BILLY BLANKS V CATHE'S CKICKS ?????

B

Bernard

Cathlete
Hi All,

I have never ever done a Billy Blanks tape, and am just wondering how he compares to Cathe's impecable (sp?) style, cueing and good form ? Is he dangerous ? Does he cue well ? Which one of Billy's would you recommend I begin with ? What is his music like ?

Many thanks

Anna :)
 
Didn't much care for him.

I bought the very first tae bo tapes when they first came out--before I knew Cathe. I found him to be obnoxious & irritating. I don't remember his form but I just couldn't stand him. I do remember that I was sore as HECK the next day. I don't remember that he was as high impact but it was a beginner tape I was using.

Hopefully someone else will post here & give you more info than this.

Deborah
 
I Love Billy!

I have every Taebo tape released and coming from someone who is bored and annoyed by most cardio, that's saying something. I do Taebo 1-2 times a week, just out of pure enjoyment.

I find Billy to be inspirational and a gentle man. He's responsible for getting me off my butt when the first set of tapes came out and he's the one who still kicks me into shape (mentally) when I think 'oh why do I bother?'

I've spent quite a bit of time on his website forum, there are people there who've been lucky enough to have trained w/him and/or just taken a class or a had a private session and I envy them so because they all talked about the intensity of his teaching and the ability to inspire that he possesses.

I can't answer the question because I've never done any of Cathe's cardio stuff, but naturally I admire her as well and am a devoted slave to her strength training. I can't see how you'd go wrong with either.
 
Hi Anna,

No one I've come across has cueing like Cathe, but I personally LOVE TaeBo. I use it with CK not instead of. I have the "Get Ripped Advanced" 2-pk and it's high intensity as heck! It can be modified easily to low impact by just taking out the shuffling and occasional jumping jacks, and STILL be a great workout.
I'd say for me, these 2 workouts are as close to Cathe's level of intensity I've ever experienced. I am WORN OUT after either of the "Get Ripped Advanced" workouts, and I've been doing them for quite some time now.
As far as safe, you will have to pay closer attention to your own speed in kicking and punching. I cannot always do his speed kicks and have to take a slower 1 for his 2 kick speed, but that's for the sake of my knees, but his punching speed doesn't bother me at all.
His counting can be an issue if you're new to his style, but I'm use to it and I compensate. Heck, if he's too off in counting on one side I use the extra few minutes to take a sip or two of water! :)
But TaeBo is a great workout, and I give it much credit for helping to reduce my lower body and waistline.

Donna
 
Hi Anna
I started with Tae bo when it first came out.I find Billy to be extremely motivating and the workouts are good however when I discovered Cathe & Mindy I found my trainers.Billy's cueing is poor he doesn't work for the video audience ie:he says left jab -in the video audience it's right.Perhaps a small piece but irritating.I find all the Tae Bo workouts similar-no variety.These tapes are fun & I still do them every so often but I recomend trying some other people .I also enjoy Debbie Burns & the intensity is there.Powerstrike is excellent.Janis Saffell is fun at a lower intensity level.One tape I really love is Kickbox Jam-It's a good one.
cheers Ki.
 
I use to be a HUGE Billy Blanks fan! I thought he was very motivational! His cueing is definitely not where Cathe's is but I still liked him. HIs moves don't require a lot of queuing because in all reality I think they are quite simple. I use to have almost all of his tapes. I finally gave them to a friend because I just wasn't seeing results anymore with them.

However, I did do Tae Bo all thru my pregnancy and after. I did have great results for awhile. The first year I did him (over 4 years ago I think) I lost 30 lbs in one summer! Then, I had a baby, did him all thru my pregnancy and after and just wasn't seeing results. I agree with the other posters that all the videos are very similar.. mostly the same music.

I think they are definitely worth a try. I think his Live Advanced videos are the best. You jmight be able to get some for pretty cheap on eBay.

Good luck!
 
I guess I can't understand how anyone could hate Billy Blanks, just as I can't understand how anyone could hate Cathe-- their styles are not the same but I love both of them!

I love Cathe's Cardiokicks but I also love all of Billy's TaeBo live tapes-- there are a lot of similarities in his live tapes, but some are better than others. I love volume 4, 9 and 11 the best. Billy is one of the only instructors out there who can hold my interest in kicking and punching. He is fun and knows how to motivate. For some reason I can't get into too many other kickboxing type of workouts except for Billy and of course Cathe's Cardiokicks-- because I also love everything that Cathe does.
 
Thanks Everyone,

I may just invest in a Billy tape after all of the good reviews :).
I may need him to add to my Kickbox rotation :)

Anna :)
 
To me Tae Bo is o.k., but not something that I would do often. I don't like the fact that for some reason Billy feels the need to work at turbo speed. Especially since around the 20 minute mark most of his class is struggling to keep up and I guess people just don't modify in 'Billy land' or something. Not to mention accuracy and technique come before speed in martial arts. You can be as fast as you like, but if you don't execute you moves right and hit your target then speed isn't going to do you any good.

My sister got me the Gold advanced series and when I first previewed it my first thought was, 'Dang,where's the fire yo?' I've done them a few times and they really aren't that tough; but if you are like me and can get bored with lots of repetition than look out.:D

But hey, I don't really care for the Firm either. My sister got me the Fanny Lifter and about 11 of their latest tapes....which had me worried because I really hated the first three. To me they felt like a bunch of snobby, rich, beautiful people got together to workout because it was the trendy thing to do. So I gave away those three, then my sister turns around and gives me this really thoughtful gift which I have used.

The only tape I like out of the 6 I've done so far is the long Cardio Sculpt. I hate that Fanny Lifter thing though. For one thing my purple part is only 5 in high not 6 and it doesn't fit well into the grooves of the blue part; I have to balance it on top of the blue part instead of fitting the pieces together....but then thats just my take on Tae Bo and The Firm.}(
 
Hi Anna,
I didn't care for Billy's tapes at all. I think I did it once or twice. I gave them to my daughter and she kind of like them. I didn't care for his style, music, or the routine.

Joanne
 
Their styles are very different. Billy Blanks is more into authentic kickboxing moves (his form is excellent, while I would say Cathe's is good for someone who is not really into martial arts). BB workouts are less choreographed and use less room (they can basically be done in a 6 x 6 foot space or so). They could also be rather boring, as he tends to continuously count 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8 for each move). Several workouts have sides worked unevenly, and Billy doesn't mirror cue.

In short, if you're looking for great cuing and an even workout with more choreography, I'd choose Cathe. If you're looking for a strong workout that shows excellent form, go for Billy.
 
I'm glad to see so many who enjoy Taebo.

If you're interested, Best Buy has the new Ultimate series at 9.99 per individual tape. I picked up the Ultimate Upper Body and have done it a couple times. Its a pretty good workout, using a compliation of the best of the Advanced Live series. Made me burn anyway. ;)

Anytime I need a little motivation, either in a workout or in a real life situation, all I have to do is think " Iwant you to Dig down DEEP," or "WORK IT BABY, WORK IT," in Billy-speak and I'm pumped. :D
 
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