shananigans4966
Member
Is anyone else annoyed by Amy Bento's lack of cueing and explanation? Or is it just me? Even with Cathe's step routines, I start to pick them up after a few times. With Amy, I'm completely lost.
Amy Bento
- Thread starter shananigans4966
- Start date
ldy_solana
Cathlete
i don't know what the deal is with her step workouts. i can do any of her others pretty well but her step workouts she just throws the moves at you while doing them. some ppl get it i just can't and i tried. i will just stick with her hi-lo and kickboxing.
kassia
kassia
Amy is much more complex than Cathe. But Amy does have tutorials from what I remember at the end of Advanced Step Challenge and Advanced Step Challenge 2. I admit I love complex choreography and even I had trouble with Amy. It took me a few tries to get the choreography down. Although I had very little problem with Advanced Step Challenge 3 (I think her cueing might have been better in that one and the choreography was a little less complex and had more kickboxing moves). Her hi-lo isn't as complex as her step. Her kickboxing is also much more choreographed than Cathe's. Although I don't have it, I've heard Rumble is the slowest and most drill-like kickboxing DVD. Her CIA 2901 is my most favorite kickboxing DVD right now. I feel so great after finishing that one. It consists of 5 combos and 5 surges (blasts). This one is definitely worth learning. It's not as difficult choregraphy wise as Kickbox Xtreme or Hi-Lo Cardio Knockout but it certainly is intense.
Amy is much more challenging to learn but she is definitely worth it.
Marcy
Amy is much more challenging to learn but she is definitely worth it.
Marcy
LauraMax
Cathlete
I LOVE Amy's step DVDs. I don't mind the lack of cuing b/c once I get the routine down I don't need it.
It's her KB that bugs me. Her form is so sloppy, she doesn't even make a fist with some punches. I don't think I'd mind them as much if they were categorized as hi/lo workouts b/c they're pretty intense & good cal burners, but to call them kickbox is just wrong.
It's her KB that bugs me. Her form is so sloppy, she doesn't even make a fist with some punches. I don't think I'd mind them as much if they were categorized as hi/lo workouts b/c they're pretty intense & good cal burners, but to call them kickbox is just wrong.
Shoegal
Cathlete
I too love complex choreography but Amy Bento's step is very difficult to learn. I was just telling other forum members that I pick up Cathe quite easily but Amy's stuff took me multiple attempts to get it down. I found it quite frustrating at first - but after learning it - no - you don't need all that cueing - and repetition. It is just fun to just do it without going over it 20 times. Keep with it - you will love it it eventually. ASC II was very hard to learn - but I got it - and it is one of my favorites.
kathryn
Cathlete
I got fed up with Amy quite a while ago, and haven't even looked at her newer offerings.
Not only does she throw a mouthful of cuing at you all at once, she seems to cue late at other times.
I thought some of her step workouts looked like fun, but there's no way I could follow them with that crappy cuing.
The good news is, that makes one less instructor whose workouts I will buy (and that will help my pocketbook).
Not only does she throw a mouthful of cuing at you all at once, she seems to cue late at other times.
I thought some of her step workouts looked like fun, but there's no way I could follow them with that crappy cuing.
The good news is, that makes one less instructor whose workouts I will buy (and that will help my pocketbook).
DEEDEE2
Cathlete
Her poor cueing, bad form and all around recklessness is why I stopped using her. I really like her personality, but her approach is just too sloppy for me, and a sloppy workout is a dangerous workout. She is one of those who likes to give a cutesy name to a short combination and just throw out the name instead of actually cueing the moves and I HATE that. Just because they give the combination a name doesn't relieve the instructor of the responsibility of properly cueing the workout.
I think Kari Anderson is the best at being able to properly cue, demonstrate and move quickly without looking forced or rushed, all at the same time. Her Two The Max and Moving Up are two of my favorite oldies that I will continue to do for the rest of my life. I really wish she was still dealing out the advanced stuff.
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CLD
Cathlete
I too am a fan of Amy, but I don't do her workouts much anymore - Cathe's have been the ones I keep reaching for. I like that her choreography is tough because it eliminates the boredom factor for me! I'm sure I'll eventually go back to them. However, I can completely see why people get irritated with her.
