Cathe is like no one else

M

mom2tots

New Member
Hi all,

I'm a genuine Cathe fan, have been for years but was very curious when I learned of all the hoopla surrounding this new instructor that came out of nowhere. I decide to purchase two videos and offer some feedback to you all.

Feedback on Amy Bento videos

On her A-Team Bootcamp Video she is off beat which is annoying right off the bat, her shoulders are rounded forward and the a-team is not in sync. Her rocket jumps are taken directly from Cathe's Imax videos, she just changed the name. The pike ups on the ball are also from Cathe's CoreMax video. Yes her intervals are 2 mins to Cathe's 1, but this just shows she did her homework, she's trying to make it more difficult, but does more difficult necessarily mean more effective? I wouldn't buy again, I'm happy to wait for Cathe's Drill Max.

Step Video: Her step moves are more original, didn't see anything like what Cathe does, but again her form isn't great, shoulders rounded forward, she is off beat, she doesn't teach on a 32 count, her music is way too low, her team seems unable to keep up and is not in sync all the way through. The workout itself is too complicated even for the seasoned stepper, it's boarderline dangerous. I barely broke a sweat because I was trying not to break my leg! I much prefer Patrick Goudeau, fun original moves but in the same respect, safe, with a real professional. I felt like she was trying too hard to be hard and it felt dangerous. I wouldn't buy again.

Those are the two I got. All in all it just seems very amateur. I am a new participant in this forum, but not to Cathe or her webstie. I have been buying Cathe videos for many many years and I have to say no one comes close. All of Cathe's videos are exciting challenging and professional, she makes you want to keep going. There is just no comparison between the two. It would be like comparing Hedi Klum to Joan Rivers.

Again, someone made a reference to her (Amy's) studio, I'm pretty sure it's a living room. If you look at her gallery, in some of the pictures there is just junk in the background. It looks like they put a whole bunch of furniture there to get it out of the way. I understand she is a new comer but I agree with most of you all if you want to break into this business do it right, don't try and get free publicity (which she did fantastically) do it right or it may come back to bite you.

I wish her the best and hope she can improve and offer a more professional product in the future, maybe Cathe can give her some pointers on how to teach a safe but challenging step class.
 
Oh darn! I was really hoping that there would be another instructor that I liked like I do Cathe...I should have know better. I bought the bootcamp one. Did you get a good workout or was it just too annoying to get into? Oh well, another $26 down the drain. Thanks for filling us in. I too will post a review when I get it.

Susan
 
The reviews on VF seem to actually be mostly favourable and are making me more interested in perhaps ordering one of the workouts when they're released on DVD as opposed to DVD-R.:)
 
There's also a very positive review on the Hardcore check in, if you care to read it. I just ordered P90X, but I may order these after I'm done with that rotation. She sounds interesting.
 
I just finished previewing the entire step workout. To me, the steps seem VERY, VERY complicated (and keep in mind, I got the choreography from RS in 3 tries). I don't mind how difficult they look but I was disappointed in how little time she spent on the instruction for the rountines, especially since some of the moves could be dangerous if done improperly. I would have cut 1 of the 4 routines and spent some more time on breaking things down. She also skimped on the cool down and basically went right to stretching. It does look fun though. The set isn't the greatest and I could barely hear the music which I found disappointing. Also there's the problem with the "whoo'ing". It was a bit much.
On the other hand, I did see a good step intructor with potential. This is her first try and I think she did pretty good for a new-comer. I'll be attempting this one tomorrow and we'll see how I do. Hopefully I won't break an ankle with those crazy shuffles.

Carolyn
 
Regarding Amy's DVD's - I have ordered and gotten all four of her DVD's. First of all, I ordered them last Thursday in the early afternoon before she offered the 10% off - I am happy to say that I got the DVD's on Tuesday (Federal Express) and she enclosed a check to me for the difference of the 10% discount. She wrote me a note with the explanation. I was quite impressed.

I have been doing Cathe's workouts for 11 years. But I must say that I do not just do Cathe. I love variety and am always looking for other advanced workouts. I own every one of Cathe's workouts.

I have done Amy's Step Challenge a few times already. I have a totally different opinion than some. I love harder choreography, for I find it very challenging. I have learned not to get discouraged when learning a new workout for I know it will come.

I did Step Challenge on Wed. morn - the wu, Combo's 1 &2 - I did do the Combo's 2 times before I felt I could master the moves. Wed. evening I went on to the next 2 Combo's and I got those,too. I did watch her Preview in which she goes over the harder portions in a slow manner and I know this helped me immensely. It was fun and I loved it. There wasn't anything in there that was like Cathe though. Amy seems to have her own uniqueness.

