A Tae Bo® workout is an aerobic exercise regime that combines cardiovascular exercise with martial arts in order to get fit. It was designed by Taekwondo expert Billy Blanks in 1976. He came up with the name by using the first three letters of Taekwondo and the first two letters of boxing. The goals of the Tae Bo® workout are to increase one’s fitness, strength, flexibility, and muscular endurance.
It took almost 20 years for Tae Bo® to reach the general public; when it did there was an explosion of interest. It should be noted that Blanks did not design the Tae Bo® workout as a means of self defense or any other type of combat system. There are no ground maneuvers taught in Tae Bo® with its main purpose being to offer people an alternative means of becoming healthy and strong.
The Tae Bo® workout has benefits that are physical and mental. The chief characteristic of the workout is the amount of movement it involves. Those who practice Tae Bo® are constantly on the move. Along with the obvious cardiovascular benefits, it is said that anyone who takes regular classes will find balance and flexibility greatly improved also.
One of the major selling points of the Tae Bo® workout is the amount of calories burned in a session. A typical session will last approximately one hour, and its intense nature means that participants could lose more than 800 calories in that time. This is almost double what is lost during a regular aerobic exercise session. It is recommended that a healthy diet is added to the workout for maximum fat loss.
A Tae Bo® workout should be done at an individual’s own pace; if practiced infrequently, however, it could actually harm a person’s immune system because it could lower the amount of white blood cells in the body. This is merely precautionary advice as Tae Bo® practitioners are believed to gain enormous benefits such as lower blood pressure from the rigorous, high impact exercise.
Reported results from the Tae Bo® workout vary, with some individuals claiming to feel a change in the body after only one session; others may feel benefits after a handful of sessions. Given the fact that it usually takes exercise regimes several weeks to take effect, it must be assumed that Tae Bo® is similar. Those considering Tae Bo® should see a physician first to ensure their body is up to the strain which will be caused by the intensity of the program. Billy Blanks believes that three sessions a week is best for optimum results though fitter individuals may be able to do a Tae Bo® workout everyday.
