Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Master the Art of Speed Bag Training For Boxing

If you've ever tried speed bag training and were unsuccessful, then you already know how difficult it can be. As far as boxing training techniques go, this one might be the hardest to get used to. But by consistently providing yourself a speed bag workout and learning how to approach your training in the right way, you'll be able to make substantial progress very quickly.

The first step in the process is accepting that you have to begin slowly. You can't walk up to a one of these bags, start wailing away at it and expect to see results. As far as boxing training drills goes, this one has an extended learning curve and you must start all the way at the beginning.

In a somewhat relaxed boxing stance standing under the bag, hit it once with the outside edge of your fist. Now watch how the speed bag moves after being hit, a key component so successful speed bag training is learning the rhythm and motion of the bag itself.

After you hit it, the bag should hit off the back wall, bounce forward and hit off the front wall and bounce back again. That three bounce period is where you're going to begin your speed bag workout. It amounts to how much time you have to line up your next strike and get down your own rhythm that matches the bag's.

Your boxing training techniques for this speed bag workout are therefore to hit the bag once with one of your hands, to let it bounce three times, and then to hit it again with your other hand, repeating the process continually.

Once again, it's important to stress that you have to start slowly- slower than even feels natural. But humor me in this process, and build up to a faster pace or else you won't learn. As you gradually progress up in pace and can maintain a consistent cadence, you're ready to move to the next step.

As with all boxing training drills you have to pick up the pace and intensity. The three-bounce cadence is nothing but a learning tool. Now your objective is to hit the speed bag after just one bounce. That means you strike the bag with one hand, the bag bounces off the back wall and you strike the bag with your other hand.

Of course you can hit the bag with the same hand two, three or more times in a row, but the point is you're hitting the bag after only one bounce. Once you can maintain a fast pace with the one-bounce rhythm you've been successful at speed bag training, and you can begin working in more difficult techniques.


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Most Important Equipment For Boxing Training at Home

When you're ready to start boxing training at home then you of course need to know what boxing equipment you have to purchase. However, when you're on a budget, or when you're short on space, you can't buy every single piece of boxing equipment.

To solve the problem, here's a piece by piece list of the most crucial equipment for successful and effective workouts. Basically, if I was strapped for cash but wanted to start training with boxing workouts at home, I'd start buying equipment at the top of the list and work my way down.

1. Heavy Bag: The heavy bag is the quintessential piece of boxing equipment that we are all familiar with. You can get ones that hang from the ceiling or you can get free standing versions as well. Typically, hanging bags are of a higher quality and are more versatile but it isn't always possible for everyone's situation.

2. Boxing Gloves: It shouldn't come as a surprise that a pair of boxing gloves is essential for boxing training at home. Unless you plan on sparring, you can purchase a relatively cheap pair gloves specifically trained for bag training.

3. Hand Wraps: Your hands are your tools for your boxing workouts. You need to take the utmost care in protecting them, or else your workouts are going to painful and short lived.

4. Round Timer: So many people overlook the basic round timer and it's such a shame, because it's an absolutely great tool for your boxing workouts. You can set up rounds of different lengths and be alerted with warning buzzers, and also receive rest intervals just as if you were in a fight or sparring session.

5. Full Length Mirror: I can't stress enough how great a floor mirror is for boxing training at home. You can get your shadow boxing done, and you can really watch and correct your technique.

6. Speed Bag: The speed bag is a fantastic tool for you to train your hand speed, coordination, timing, reflexes and arm stamina. You'll build up strength in your shoulders, wrists and arms as you fine tune your hand eye coordination and overall boxing skill.

7. Pull Up Bar: The pull up bar is an all purpose tool that can help you pack on strength and lean muscle mass without bulking up too much. You can use pull up bars to pack on strength in your back, core and arms all at once.

8. Medicine Ball: A medicine ball is a very versatile piece of equipment. You can do a huge variety of abdominal exercises, and you can also build up your toughness. Additionally, you can get creative and do a wide range of exercises with a medicine ball to work your shoulders, chest, legs and core.

