A ’90s Cardio Kickboxing Trend Makes a Big Comeback

Billy Blanks’ Tae Bo — a workout blending martial arts and dance — is gaining traction among fitness enthusiasts young and old

The nostalgia of the ’90s has been everywhere in 2026 — from baggy jean shorts to fascination with analog lifestyles, people are looking to emulate the vibe of decades ago. And now, that nostalgia has entered fitness.

Tae Bo, a cardio kickboxing craze pioneered by Billy Blanks, appears to be making a comeback across social media, as people are rediscovering the workout class that features high-energy punches, kicks, dancing and martial arts-style movements.

The modality is especially gaining traction on TikTok, with videos garnering hundreds of thousands of views as people try out the deceptively difficult workout.

While Blanks is introducing the workout to a growing TikTok audience, you don’t have to go digging for videos from the 90s to give cardio kickboxing-style workouts a try.

Several top fitness brands have either maintained or brought in the format. 

Group fitness giant Les Mills, for one, offers BodyCombat, its own version of a high-intensity martial arts-inspired workout.

Members at luxury operator Life Time, meanwhile, can attend either Strike or Burn Cardio Kickboxing, featuring punching and kicking combinations, full-body conditioning and explosive athletic drills.

The big-box gym scene is also getting in on the revived trend. Crunch Fitness offers Cardio Tai Box, linking intense aerobic drills with martial arts-style movements like punching and kicking.

Probably the most famous for its combat-inspired workouts is UFC Gym, which offers MMA-style workouts and kickboxing-focused group classes in addition to traditional gym equipment.

As with any popular modality, cardio kickboxing also has its share of specialty boutique studios — New York City is home to several, including Hot Fit NYC and Hit House.

Blanks has been looking to reinvigorate Tae Bo in recent years, though. In 2024, he announced a Tae Bo VR workout called Tae Bo Reboot. His website also offers virtual classes and official Tae Bo certifications for instructors to teach the modality wherever they are.