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.



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