Kick-Ass Weekend

by Debra Auspitz

If you're looking for an alternative to sitting on your butt watching TV on Saturday, you have not one but two opportunities to get out and open up a fresh can of whoop-ass. If fake violence is your cup of tea, head over to Temple's Liacouras Center for a workshop with the king of punching the air, Billy Blanks. Blanks [pictured] became a household name when he released his set of Tae-Bo tapes, an aerobic workout based on kickboxing techniques. Wimpy folks across America could punch and kick in front of their TVs and feel super badass, despite the fact that they never actually made contact with anything. But it's still a great workout, so the worst you'll get by attending Blanks' live show is some good cardio activity.

But let's say you want to get a workout and learn a skill that could save your life someday. In that case, go to the DoubleTree Hotel to spend a day with Darren Levine, the U.S. Chief Instructor of Krav Maga, the self-defense technique utilized by members of the Israeli armed forces. Krav Maga is meant to be an equalizer -- with these techniques, size, age or gender should not matter in a fight. Krav Maga is based on our natural instincts and reflexes, with simple and practical moves for various combat situations. The workshop is open to all levels of experience. And, since every article written in Philadelphia these days has to reference at least one half of Philly's current über-couple, it should be noted that Krav Maga techniques allowed J.Lo to cream her abusive-scum husband in her recent film Enough. But don't go just because of that.

Tae-Bo Live, Sat., Oct. 5, 2:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m., $25 in advance, $30 at the door, Liacouras Center, 1776 N. Broad St., 215-336-2000. Krav Maga Workshop, Sat., Oct. 5, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. (registration at 9 a.m.), $179, DoubleTree Hotel, Broad and Locust sts., 215-462-1134.