CIA 2901: Kickbox Surge & Core Training with Amy Bento

If you're an advanced kickboxer looking for an intense, fun and complex workout, Amy Bento's Kickbox Surge & Core Training video is a great choice. With great music, creative combos and excellent cueing, this will quickly become one of your favorites. The workout includes 5 combinations with a mix of punches, kicks and jumps as well as 5 high-intensity surges that will really get your heart rate up. There's a unique core section with whole body, dynamic exercises and the DVD also includes a warm up, cool down, stretch and 4 pre-mixed workouts.

Amy Bento is known for her creative workouts and fun combinations, especially when it comes to kickboxing. Kickbox Surge & Core Training is no exception with 5 fun kickboxing combinations interspersed with high intensity surges that really get your heart rate up. She also includes an advanced core routine with a variety of unusual moves and pre-mixed workout options which combine sections in different ways for shorter or longer workouts.

The Workout

The workout begins with a high energy 10-minute warm up before moving into the kickboxing portion. Amy jumps right in with my favorite combination, a mix of jabs and crosses followed by fake side-front kicks, elbows, roundhouses and back kicks. There isn't much breakdown and it's a bit confusing at first, but once you get it down, the moves flow well together. The combos that follow are also creative and fun with a variety of punches, kicks, jumps and more. Some of my favorite moves include jawbreakers, flying knees, stick punches and crescent kicks, moves I haven't seen in other videos. For each combo, she teaches the moves on one side and then the other before putting them together on both sides.

In between each combo, Amy takes you through high intensity surges that include moves like a front-kick-pushup combo, ninja kicks, jumping side kicks and tuck jumps. The intensity is consistent throughout the workout, at a moderate-high level during the combos and higher during the surges.

The core section, which requires a medicine ball is refreshing with a variety of dynamic exercises and not a boring old crunch to be found. She starts off with a roll back (from a standing position) which is tough and moves into other creative moves including a squat with a twist, planks with the toes balanced on the ball (yikes!) and planks with the medicine ball.

The music is high energy with recognizable hit tunes like "Don't Stop the Music" and "Do You Want a Piece of Me." Amy has a great personality and her cueing has only gotten better with each video.

Pros

• Combos are fun, creative and keep the heart rate up.
• The surges make the workout more interesting and challenging.
• Amy is motivating and energetic. Her cueing is spot-on and she is clearly having fun.
• I love the hit music. It's fast-paced, fun and motivating.
• The core workout includes unique and effective core exercises.
• Pre-mixed workouts offer options for shorter or longer workouts.

Cons

I don't have many complaints about this workout, but some exercisers may find the combos complex and difficult to learn. There may also be moves some exercisers want to avoid, such as the fake front-side kick which involves a jump with a turn into a side kick. It would be easy to twist your knee or ankle on that move.

Overall, this workout includes all the elements of a great routine - an intense, challenging workout, creative combinations, great music and energetic instruction. Advanced kickboxers will love it.