P90X Kenpo X

I finally get a chance to talk to you about my favorite cardio workout in the P90x program.  Everyone that is a coach loves this workout for several reasons.  Its shorter than most videos, no Ab Ripper X, lots of fun kicks, lots of punching and best workout to get out all frustrations.  This is my second time through P90x and Kenpo X is in every week of the program.  There are five rounds of throwing a whole bunch of kicks, elbows, knees and forearms.  You’ll learn a highly effective way to defend yourself, while at the same time getting one heck of a total body workout.

The video lasts about 58 minutes with almost 12 minutes of warm up and 4 minutes of cool down.  The most important thing Tony Horton wants you to remember is “Don’t bang your joints”.  Some of the warming up is quite tedious but definitely worth it because its lots of movement in a short period of time.  The first round is twist and pivot with no punches but just twist your body from left to right and keeping your arms tucked into your sides.  This sets the foundation for the next 5 exercises in this round.  Each exercise in this round consists of 50 times each or 25 per side.  The next is twist & pivot with uppercut hooks.  So imagine doing a hook then a uppercut and then switching your feet.  The whole time your rotating your feet and doing one hook/uppercut on each side.  The next exercise are jabs and that’s self explanatory but your still do 25 on each side.  When I mean each side I mean that you punch 25 times leading with your right arm and right leg and then switch leading with your left arm and left leg.  Jab cross is next and its a quick jab and then a quick left punch.  Jab/cross/hook is next and remember that you are switching your feet until you hit 50 reps.  The next exercise I couldn’t grasp for a few times but it is a combo of a Jab/cross/hook/uppercut.  I think its all the switching and twisting but now I’m a pro at it and you will be too.  In this P90x workout they give a 1 min/15 second break but its not technically a break. 
Its called an active break which means your running in place and doing jumping jacks. Great time for a break Huh! Well on to round 2 which involves more punching and uppercuts. So the next series starts and your already exhausted from all of that and then Tony wants you to keep going.

I will not hit every exercise in this workout but will highlight every round with a little detail.  Round 2 is up and here your still doing some jabs and upper cuts but then the legs start getting a workout.  Knee kicks are pretty fun but there fast so keep up or get ready to hit the pause button.  Ball kicks and side kicks are also in this round and its fun and helps with your flexibility unless your already flexible from Yoga X.  The most fun in this round is the coordination you need with jab/cross switch and hook/uppercut switch.  You feel like a true fighter after this series.

After almost a few minutes of jumping jacks, running in place and X jacks the next round starts.  Back kicks  and three direction kick are pretty self explanatory so need to explain those two.  The next is high sword/low hammer which is easy.  You make your hand into a sword and swing at throat level then as you come back make a fist and punch in the stomach level for a one count.  Step drag/claw low punch is fun and easy as well.  It involves a claw to the face and then a low punch to the gut.  Its interesting because these moves seem really easy but the next day your arms are sore.  Don’t worry Beach body makes one heck of a recovery drink!

One more set break and then the best part of the whole video which involves 5 different types of block.  So you get into a horse stance and each move consists of 30 times.  High blocks is up first so imagine blocking someone that is like 2 feet taller than you and you have to block all those punches.  A series of Inward blocks, Outward blocks, Downward blocks and Star blocks follows each consisting of 30 reps.  You kind of feel like a happy monkey waving your arms all over with fast repetitions.  The good thing is that if you have done your chest and back workout this part wont be very difficult.

Last series of workouts consist of everything you just learned but in a combination move.  Kenpo X is going to teach you a lot of cool moves in  short period of time.   So after your last ”break” you do a quick 50 rep high block low punch.  Next is a knee kick combo with a back kick for 30 reps.  The next move I will explain because its easy once you get the hang of it.  Think of it as getting rid of 4 people attacking you at once.  A combo of knuckles(form at T with arms while making a fist), then ball kick(kicking in front of you), then a back kick for a one count.  Next is a hook/uppercut/ low side kick and then an elbow series which is a combo of all 5 block moves from the last round.  Last and finally the best way to end the workout is vertical punches.  Get in your horse stance cause your punching 150 times as fast as possible.   Cool down is 4 minutes and everyone is sweating like hell.

I’m a coach for several reasons and the main one is to answer any questions that you may have and teach you a life transformation.   If you do have the program and need more ideas for eating healthy then check out some meal ideas.  No more excuses!