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Every few years, a new aerobic fad hits the market, claiming to be the "ultimate workout." Step aerobics, cross-country skiing, spin classes and others have all had their day in the sun as the exercise du jour. While these activities still enjoy a measure of popularity, they have given way to the current rage: cardio kickboxing. There are those who have touted cardio kickboxing as the fastest to way burn fat, tone muscles and achieve total fitness-quite a lofty claim!

Cardio kickboxing was brought into prominence by Billy Blanks, a California-based martial artist named who, through flashy infomercials, turned his Tae-Bo workout into an overnight phenomenon. With a host of celebrity endorsements, Tae Bo developed a cult following, selling millions of videos and turning Blanks into an international star. Seeing the immense popularity of Tae Bo, others began to jump on the bandwagon and kickboxing classes soon turned up in just about every gym in the country.

Cardio kickboxing combines traditional martial arts into an aerobic format. It uses a series of choreographed punches and kicks to elevate the heart rate and maintain a sustained level of caloric expenditure. The routine is set to music and is performed in a rhythmic fashion. Elements such as modern dance and abdominal work are sometimes incorporated for additional effect. The workout is very energetic and many find it to be a great deal of fun.

However, despite the hype, cardio kickboxing is not a fitness panacea. While it certainly can help you to lose weight, it doesn't magically melt away bodyfat. You see, intensity is the key determinant in caloric expenditure. Providing exercise is performed at the same relative intensity, aerobic activities are all equally effective at burning similar amounts of fat. Whether it's biking, stair climbing, jogging or any other aerobic modality, there is basically no difference in total calories expended. Thus, if you want to shed bodyfat, cardio kickboxing is no better (or worse) than traditional forms of aerobics.

Cardio kickboxing also does little to shape and tone your muscles. In order to achieve muscular development, your muscles need to be taxed beyond their normal capacity. However, since cardio kickboxing is performed at a sub-maximal intensity (as are all aerobic exercises), there isn't enough of a stimulus to force your muscles to adapt. Only by training anaerobically, with short bursts of activity performed at or near muscular capacity, will you generate sufficient muscular overload to sculpt your physique. Clearly, if you want to generate improvements in muscle tone, a regimented program of strength training is required.

In addition, because it employs unorthodox movements, cardio kickboxing has a higher incidence of injury than alternative modalities. As opposed to other types of aerobics (i.e. stationary bike, stair climber, etc.), a fair degree of skill is required to execute complicated punching and kicking maneuvers. Pulls, tears and strains can easily develop if proper care isn't taken. An injury can seriously curtail your workout regimen, potentially hampering your ability to train indefinitely.

Does this mean that you should refrain from engaging in cardio kickboxing? Absolutely not! If you enjoy this type of activity, by all means incorporate it into your workout. Anything that helps to promote exercise adherence is beneficial and should be a part of your fitness regimen. Just understand that, like any other aerobic activity, it has inherent limitations.

In final analysis, while cardio kickboxing can be an enjoyable form of exercise, it is by no means your ticket to physique heaven. If you want to maximize your body's potential, it is paramount to have a balanced program that includes both strength and flexibility training, as well as aerobics. Use Tae Bo as a component in your routine, not as the basis of your workout.

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