When you're ready to start boxing training at home, the above is what you need to consider. Start at the top of this list and work your way down, and you'll get a full range of essential boxing equipment to complete your at home boxing workouts.



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Cotto Vs Pacquiao - And the Winner Is!

Who would expect that a smaller guy, who was once a skinny fighter at flyweight, would fight a much bigger man in the welterweight division? Inconceivable, unimaginable isn't it? Especially if the bigger man is not an ordinary fighter but a true champion who has been bullying opponents in the ring. This happens only in the movies and in the bible too.

But not now, the once believed to be an inconceivable, unimaginable, and almost impossible fight will happen on November 14, 2009 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The smaller man, who happens to be the King (Pound for Pound) of boxing, His Majesty Manny Pacquiao, who is comfortable fighting at the weight of 140 pounds, will fight the bigger man, who happens to be the Ruler of the Welterweight Division, His Highness Miguel Cotto who is comfortable fighting at 147 pounds.

How to level the playing field?: Since the weight discrepancy is too much, experts figure out a way of making the fight even by adjusting the weight limit. They just let the bigger man go down his weight a little and the smaller man go up a little. From 147, His Highness Miguel Cotto will move down by two (2) pounds and His Majesty Manny Pacquiao will move up by five (5) pounds. They will meet at 145 pounds. Perfect match according to the experts.

What are at stake?: Aside from a big payday, both fighters are aiming for "the throne and the crown". The Throne of Manny Pacquiao as the Pound for Pound King and the Crown of Miguel Cotto as the Welterweight Division Champion of the World. Wow, what a fight. Anybody who wins the fight will be regarded as the Pond for Pound King of Boxing and the Ruler of Welterweight Division. For both fighters, this is a chance of a lifetime to prove their worth to the world. Who will not be enticed by these rewards. Even if this fight will be classified as non-title bout, for all intents and purposes, anybody who wins (especially if by total domination) will be regarded as the Pound for Pound King and the Welterweight Division Champ.

How will the fighters prepare? : Well, both fighters will make sure that they are physically, mentally and spiritually in top shape during this occasion. How to do this would depend on how their coaches and trainers would use their wits and creativity in analyzing previous fights, present condition of both fighters and possible scenarios during the fight to formulate their own game plans. Who outwits who will have an advantage in this fight.

Who do you think will win in this fight? Is it Pacquiao or Cotto? and why? : I am going to toss this question to the following:


* To the fans of both fighters, the question is "Why do you think your idol, either Cotto or Pacquiao, will win in this fight?
* To those who are not fans of both fighters, the question is "Who do you think will win in this fight and Why?"

Please post your answers to above questions, as comments, on this site http://www.darves-potpourri.blogspot.com



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The Secret to Getting a Boxer Body

If you're training to be a pro boxer, amateur boxer, or even a fight, one thing you'll definitely want is a "boxer's body." What do I mean by a boxer's body? It's quite simple. Look at the greats of the boxing world like Muhammad Ali. Broad shoulders, built back, chest, and triceps.

And what do all boxers have in common? They train hard on the punch bags. A boxing bag is the boxer's number one tool. So how does this contribute to getting a boxer body? Well, let us define a boxer body.

On an overall basis, I would define a boxer's body as being very firm. This is key to having a boxer's body and all pro boxers have this. Just go up to a boxer in the gym next time and give him a punch on the arm or chest! Whether he is muscularly built or not, you'll feel as though you just punched a wall or a 250 lb heavy bag. If you look at fighters in the boxing world, you'll notice a couple of things.

1) They are not all huge in terms of muscle mass
2) Muscles of many boxers aren't overly defined

It is a common misconception that boxers are supposed to, or do, have bodies like weightlifters. This is not the case. Remember that muscle mass does not equate to strength. Proof of this lies in the MMA/UFC cages.

We've all seen very muscular fighters get completely owned by fighters who have very little muscular mass. A great example of this was the Lyoto Machida vs. Evans fight in UFC 98.

So a boxer body therefore equates to a body with much inner strength. An exercise that helps gain inner strength, that is, strength of the tissues, organs and ligaments, is hindu pushups. Another exercise is grappling and throwing a punching bag dummy. These help to built inner strength and not necessarily huge muscles.

