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Tae-Bo
Combining Boxing and Motivation
By Julia Rosien
Tae-Bo – the fitness system that combines boxing, Tae Kwon Do and aerobics – exercises your body from the inside out, combining motivational speeches with a hard-hitting workout. Billy Blanks, its charismatic founder, says in his videos, "I tell people in my class, 'When you're working out, who are you looking at in the mirror? Are you looking just at the outside? Or, are you looking at the inside? If you're just looking at the outside then your five senses can deceive you and you'll never change.'"
"Tae" refers to the leg and foot, for the kicks and lower body workout, and "Bo" refers to the boxing moves and upper body punches that are an integral part of the explosive, high-energy workout. It's a repetitive action of punches and kicks that relates as well to self-defense as it does to confidence and fitness.
Ross Marchesanzo, an instructor at Family Fitness in Kitchener, Ontario, believes that Tae-Bo is the best way to maintain fitness. He teaches boxercise, which is similar to Tae-Bo. "Most people don't realize how much energy and technique is involved in throwing a punch," he says, adding that tightening up the abs (all four levels), bending and twisting makes the punch powerful and the workout hard.
Marchesanzo has 15 years of martial arts experience. He says technique is the most important part of the workout. "I've had people feel faint or dizzy, but never an injury in my class. I know people who have broken bones during a workout and I blame the instructor." The repetitive workout focuses on skill and balance. "Think about your stance, concentrate on how you want to move."
The good news is that anyone can do Tae-Bo by modifying movements and working at his or her own pace. Young and old, men and women, seem to like what they see in Billy Blanks. However, it's not a quick fix and can take weeks before any improvement is noted. Marchesanzo holds beginners back until he's sure they can handle the quick movements. He lets them practice on stance while they slowly work their way into a routine. "Be careful and patient, learn to focus and pay attention to technique," says Marchesanzo.
