Contenders Club

This review includes The Full Forcelli, Bunches of Punches and Lotsa Heart because they are all very similar in format with only slight variations on the theme.

All three videos have five rounds. Each round consists of about three sets of moves plus 10 pushups, which are done for the first three or four rounds but not in the fifth round. Most of the sets are in counts of 10. Typically there will be a punch combination (as basic as jab-cross in the first round, going up to something like jab-jab-cross hook by the fourth), a lunge or squat section (or jacks, fast-feet or other simple cardio for Lotsa Heart), pushups and torso twists (or more punches, in the case of Bunches of Punches). The fifth round usually consists of combining all the moves from the first four together, sans pushups.

All moves are done in a measured, controlled fashion, no double-times here. Overall, the videos all gave me a solid intermediate-intensity workout, which fills a niche. The minute breaks between rounds seemed a bit long to me; I sometimes keep doing jacks or other cardio so my body doesn't get out of workout mode. These are definitely not for choreo lovers. VERY basic moves. If you like kicks, there's none of those here--it's purely boxing moves.

The set is in a plain room apparently in a city building, with white walls and hardwood floor and mirrors. Four or five women and a guy work out behind Forcelli. Music is the same in each of the three videos, instrumental and kind of mellow.

Olajide's Aerobox is far more intense and sweaty but I can see using these for days when I don't have a ton of energy but want a workout that's a little more athletic based than say an intermediate hi-lo video.