A bit better than average training DVD
588634
If you are new to AVCHD this is a decent introduction but if you have been ding editing for a while it is a waste.  A bit dated and unfortunately short on hard technical information.  A few errors a P frame is a predicted frame and contains the differences from the preceding P or I frame it doesn't look forward in time.  Also with a long GOP CODEC changing any frame may change the entire GOP and ripple to subsequent GOPs.  Computer horsepower now makes many of the comments on the necessary computer obsolete; although a 4 core with  minimum of 8G of RAM and a 64 bit OS is desirable.

Only talks about the chi chi FCP and the obsolescent Avid work flows.
2728485
I was super excited about getting this DVD. I had heard a bunch of great things about this series and really needed something to get me motivated and moving. After receiving it though, I was expecting some serious cardio work out sessions, but was a bit disappointed when I finally watched the video. I had done the Jillian Michael's 30 day shred in the past and thought it may be similar, with the different levels of intensitiy, but this didn't have that like I thought. The dvd has one main workout that is 20-30 min long and it does get you moving, but I need more than just 20-30 min. They also have (2 separate) 10 min sessions that you can do by themselves or had it to the main cardio workout. Perhaps I was just expecting too much, or I should just do all of them in row to get the workout I need (which I have done) but I was thinking you'd be able to start on level one beginner for a awesome workout and then be able to build up, but that is not so on this dvd. Still a good workout and change of pace for me, just not exactly what I thought it was going to be. I liked that they had a very good warm up session about 10 min and that you could mute the trainers voice if you wanted, they get annoying sometimes. Received the video quickly, that part I had no problems with at all!
4313678
I've had the opportunity to actually train at Sealed Mindset.  What you get in these DVD's is the equivalent of a year's worth of training at fraction of the cost.  I don't begrudge in any way having gone through the instructor led training, I just wish this DVD set was available to help augment it.  Definitely not a time and money waster.
3396360
back to basics , low tech training . Good for the home trainer
2345493
Although the production and sound quality of this DVD are not the best, it does provide a good, short, and no nonsense power yoga workout.  It has one great chapter called Detailed Instructions.  When you go into this chapter it lists most of the poses used in the workout.  You can chose any or all of the poses, and you will get detailed instructions as Thom and Beryl demonstrate the pose.  If you are not familiar with the poses, this would be a great place to start before jumping into the workout.  The workout moves along at a quick pace, and there are a lot of down facing dogs.  The 1st part of the workout has a lot of repetition (they do a series of poses and then do the same series about 2 more times), but the 2nd part of the workout introduces many new poses.  Some of the poses include warrior, down & up dog, expanded leg stretch, sun salutations, spinal twist, triangle, and half bound lotus.  The set is nothing fancy, a plain room with a sky/cloud background.  They have a voice over instructing Thom & Beryl what to do next.  As one reviewer pointed out, it was a little bit wierd at the end when all of a sudden Thom just disappeared,I found myself staring at the TV for a minute wondering if he was going to come back or not! I have read several articles about how yoga is beneficial to runners because it makes them more flexible, and helps to strengthen ligaments around the knees and throughout the body.  Workouts like this definitely make me feel better after a long run!
1008337
Mixed feelings about this DVD. It's nice to have something compact (15-min segments) with 4 foci that you can choose from to tailor to your exercising needs, but I need to give this more time to see how my body responds.

>> PROS <<
:  Mary Helen Bowers is all legs, so that alone will get us buying/excited that we may 'somehow' feel like we will have super long, beautiful lines! Disclaimer should say, She had those legs and physique from birth and years of training, not from this video!
:  It literally is 15 minutes jam-packed with exercises (which is good and bad, see below). I do think you get your time's-worth, so to speak.

>> Cons <<
:  Inconsistent pace. I find that at times MHB speeds up even though she is counting out loud.
:  Very robotic! (Maybe this isn't necessary a CON but) I'm guessing most people know that this isn't meant as a dance/ballet substitute. This is 'fitness in a small space' kind of mini-boot camp where repetition on one leg will get you shaking! There are obligatory ballet phrases thrown in there (like fondue...) to make it seem ballet-ish, but it's not.
:  Fast-paced and no breaks in between, so I found myself hitting the pause button to stretch a few minutes extra, etc. But then again, I suppose that's better for people who don't want to stop?
:  The footage quality is very low-tech, in that you can hear everything that's going on in the background nearby the studio. Although it doesn't impact the exercises per se, it makes you wonder how much these people are putting into their products...