So the secret to developing a real boxer's body is to train like them. Do exercises that contribute to your inner strength. Meditate, train hard on the punch bags and don't give up. If you want to firm up, use the boxing bag to train in rounds. Move around so you develop both endurance as well. To really firm up your muscles, you're going to have to do a lot of cardio and inner strength training.



Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jermaine_Ricketts

Thursday, September 10, 2009

Secrets to Hitting the Punch Bags

As a boxing and fitness trainer, I've seen too many young, strong & healthy athletes injure their hands while hitting the punch bags. This is often devastating for boxers as breaking or fracturing your wrist will set you back. If you're training for a fight, you must know how to hit a boxing bag properly else you could have to cancel that match due to an unnecessary injury.

I've hit the punching bag for years, and today I'm revealing all my secrets... no holds bar. The first secret is to prepare. Failure to prepare is the main reason why athletes get injured. The same holds for training and hitting the punch bags. Prepare your hands by stretching your wrists. Twist your wrists in multiple directions. Then stretch out your forearms and biceps. Putting your hands on the ground and extending your arms so your elbows are locked will help you achieve this.

Preparing will allow your muscles to relax. Relaxation is important in preventing injuries in sports. The jump rope is a great way to get your entire body ready for training.

To protect your hands, you may want to wear boxing gloves. Especially if you're training for a fight, why not use the boxing gloves? After all, you'll be fighting with them on! If the heavy bag you're hitting is very stiff, you should consider wearing gloves to prevent injury. Our hands are delicate and hitting a stiff bag over time will weaken your bones and tissues.

If you're using the boxing bag to strengthen up your hands, wraps or gloves are a good idea. I recommend wraps as they provide you with wrist support. Most injuries via use of the punching bag will come from a twisting of the wrist, or a fracture of the wrist. Therefore, when you wrap, make sure the wrists are and not only your fingers are wrapped up.

When hitting the punch bags, you should watch how boxers hit each other. Guard up, front shoulder forward, body at an angle. If you're left-handed, put your right foot forward... you get the drill.

Watch your punch - don't hit the bag with your knuckles! This is a common mistake. To get the most power, you hit with the flat part of your fist. Another main common reason for injuries is that people twist when they hit the boxing bag. Don't twist. Keep your wrist, elbow and shoulder in proper alignment.

Step into it. Too often, I've seen students making combos, rapid fire hits and constant jabs too early on in their workout... even professionals. When you're training on the punch bags, step into it. Start hitting simple jabs, then move to uppercuts, then speed up your workout. Like any sport, or fitness training, you want to gradually intensify your workout.




Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jermaine_Ricketts

Realizations on Pacquiao's Victory Over Hatton

I am a huge fan of Manny Pacquiao. I have made it a point to watch every single match since the day he got big. I have been looking forward to the match between Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao and Ricky "The Hitman" Hatton for months. To my delight, I found myself at the heart of all the action ---Las Vegas. I went there, proudly sporting a "P hairdo" at the back of my head, and my Philippine flag. It was such a beautiful sight ---people proudly waving their Philippine flag, enthusiastically chanting "Manny!, Manny!, Manny!", and fist bumping, hugging, high-fiving each other and showing sportsmanship by shaking hands with everyone.

This Vegas trip will always be memorable as I went with my college buddies. I had a great time over there with the usual Vegas bruhaha but what made it extra special was Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao's big 2nd round knockout over Ricky "The Hitman" Hatton. Manny has made history again by winning his 6th world title in as many divisions. He truly solidified his reign as the best pound for pound fighter in the world today and THERE'S NO DOUBT ABOUT IT!

This experience led me to a few realizations:

Realizations

1.Talking too much isn't good at all

What was Floyd Sr. (Hatton's trainer) thinking? In anything, don't just talk the talk, walk the walk too. Throwing insults by trash- talking at somebody does not do any good. Karma always has its way to bite you in the a**.

2.Extra hard work pays off

Pacquiao didn't talk much and worked extra hard in the gym. You know what, I am truly inspired by that. We hear it all the time, hard work pays off. But do we actually practice it?

