This DVD Makes Sneezing Painful (In a Good Way)
I thought I was an ab guru. Master Shin–a grandmaster in martial arts–would tell you otherwise, though. He’d probably tell you I bowed down to him like a little defeated chump. I think the universe laughed at me for declaring such a thing and that’s why it served me up a big scoop of Master Shin’s Don’t Cheat Yourself DVD humble pie in the mail.
I can’t lie. The quality of the tape is a little on the low-budget side. At times I could see parts of the set flopping around, but you’ll quickly forget how corny it is once you start doing what the master asks of you. The guy is in his 70s and had me (and a curious friend from the gym) sweating and straining.
The workouts are a little hard to follow. Master Shin counts super duper fast, plus he rarely shares the finer points of modifications with the audience. When he tells you to take it easy, you think, “Finally, he takes pity!” but then not even a second later he’s yelling and pointing at the TV saying, “DON’T CHEAT YOURSELF!” which brings on the massive feelings of guilt and fear. I swear I thought he might pop out of the TV and kick my arse. Don’t be fooled by the “ab focus” on the front cover, either. While the 30-minute DVD says it’s an ab workout, he still manages to throw some push-ups in the mix. (My least favorite exercise in the whole wide world, FYI.) I did EVERY workout… It hurt to sneeze the next day. Aches are kind of my thing. It’s how I know I’m working new muscles and (dramatic music) not cheating myself.
FBG Rating (Out of 5):
Instruction: ★★
Long-Term Likeability:★★
Music: ★★★
Fun Factor: ★★★
Meets Expectations: ★★★
Overall: ★★1/2
Fit Bottomed Line: Those who need a new ab challenge—and aren’t bothered by low-quality production.
What about you? Do you need some discipline to feel a new burn? If you like that kind of pain then Shin’s the master for you!—Tish