I also did the two 15 minute ab workouts - the first segment had nothing in it that Cathe does (except the basic cruch). It was great,too. The second segment was on the stability ball - she did do some wood chops in that one. But I must say some people seem to think that certain moves are just Cathe's and she stole these ideas. For instance, the pikes on the ball in "All Pump" - well,those pikes have been done for a long time now by many other instructors other than Cathe.

I did "All Pump" and the "A Team Boot Camp." I really didn't notice if she was off-beat usually I would - I really enjoyed the workouts and will definitely implement them in my rotations. There were a few moves that did remind me of the TLT's meaning the functional workouts, but with an added twist.

I will definitely buy her other workouts. She has promised to refund me if the DVD-R has any problems in the near future.

I will continue to do and purchase all of Cathe's workouts, too.
 
Okay, well I won't give up hope until I get them in my hands and try them. I am pretty tolerant of cueing and quirky personalities when it comes to instructors, I just want a great workout and it sounds like everyone so far thinks that she is advanced. I think we compare everyone to Cathe and if we want new workouts, which I believe we are all looking for, than we have to be more tolerant and open minded. I am looking forward to doing the bootcamp one. I should get it tomorrow in the mail. I will let you all know.:)

Susan
 
Susan,

I never was able to finish my earlier post. For some odd reason my key board froze up on me. I just ended up turning off the computer to get it to work again.

I really do not think you will be disappointed. I did do that one. She does do 6 drills, with the the first of the drills being the aerobic part which is 2 minutes - then she follows with certain body parts.

I was going to say the woo woo's she does I do not find annoying. For I do like to do that myself - but I do know that she has edited her upcoming DVD's and has taken out and toned down the woo woo's in order to try to please some people.

Please let me know what you think when you get bootcamp. Hopefully, Cathe will be able to start filming soon.

Cheryl
 
I was wondering about the "off of the beat of the music" when I saw the previews (but the music was so faint it was hard to tell. I absolutely hate that, and unless it's a workout like Slim Series, where the beat doesn't matter and I can just follow the music, that's a deal breaker for me.

As for pikes on the ball, Cathe didn't invent that move, so Amy didn't necessarily take it from her.
 
I am going to be ordering a few when she gets the DVD formats in, these look challenging, which is right up my alley.

I posted some questions over on her forum regarding comparisons to Cathe, and the level of workout she teaches. Her response was fast, clear, and to the point. I am looking forward to ordering these DVDs.
 
Conni,

I am sure you won't be disappointed. I looked at A Team BC this morning her first drill (didn't do it - I did it last night and the "All Pump") and I did not see her being off beat during the step portion of it.

I tried to do some kickboxing (Powerstrike) this morning and I couldn't believe how sore my sholders and upper back were.

She does some really new moves and incorporates multiple body parts. When she does the biceps she is sitting on the step in a V sit and you can really feel it more in the biceps and the core.

I will be ordering her two new DVD's also.

Cheryl
 
I tried A Team BC yesterday. I have to say I was suprised. I liked it more than I thought I would. That's saying a lot for me because I'm a real Cathe snob:) Here are some things I liked and disliked about the workout:

The cardio drills were tough but I felt she spent too much time cooling down after each one so my heartrate didn't stay as elevated as I would of liked.

She had a lot of fresh new moves that I had never seen before. I liked the bounce squats on the stability ball. I really felt it in my quads but I did have a hard time keeping the ball under my butt.

I didn't like the fact that she totally left out chest and back. I thought she could of cut down the amount of time she spent cooling down and stretching after each part and put in another drill. I think that would of really made the workout more advanced.

As far as the whoops, I thought they would bother me, but I didn't notice it very much. She's full of energy and very motivating. I liked her as an instructor. I didn't feel she was offbeat(maybe I just didn't notice).

I think this one's a keeper.

:)
Jacque
 
Ball pikes are not unique to Cathe and I've seen many other instructors do them. Most of what is out there has been done before in one way or another. I thought these DVDs looked intestering and perhaps when Mr. Bento get a more under her belt I consider buying one.
 
I done both workouts I got allpump and bootcamp.Bootcamp was a hard workout I really enjoyed it.my heart rate stayed up pretty much thru the whole thing I hit 90% of max during the cardio.I really liked the standing core portions.All pump was also alot of fun both of these will be regulars in my workout rotations.For me I will use bootcamp as a cardio workout-even tho you do get a nice burn from the exercise's.I think now I will order the remaining two.:p
 
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