3.There is always room for improvement
Pacquiao is the best fighter in the world, hands down. But what makes him extra special is the fact that he is always a willing student learning new things. Against Hatton, he learned how to work on his right hook. Lethal as ever, that was the punch that dropped him on the first round. A left hook finished him off for good in the second. Have you ever thought of things you can possibly improve on today?

4.One man has the ability to move millions

Whenever Pacquiao goes into the ring, he takes into consideration that many Filipinos are counting on him to win--- praying for him. Going into the fight, I was sure that Manny won't let us down! The strength of the Filipino people is manifested in Pacquiao's every punch. How strong could that be? WE BEAT Ricky Hatton in that ring last Saturday! It's all about making a difference to people around you. Do you realize that your actions affect others?

5.Pray

Manny Pacquiao is also human-- needing some guidance and protection. He acknowledges his limitations and weaknesses no matter how successful he is in the ring. You got to have faith, nuff said.

I spent one of the best weekends of my life last weekend. More than that, I went back to Michigan with a great sense of pride and fulfillment. Pacquiao made me realize that I can do anything that I put my mind and heart into, just like him. As long as I apply my above realizations to my career, personal relationships and other endeavors, I know I am no the right track.

Do you want more information and tips? Request your copy of the exclusive Train Like a Boxer Strategy Report (a $299 value, yours for FREE): How to Achieve a Leaner and Stronger Body with Limited Time, Space and Equipment at lawrence@trainlikeaboxer.com TODAY!



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Manny Pacquaio Demolishes Ricky Hatton

Well, all I can say, that was one fight that was witnessed over the world on May 2, 2009. Even though it ended than sooner than expected, it proved to all of the doubters that Manny is definitely a force to be reckon with. He literally destroyed Ricky Hatton. From the moment that the bell rang, he was all over Hatton. And I am sure that Ricky wil definitely respect Manny in any future endeavors.

It just was so unbelievable watching this artist at work. Ricky came into the ring and tried to establish himself by brawling which turned out to be his biggest mistake. He basically received a dose of his own medicine. Manny is no joke and his power attests to that. I mean Ricky looked so helpless in that ring and from the first time that he was hit, he was unable to recover. And then, in the first round when he was hit again, it was all downhill for Hatton. Manny was just to fast and furious for Ricky. Yes, Ricky had an impressive record but he never has fought anyone of the caliber of a Manny Pacquaio. Again, Manny was on Ricky like bees on honey and unfortunately, Ricky could not make that adjustment that he sorely needed to do. If you ask me, I would say that he is a one dimensional fighter and fighting someone like Pacquaio, one needed an arsenal of weapons to counteract the power and speed of Manny. Maybe Ricky should have trained longer and really look over Manny's fight clips because as far as I am concerned, Manny made Ricky look like an amateur fighter which we all know he is not. Pacquaio was just to much for him.

And especially in round 2, when Ricky was hit for the third and final time. That punch thrown by Manny will probably be the punch of the year. I mean, Manny really let it go and if one were to review the fight again, one will see that Ricky was already out once he hit the canvas and when he did hit the canvas if one remembers, Ricky's head hit the canvas twice or it appeared to do a double bounce so to speak. At that point, he was really hurt and when I looked into his eyes as I was watching the fight on pay per view, Ricky did not know where he was . His eyes were in a daze and he was just glaring out into space and if one remembers, his corner turned his head to one side and that indicated to me, he was really hurt. He probably laid in that position for at least five minutes, maybe more. At that point, Manny had established himself as the best pound for pound fighter in his division.

Floyd Merriweather Sr. should have at least said something in the post fight interview instead of quickly leaving the area. As much talk as he had done leading up to the fight, I am sure everyone at ringside and around the world was expecting some type of response from his camp.

Well, Floyd Merriweather Jr., are you ready for a Rumble In The Jungle? I am sure all die hearted fight fans can hardly wait for the next engagement between Pacquaio and Merriweather. It definitely will be rated as the "Fight of the Year". At that time, everyone will be able to decide who is truly the best "pound for pound" fighter in the division.




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