Review: Kickbox Xtreme

Kickbox Xtreme is an int/adv kickboxing workout made up of a thorough (and fun!) warm up, a long (57 min) cardio section, a brief (2 min) cooldown, then a 6 min core workout with tubing and a nice (5 min) Tai Chi inspired stretch.

The workout itself has some interesting choreography - I found it really tricky the first few times I tried it. But I think I've done it enough times - and have gotten used to Amy's style and cuing - so that now it seems more athletic and basic. Combo 1 is done with right and left done back to back in add-on style so you do the right then the left, add to the right, then add to the left; you don't do the entire combo on the left, then build it all again on the left. After the combo (which seems pretty short), you do your first intensity blast. The first blast you do three side kicks then to jump side kicks (those are fun). Combo 2 seems short, too. It is set up the same way as the first combo so you do right/left/right/left in add on style. Interval 2 is my favorite. You do jump switches, 3 side kicks, then 1 jump kick (to the front this time). Then you do a combination of combos 1 and 2. Something interesting that Amy does is she throws the intervals in too so you do the final product of combo 1/interval 1/combo 2/interval 2.

The second half of the workout is set up differently. For combo 3 you build the entire combo on the right then do it all again on the left. Amy announces interval 3 as her favorite. It is probably my least favorite. It's called "the weave," you do hooks while traveling forward then come bback with one arm flurrying in the air as you do a sort of shuffling box step back. Combo 4 is set up the same way as comb 3 - all on the right then all on the left. Interval 4 is called "kick walk walk" - Amy says this too is her favorite interval. It is pretty fun - it's a side kick then 2 hops into alternating kicks. Then you go into combined 3 and 4 which is combo 3/interval 3/combo 4/interval 4.

Combo 5 is looooong. It is set up all on the right then you run through it for what seems like a lot of times. Then you do it all on the left. I don't think you do it as many times on the left, but I could be wrong. Interval 5 is more balance than intense, but it does have some lunges and spin back kicks to keep the heart rate up. Then you go into something called "Combined 5," which seems odd because what are you combining it with? You combine the finished product of combo 5 with interval 5 then you go back and do the finished product again and combo 5 again but she does the interval on one side only then does the finished product again then goes back and does the left side before doing the interval again.

The core work uses the step platform a mat, and a tubing. It's partly abs, partly low back.

Amy also included a 6 min heavy bag bonus. It is short, but it is fun. I have a heavy bag and I always chose a premix that includes the heavy bag bonus. Amy does some punches on the bag and includes jump switches and tucks to keep the intensity up.

Overall this is not a very intense workout, but the length of the cardio section definitely ups the ante. Amy's kickboxing form has really improved over the years. This is Amy's first kickboxing workout and her punches leave something to be desired, but her energy is so infectious and her love of music and working out totally make up for it.

Sweat factor: 7.5/10
Fun factor: 8/10

Review: Advanced Step Challenge 3

Advanced Step Challenge 3 (ASC3) is a long step workout by Amy Bento. I think it is the easiest choreography and intensity wise, but do not be fooled, the length of the cardio portion makes this an advanced workout.

ASC3 is made up of 5 combos. After a 6 min warm up (that combines some floor moves with step moves and a brief post warm up stretch, you move into the cardio portion of the workout (which is 67 in long not including warm up or cooldown!!). Combo 1 contains mostly athletic choreography. Combo 2 is athletic as well. After completing combo 1, you do combo 2, then you do a combination of 1 and 2. Then you move onto combo 3, which is the most intense of the 5 combos (including jump kicks, over the tops (using the step laterally), and air jacks. Combo 4 is the 'danciest' and contains the trickiest choreography. Then you combine combos 3 and 4. After that, you move your step into the vertical position for combo 5. This combo is athletic and moves quickly. After combo 5 you move your step back to the horizontal position and put all 5 combos together. Then it's time for a cooldown and stretch.

The stretch is fantastic. It is 14 min long and quite thorough. You do some standing stretches using the step as a balancing stick, then some more standing stretches using a towel, and some seated and lying stretches using a towel.

There are two abdominal workouts. A 15 min kettlebell/step ab workout, and a 15 min tubing/step ab workout. I like them both, but the tubing segment is probably my favorite of the 2. It uses things like balance to engage the abs.

In each of Amy's Advanced Step Challenge workouts (there have been four so far - I really hope she makes many more!), she includes a Power Ups chapter. The 'power ups' are usually around 3 min or so, and are made up of ~3 drill-type anaerobic segments. I think ASC3 has the toughest Power Ups of all the ASC workouts. They include lunges off the sides of the step with a plyo heel click, a jump over the step and back, and a jump onto the step then off with a fast shuffle back behind the step.

This workout contains 6 premixes and the powerups and at least one of the two abs sections is included in most of the premixes.

ASC3 is a long workout but it is fun and Amy's energy is infectious. When you're past the 60 min mark and Amy yells, "Are you with me?!?" you can't help but smile and think (or say), "Yes, I am."

For those of you who want to try Amy's step but are worried about or intimidated by the complexity she uses in her choreography, I would suggest starting with ASC3. Out of the 4 ASC workouts she's made, I would rate them this way, in terms of complexity, from easiest to hardest:

ASC3
ASC1
ASC4
ASC2

Sweat factor: 7.75/10
Fun factor: 8/10