Billy Blanks Jr. - Dance With Me Cardio Fit [DVD]

Fun!

I actually look forward to working out with this DVD. Billy Blanks Jr., his wife, and his Dance With Me dancers make this workout fun. After I saw Billy Blanks Jr on Shark Tank, I knew I had to get his DVD, and I'm so glad I did. This has become my go-to workout DVD.PROS:Billy Blanks Jr.: He is the main factor behind why this workout is so fun. He encourages you to think of this as your "playtime" and "have fun with it". Plus, he has a great presence. He makes you WANT to watch him because he seems to be really having fun with it too.Music: It has a great beat and makes me want to move. I believe the music is specific to this DVD.You Choose Your Workout: There is an option to put together which segments you want to do, and once you hit play, you get your customized workout.Workout Options: 5 min Warm Up 12 min Hip Hop Routine 12 min Country Routine 12 min Bollywood Routine 5 min Cool DownThe Routines are actually ten minutes long. Billy Blanks Jr. builds a routine one move at a time, and then you do the routine a few times at the end. The last two minutes are a "Cardio Burst" that has nothing to do with the routine, but rather is some fast-paced movement like running in place and jumping jacks. It's easy to follow.Breathing Tutorial: About 5 minutes. Billy Blanks Jr and his wife show you the proper way to breathe. Since breathing correctly is so important as it gives you more energy, helps move the blood more efficiently, and just makes you feel better, this is a great addition. Even though I know how to breathe correctly, I appreciate the reminder.Billy Blanks Jr's wife: She throws in some comments here and there and I find it adds a little something to the workout. Makes it feel more real and less staged. She has a great presence as well and complements Billy Blanks Jr. nicely.The dancers: They all look like they are having a lot of fun. Billy Blanks Jr. interacts with them throughout which makes it really seem like they are his "Dance With Me family."CONS:Not much. I find the Warm Up starts out pretty slowly so I have to walk around for a few minutes to get my heart rate down before doing it, but that might just be me.There is no step-by-step guide independent to the instruction during the routines. While I don't find any moves particularly difficult, I think there are a few that I could be doing better with a separate step-by-step guide that really breaks down some of the moves.OTHER CONSIDERATIONS:There are modifications if you are looking for low-impact.I've been doing a lot of walking, but not a lot of cardio, so this is perfect for me. The first five or so times I had to stop one or two times during each routine because I was so winded, but now I can get through each routine okay, take a break, and do the next routine. If you are in super great shape you may not consider this a great workout. If you are in below average to average shape, or just want a fun workout, then this should do it.I love this DVD and will look into getting more of Billy Blanks Jr DVDS.

I really enjoy the Billy Blanks Jr dance series and this DVD was no exception. He breaks down the dances in easy to understand components and takes you through them slowly several times then at regular speed several times. The moves are eventually strung together until you complete the whole routine. I also like that you can choose between doing the dances with his spoken instruction or choose to have the music only. This is nice when you want to practice on your own.The single thing I don't like, and I feel really bad even mentioning it, but the fact is his wife is one of the dancers. She soooooo desperately wants to be the star so she interferes with his instruction, hogs the camera, jumps into the frame and even sings one of the songs they dance to during the cool down. She seems like a sweet person but it's pretty distracting to learning and practicing.Other than that, you can't go wrong with this.Oh, one more thing, this is a good DVD for people who need a low impact workout. Actual mortals can perform the moves without the need for kidney belts and knee braces. It still gives you a lovely workout but without needing to be a 21 year old gymnast to perform the dances.Now if I could just find a mute button for his wife....

I really enjoy this workout- I'm an overweight, out of shape sahm of 3 small children and decided I needed something fun, low impact but good cardio and easy on the knees (certain workouts and exercises strain my knees since I'm overweight). With any exercise you get what you put in to it- since I'm just getting into cardio/working out, I can't always jump around when they do (mainly in the cardio bursts) but the moves are easily modified while still keeping the heart pumping. Ive been doing this dvd 4-5x a week- I do the warmup, hip hop, Bollywood and cool down so I get over 30min of good cardio with my heart rate ranging in the 130-150s. I don't notice any particular muscles being sore afterwards so it's definitely not for "strength training" so to speak (I do that at the gym), but for me, it's great cardio.Billy is a great instructor- he's motivating and emphasizes often to have fun! I appreciate the fact that he reminds you to breathe because I catch myself at times holding my breath. I have no problems having to stop and switch to another workout on the menu- I keep moving to keep my heart rate up and its also a prime time to do a heart rate check to make sure I'm in line.Overall, no complaints! I would definitely recommend to someone who is easing back into exercising and needs good, fun cardio!

This DVD has 3 different dance routines and a warm-up and cool-down.I enjoyed doing the workouts, they're fun. I didn't find it overly challenging to keep step - there's a few moves that with practice I could nail no problem. It gets my heart-rate up to a moderate level, so I would use this DVD on days I want to work out at a moderate pace (versus a walking video which would be a low pace for me, or an interval training one which is a higher intensity for me).I would recommend this DVD for beginners to intermediates. Adavanced exercisers would enjoy it on lighter days.I love to dance, and I've tried a couple different dance vids, and this one is an easy one to follow (I had problems with a 10-minute Solution one), and not boring at all. I also liked the positive energy I felt from the instructors.

Excelente

I really like his workouts, but would have liked some actual music and not just “beats”.

ヒップホップ・カントリー・ボリウッドの３種類からなるエクササイズDVD。一つが約12分程なので、時間の無い方には最適かと。ダンスも簡単なので初心者なら３回程流して踊れば楽しく踊れる様になるかと。ただ、どのダンスもちょいと古臭い。。。(＾＾; おまけに、Jr.と共演している素人さん風メンバー達のテンションには苦笑い。特に奥様の迫力が凄い。(笑) 正直、エクササイズに仲良しこよしや仲間内のノリの良さは不必要かと。Jr.だけ、もしくはご夫妻で十分。但し、お子様の情操教育にはよろしいかと☆　程好く汗をかきたい方にはおススメですが、ボディメイクとなると他のエクササイズとの併用をおススメします。(持久力はつくけれど、バランス良く筋肉はつかないかと) 英語がわからなくても大丈夫です♪(もしくは中学生程度の語学力で十分)　余談ですが、パパ・ビリーとは何もかもが正反対☆長くすらりと伸びた手足に小顔のハンサムJr.は、目の保養になりますよ♪(笑)