray Leonard is the "star" of the video and leads you through a 40 minute aerobic boxing workout, assisted by Jill Goodacre. He is confident but sometimes seems intimidated by Jill. She is sometimes harsh sounding and seems to occasionally try to assert her dominance over Sugar Ray in the video. Maybe it's just me, but she just seems that way sometimes. (Kind of like the female instructor in the B-Fit Cardio Kick Box video.)

NCG