>> General commentary <<
:  I'd love to find out how people who have incorporated this routine into their lives have been transformed and to be included as part of the video ads at the start. And the one-liner about training Natalie Portman? She didn't use this, but how did the training help her build strength?
:  It's also interesting that MHB is at ease doing some of these exercises. Even with her loong legs, each execution is really quick and I sometimes feel like she's going too fast. I get more of a burn if I take at least a half to 3/4 of a second longer on each leg movement.
373281
I've had this DVD for about 3 months. When I purchased it I had done Pilates through VHS tapes I owned and a class that I took. I've used this DVD off and on. I enjoy Ms. Kries as an instructor and the instruction portion of the DVD is great. I found that after a few rounds of doing the DVD (as with any produced exercise video) I got bored hearing the instruction and wanted to power through the workout in less time. I simply fast forward through those parts or do the next exercise I know is coming up and then fast forward. One suggestion for the next DVD series: Have one session with full instruction. Then include a separate session with the same exercises in a flow--without the interruptions.
622449
My wife bought this for me to use with my new indoor trainer. The format kind of put me off at first, mostly during the warm up.after we got done with that I started sweating pretty good and didn't care about the format. By the end I was panting and struggling with the out of saddle work. Overall a good video. I think I'll still enjoy it and it'll still be challenging for awhile.
4254179
There is some wonderful content in this comprehensive 4-DVD set; however, there are also a lot of impractical techniques.

Machida offers some higly valuable information on basic, yet often-overlooked, elements of the MMA game: stance, balance, footwork and linear, non-telegraphed striking.  As another reviewer has mentioned, these are the very techniques and attributes that he's used to become a champion.

However, on the first two discs he also offers a whole slew of techniques and combinations that are rarely used in MMA competition.

The 4th disc on the ground game is a VERY elementary primer on Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.  Anyone with any kind of jiu-jitsu experience will find nothing new.  Although, it must be said that most of the techniques on this disc have at least proven their value in actual MMA competition.

The best disc in the set from front to back is the 3rd disc on intercepting attacks, distance, timing, the clinch game and takedowns.  Here Machida really shows the viewer what has made him a champion, as the entire disc is packed with techniques that are slightly unorthodox, yet simple and practical.

This 4-DVD set would be much improved by being cut down to 2 discs - the price could also comfortably be halved.  Yet if you are a true MMA nut like I am, you will be very satisfied with the many gems of wisdom this set offers, even if you wish you didn't have to pick through quite so much roughage to find them.
1584829
My Pilates experience has been on a one-on-one basis with a certified instructor using a reformer. I started Pilates as a rehab regime for my lower back. My instructor is constantly stressing the importance of breath control. I really like the Pilates form of exercise and, in order to continue with my training, purchased this DVD (along with others) to use at home. In the description I liked the fact that  Picot "modified" the reformer exercises for the mat. Sorry for the lengthy intro. This is why I gave this DVD three stars: Pros: Most exercises are the essentials needed for every workout. Her explanation of these is very good. There is a bonus cardio section. She shows the exercise on the reformer first, so you know what you are doing (especially if you are familiar with those) Cons: While her verbal cuing is there, she doesn't take the time to instruct the correct breathing; which is the most important part of Pilates.  She has an instructor that does the modified exercises, but many times it's difficult to see what she is doing because Picot is center stage. I just feel this DVD will be monotonous after a while.
2447705
Very highly recommended. But, it is not perfect. It is 2 hours of instruction and demonstations along with practice ideas. Everyone who has ever done martial arts training and thinks it might be useful as self defense needs to watch this.

This DVD is about the transition from martial arts training to being prepared mentally and physically for real world self defense. The dojo is a safe place to practice. The bar or street can be a completely different environment. In the dojo you train with people who are helping you improve technique without getting injured. In the bar or street you encounter people who want to hurt you, steal from you, cripple you. Different places and different approaches are needed if you want to survive.

Rory Miller will show you why the techniques you have learned in the dojo are not going to protect you. For example, he has participants demonstrate a standard martial arts knife defense. Then he shows you why they will not work if you get ambushed by someone who wants to hurt you and who hides the knife behind their back until they are 6 inches from you. You have to learn how the bad guys think and act.

