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Tae-bo

Hardness plus softness

By Lauren Li

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Aerobics plus martial arts is equal to tae-bo. Tae-bo, which arrived in Hong Kong last year, is a combination of aerobics, tae kwon do and dance music.

The creator of tae-bo is an American martial artist and physical trainer, Mr. Billy Blank.

However, when tae-bo arrived in Hong Kong, it was no longer called tae-bo.

Mr. Wong Chi Chung is an instructor of tae-bo classes of the T.L.C. Fitness Chain in Hong Kong.

Said Mr. Wong: “We do not call it tae-bo in Hong Kong. We have several different names for it, like boxercise, fighting fit or kick-boxing.”

This is because tae-bo is a registered name and some original movements of tae-bo have been modified, said Mr. Wong. Professor Lau Wing Chung of the Department of Sports Science and Physical Education at The Chinese University of Hong Kong said there were many ways to modify tae-bo.

Said he: “You can modify tae-bo with any other sports like tai chi or step aerobics.

“Tae-bo is just the source. People can develop it into some other streams like kick-boxing.”

Despite its variations, tae-bo still has some basic movements, according to Mr. Wong.

For the upper part of body, there is a movement called “punch”. The movement of punching forward is called “jap”.

Other basic movements for the upper part of body include the “hook” and also the “upper cut”.

For the lower part of body, there are three kinds of kicks. They is the front kick, sidekick and back kick.

And for the whole body, there is “bob and weave”, a set of up-and-down movements in which people weave back and forth.

According to Mr. Wong, the combination of aerobics and martial arts is to attract male learners.

And he said that aerobic sections of a fitness centre used to be a “prohibited area” for men.

Prof. Lau said that he though this social pressure gave rise to tae-bo.

Said Prof. Lau: “Among Asians, aerobics is stereotyped as a feminine thing. And it is weird for men to join aerobics classes.”

However, tae-bo gives people a masculine image rather than a feminine one, added he.

According to Prof. Lau, doing tae-bo has several advantages.

Said he: “Firstly, it helps to burn fat inside our bodies.

“Secondly, it also enhances people’s cardio-respiratory endurance.

“Thirdly, it gives better body figures, lowers risks for illnesses, strengthens muscles, improves functioning of the immune system and increases people’s concentration power.”

However, because of the vigorous movements, tae-bo learners are susceptible to muscle and joint injuries, said Prof. Lau.

Added he: “Because tae-bo is more vigorous than aerobics, learners should have good physical fitness and do enough warm-up before practising.”

Mr. Wong has hurt his hip muscle.

Said he: “It’s because I did not warm up enough before trying a back kick.

He said that even professional instructors get hurt sometimes.

“But tae-bo is safe for our students because we teach them some safety precautions,” added he.

Despite this disadvantage, kick-boxing is more efficient than aerobics in burning fat inside bodies.

Said Mr. Wong: “This is because you use every part of your body like your back or chest muscles.

“One student lost 20 pounds after having been in our kick-boxing class for three months.

“But of course kick-boxing is not the only factor. People who want to burn fat should be patient, too.”

While some people burn fat with the help of kick-boxing, some kick-boxing learners do not like it.

“This is because they are not used to strong and vigorous movements of kick-boxing,” said Mr. Wong.

Mr. Wong is optimistic about the prospect of kick-boxing in Hong Kong.

Said he: “Hong Kong is a very special place where people like trying everything coming from foreign countries.

“But its popularity also greatly depends on the quality of instructors, publicity and also its promotion.”

However, Prof. Lau has his own thinking.

Said he: “Kick-boxing is trendy in Hong Kong, just like mobile phones.

“I don’t have any bad comments about it, but I don’t have high expectations of it.”

Mr. Wong Chi Chung, an instructor of tae-bo classes, here demonstrates a movement of tae-bo for the upper part of body. (Lauren Li)

Tae-bo has three kinds of kicks. They are the front kick, sidekick and back kick. Mr. Wong here demonstrates a front kick.   (Lauren Li)

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Department of Sports Science and Physical Education
The Chinese University of Hong Kong

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