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New Practical Heavy Bag Drill For Boxers

Author: Keith Pascal
Date Posted: December 06, 2008

A heavy bag provides a great workout, but can it be used to work timing and angles? Can you get a good workout and, at the same time, make your heavy-bag workout practical?

Boxers Pound Heavy Bags

Pounding on a heavy bag can provide a great workout. It helps builds both muscle and punching coordination.

Still, boxing a punching bag can also be a training tool to actually teach you how to fight. It doesn't have to be a giant pillow only good for taking out your frustrations.

With good drills, you as a boxer can use the heavy bag to work timing, distance, attack rhythm, and so on.

Heavy Bag As Boxing Opponent

I don't know about you, but my heavy bag is the enemy. It's not just a red vinyl sock filled with sand.

When I face off against it, I see a big, mean attacker. And I don't think rules.

That enemy deserves punches with attitude. The enemy merits serious consideration.

You need to bob and weave around your heavy bag, as if you were actually in the ring boxing.

Here's a boxing drill that I have particularly useful for training practical application....

Circling to the Left with a Boxing Surprise

If you are right handed, then the chances are you were taught to box with your left foot and arm in the lead or forward position. Boxers usually keep their best and most powerful in reserve.

Is this the lead you take when you box?

Assuming that you are in a left lead, I want you to punch with your left hand. Either jab or lightly hook you punch at about face level.

The key to this boxing drill is NOT to punch squarely on the center of the bag. In other words, don't punch the nose. Instead, punch a little on the side, as though you were punching the jaw or ear of your opponent's right side.

Now, as you punch slightly to the side, circle to your left around the heavy bag. Keep circling to the left as you jab.

Are you with me, so far?

All of a sudden, punch the center or other side of the bag with your right fist. Make it a surprise.

Circle, circle, circle ... surprise!

Surprise Punch The Heavy Bag

So, how do you surprise a heavy bag?

After all, a bag is an inanimate object (although after you punch it with your jabs, this inanimate bag will be "animated" all over the place). How do you catch your bag off guard?

You fake it.

Punch with your right fist while you are mid-step. This is the equivalent of a surprise hit.

Surprise hit the bag just as it starts its swing from a left-hand hit. This mid-motion interruption is also a surprise.

From there, get creative. Work on your acting ability.

And keep making your heavy bag workouts more and more practical.

About The Author

For an article on how to develop speed punches that are faster than they need to be, click here: Speed Punch Training.

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Keith Pascal is a martial-arts writer and has taught martial arts for 25 years.

Article Source: JKD Street Combat - online collection of boxing articles.

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