He also talks to you about how to deal with the police and the legal system after you have "won". Here is a hint: the bad guys will often claim that you attacked them. The police will often assume that the person who is standing at the end of the fight (hopefully you) is the criminal who initiated it. Even if you are not charged in a crimal court, you also have to be prepared to be sued in cival court to pay the expenses and damages suffered by the person who actually attacked you. Just because you won the fight does not mean that you have survived financially. He also talks about the medical consequences of your fight and the physical and mental therapy you may need to recover.

Most martial arts training involve what can best be described as "training exercise techniques" that are designed to build your fitness levels and teach your muscles how to do certain techniques. You block, then move and then counter attack. Too slow. You need to proactice single step techniques that combine the 3 steps into a single move. The exercise techniques are not even used after you get a black belt level and do free fighting exercises. They are strong. But too slow so you abbreviate them. Rory Miller describes the different approaches needed to survive violence in the real world.

Having praised the DVD, I have to mention some of the limitiations. First, it is just too shor to completely cover the subject. Several times he tells you to go read his book for more information. I am going to do that next. Finally, while he does tell you to develop and practice a single reflex technique that will give you a few seconds if you are ambushed, none of the reflex techniques he suggests would have protected you from that guy with hidden knife.
2313959
I really like this interval training DVD for the JumpSport Fitness Trampoline.  The fitness instructor is entertaining and he includes weights for the upper body in a few of the segments.  It's true that the workout DVD is a little rough around the edges... not as fine tuned as some of their other workout DVDs... but nonetheless, it's a good workout and the trainer is upbeat and professional. You won't be bored and you'll learn new moves. The only negative is that the DVD case was cracked (that's why I don't know the instructors name) but the DVD was unscathed.  I put the DVD in a new case so all is well.
2994244
I have had this workout/pilates DVD on my shelf for months and just tried it for the first time the other day. It was actually a better pilates workout than I expected so I give it a thumbs up for that. Denise is not my favorite instuctor though, because her motivational instruction methods aren't my favorite. If that doesn't bother you or you can put other music on it is a good pilates workout.  It uses resistance bands in parts as well as has a ballet-type workout using a chair for balance. If you are a beginner/intermediate at pilates this would be a good pick for a workout DVD.
664255
This is an overall good workout.  It didn't seem to contain as much variety as some of my other 60-minute yoga videos, not sure why, but she does talk a lot, maybe that is it.  There is a fair amount of what I would call "spiritualizing" or "self-talk" - if you can get past that or you don't mind it, then it's still a good workout (she actually said "ohm" a couple of times).

I liked that she broke up the standing poses with a good reclining core workout in the middle.  Her cueing is good - not the best but good.  I was able to pretty fully participate in the workout the first time through w/out having to look at the screen the whole time.  She has a tendency to give a long wordy explanation of the motions required to get to a pose instead of just telling you the pose name to start with.  Overall I'm not sorry I bought it, which is saying a lot in the exercise video world! - But a lot of its value lies in the fact that it was relatively inexpensive.
4160928
Well, this is a good workout for beginners. But if you've tried other body sculpt DVD's, you could see how much more this needed to push you. We just bought Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred and I felt like I got a better workout from her 20 minute session than this 50 minute one. And even though I'm an amateur, I could tell that I needed and wanted to push myself a bit more than this DVD offered. If you do get this DVD, I would suggest getting some heavier weights to push yourself.

Another thing I didn't like about this DVD was the repetitive nature of going from one section to the next. You're supposed to "add" levels as you go, but it sure felt like the 2nd level exercises were what I just finished in the first (including curtsy lunges, triceps). I would have liked newer and more challenging reps. Working out my triceps for 10 minutes may sound cool, but it's a small muscle and thus burns less calories.

One other factor is that as cool as it is to watch your favorite contestants from the Biggest Loser, they tend to have very poor form, which means you don't always know how to do the exercise right.

If you want to be pushed and want the trainers from Biggest Loser, I'd suggest checking out Jillian Michaels stuff. Challenging and inspiring.
4915230
I like the DVD and the workout programs but the trainer need to have a little more motivation and enthusiasm. I understand that's his personality but for workout/fitness DVD, you're an instructor and focal point; a little surprised seeing how he's military.
873810
Techniques are simple and to the point, which is what you want since DVD learning can be difficult without competent feedback from an instructor. There could have been more content than there was though. Fierce and Female was a much better DVD set in my opinion.