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So I just started the Masters Series after completing Power 90. I did my first day of Sweat 5-6, and while the actual exercises are harder to do, I felt I got a better workout with Sweat 3-4. Anyone feel the same?

I agree with JZfit.

If that doesn't work, it's time to move onto P90X.

I promise you, you will be challeneged with P90X.

Never did 3-4 myself, may have to give that a try. But I see this issue in a number of other posts, so I hope to make a suggestion that could resolve this.

Okay, so the first battery of exercises are pretty brutal, you've got the runner's stance squats that should be done as jumping twists, then the medicine ball twist, then the one legged squat raises (I think they're called). Repeated three times, I find the squat raises and the runner stance squats, back to back, are murderous. But that's me.

The middle section is where you can get your wind back, and I think this is where most people are feeling that they're not being pushed hard enough. Again, your mileage may vary. Also I have yet to compare 3-4 and 5-6. But yeah, you've got groucho, db scoot, and tires on fire. groucho and tires on fire are very similar, and as another poster on this thread noted, they both hit the quads equally. Now, I work out in an upstairs unit, so I have to control my stomping around cuz I work out at night. I'm sure my downstairs neighbor is loving it now that I'm doing the plyo legs! At any rate, my take on this section is that you just want to keep the blood pumping, just stay in the zone. I start to generate sweat right about the time I get to the second tires on fire section, and I imagine that's the idea.

Now the last section, with the punches and kicks, can make or break this thing, depending on how you do it. First of all, in my opinion, no one on that video is doing these punch combos or kicks properly; that is, they aren't using their breath with each strike, and they're not "popping" the attacks. Furthermore, those shoulders drop quite a bit on their uppercuts--dead giveaway. Yet other aspects of this section include a lack of intensity on the low block as well as a general sloppiness. I'm not trying to say this should be some kind of actual martial arts exercise, but as a Tae Kwon Do red belt (many years ago, alas), I really enjoy putting the most into this part of the workout. Now I get pretty worked up, and I bang out a few more reps than they do on this part, and by the last go around, I am just raining sweat. Which is, after all the whole point, lol.

It's my belief that the way this workout is designed, the first section gets your heart rate going by high intensity plyo, then the middle section is designed to primarily keep it in the zone, and finally, the third section is where--if you have it in you--you should go all out. Remember to exhale sharply with each strike, not quite a kiai, but like a boxer's exhale, and also speed up the interval between the first strike and the second, the rhythm should be "bang-BANG!" not "bang...(shift weight) bang". If you want to amp up the realism, make sure to keep those mits up, and stay bouncing, NO FLAT FOOTEDNESS LOL!

I could say more, but for all I know, I'm talking to folks who already know this stuff. Hope it helps! On that note, maybe I'll try sweat 3-4...