I'm sure I'll eventually go back to them. However, I can completely see why people get irritated with her.
shananigans4966
Member
Deedee, thanks so much for your Kari Anderson recommendation. I think I'll look for some of her older stuff.
cataddict
Cathlete
I don't think it's the complexity of the moves on an Amy step workout that make it difficult for me, it's the cuing itself---late, and too many strings of moves together with no advance warning, at least in my opinion. She'll repeat a simple variation 4 or 5 times, then throw in direction changes, spins etc out of nowhere---and it's got absolutely nothing to do with "breaking down" the moves, since I don't need a lot of breakdown after 20 years of doing step. I can follow Patrick more easily than Amy. Now, floor workouts are another story! I have a lot more trouble getting Patrick's floor work than I do Amy's. And Amy is one of the few instructors out there doing hi/lo workouts and I like the variety. I'm not giving up on either instructor, since they are two of my favorites.
I really do reach for Amy's step workouts quite a bit. Once I get the moves down, they are a lot of fun for me!
I really do reach for Amy's step workouts quite a bit. Once I get the moves down, they are a lot of fun for me!
Conni
Cathlete
Then there is the other side of the coin -
I am a choreography junkie, and I love it when I need more than a few tries to get the moves down. Amy is the bomb, and I don't expect to get it the first time, that leads to boredom in my book.
I also love her newest KB dvd, her form has improved greatly, and she throws some really challenging kicks into the mix which will have me working hard.
Cathe's cardio is very boring to me, the same thing over and over, and too easy for me to enjoy for a long period of time.
I guess that is why there is variety in life, yes?
I am a choreography junkie, and I love it when I need more than a few tries to get the moves down. Amy is the bomb, and I don't expect to get it the first time, that leads to boredom in my book.
I also love her newest KB dvd, her form has improved greatly, and she throws some really challenging kicks into the mix which will have me working hard.
Cathe's cardio is very boring to me, the same thing over and over, and too easy for me to enjoy for a long period of time.
I guess that is why there is variety in life, yes?
WD
Cathlete
I have to say I love Amy's workouts. I know that some moves need to be approached with care and would never recommend them for someone that is newer to working out. She puts in some new ways to hit different areas. The cardio workouts are challenging and different. I am not coordinated at all but some of her latter cardio workouts I have managed and love. Not so boring as the same old stuff. If I don't feel like something new I just pull out the old stuff. I think she is producing better workouts as I have not wanted to go back and purchase her older ones. Funny thing but she is my second to Cathe as a favorite. Cathe does produce awesome workouts with a lot of thought to who is using them and safety. That is why we wait forever to get a workout. If she was not so good at what she does then that would not happen. In her defense I think that she is trying really hard to come up with workouts that are new and different. That is hard with so many workouts out there. I appreciate what she is doing. Sometimes I really need some change so I am not at a plateau.
I am editing that Amy does seem to have a love for the music and has a way of making her workouts fun.
I am editing that Amy does seem to have a love for the music and has a way of making her workouts fun.
gogigi
Cathlete
Amy Bento is one of my faves! I love her stuff...step, hi/lo, kickboxing, core work, strength, kettlebells, etc. When I first started working out with her there was more of a learning curve but now I feel like it's when I used to go to my favorite classes at the gym. I may not get everything the first time but I know the instructor and her style. I am thankful for how Amy keeps everything fresh and fun and that I don't have to listen to her explain a move every time I do the workout. In my opinion, it's like a live class where the instructor cues just in time for the "regulars" and I consider it a positive! I too was getting bored with Cathe's cardio and started branching out to other instructors. I still use and enjoy my Cathe stuff and I enjoy it even more after incorporating other instructors into my routine. Amy's cardio is da bomb! I enjoy the variety of styles and teaching styles available to advanced home exercisers now!!!
DEEDEE2
Cathlete
I don't think Amy's choreography is all that complex. It actually looks fun, but complex or basic, it still needs to be properly cued for me. A basic combo can be dangerous if the cues are late and I'm are always half a step behind trying to play catch up.
Connie07
Cathlete
This is exactly how I feel! After Amy, I rarely reach for Cathe cardio...(still prefer Cathe for wts though) Amy has the best music too IMO. I have to have good music for cardio!
I couldn't care less about her form (or lack of) , I"m intelligent enough to know proper form on any type of cardio. I want GOOD music, FUN challenging moves and Amy fits the bill.
melanalyus
Cathlete
I am a cardiojunkie........so when Cathe went more towards strength training... I had to find more cardio instructors.
I'm so happy I found Amy Bento!!! She's so fun....definitely cannot follow her choreography the first try...but worth the effort to learn.
I give Amy Bento two thumbs WAY UP!!!!
I'm so happy I found Amy Bento!!! She's so fun....definitely cannot follow her choreography the first try...but worth the effort to learn.
I give Amy Bento two thumbs WAY UP!!!!