Carradine: Shaolin Kick Box Workout (1999)

[Guest guest]

Wow, was this ever a good find!

I picked this one up on Ebay ages ago, and it is the

perfect tape to do before going to bed. This workout

will not make you sweat very much, but it is extremely

beneficial for the spirit. I'd say it is somewhat of

a mix between t'ai chi and I'm guessing Shaolin Kempo.

There is a long series of stretches in the beginning

that comprise at least half of the 40 minute workout.

Carradine emphasizes breathing in through the nose and

exhaling through the mouth with the tip of the tongue

on the roof of the mouth (yes, hard for those of us

with the flu and allergies, but in a perfect world..)

After the preliminary stretches, he goes into a

stretch for the leg that will correspond with a kick.

For example, while holding on to the back of a chair

for support, you stretch your right knee/leg in tree

pose before doing a side kick. You do a standing quad

stretch before doing a back kick, etc.

Next, logicallyl, come some lovely, lovely punches

combined with just as lovely blocks. This is

different from Tae Bo, and very graceful and powerful.

This whole workout felt like a powerful dance,

actually.

Lastly were the combination moves: the snake, the

crane, the leopard, the tiger, and the dragon.

He ended the practice with a little t'ai chi, and I

actually got giddy when I felt the energy move between

my palms!

Like I said, this is a perfect one to do before

bedtime. I'll certainly look for more by him!

Circle punches,