Herschell Walker's Fitness Challenge For Kids

When's the last time you heard an exercise video advocating "squat thrusts" as a good exercise? For me, never. And that's what I like about this program--it's a return to the basic exercises which boys and girls did in physical education classes for decades before disco met calisthenics and aerobics was born. Herschell Walker, Heisman Trophy winner and star running back of the NFL's Dallas Cowboys and Minnesota Vikings, freely admits that he was a 98-pound weakling as a kid. Two things changed that: basic, no-frills exercises, and sheer determination. Now Herschell has thighs the size of tree trunks and biceps that resemble grapefruits. What's the Walker philosophy? Forget the Nautilus, and concentrate on situps, pushups, chinups, sprints, toe touches, windmills, and jumping jacks. He leads a group of kids through each of the exercises, pointing out variations which are suitable for beginners, as well as more difficult versions for the more advanced. The opening rap song "Get Tough With Herschell" is rather dopey, and lasts far too long, but by and large this is an excellent--and practical--phys ed program for children. It's also nice, with so many black athletes in professional sports today, to have a black athlete starring in an exercise video. Highly recommended. (Available from most distributors.)