Is shadow boxing a good temporary substitute for the heavy bag.

You have to use what you have available. It's better than just laying down thats for sure. A lot better. As a matter of fact, some coach's say it trumps everything else.

 

I hardly do any heavybag work anyway. I prefer shadow boxing for my speed and technique.

 

Reversibility won't kick in that quickly, if you still throw punches you still use the muscle needed to throw punches. Like you said the short rest may be beneficial as well, two weeks is not that long.

 

Hey RDJ, was it you that mentioned in another thread that shadow boxing really develops your balance when punching because your not connecting with anything? For instance, if you are always hitting the heavy bag, or double end bag, or mits, and not enough shadow boxing you don't get the benefit of getting used to keeping your balance while not connecting.

I thought that was pretty good insight.

 

Yea, I see people who do mostly heavy bag lean too much on their front foot. If those punches don't land on the opponent, they'd be out of balance for sure and would need to reset since they won't be in any position to fire any more combinations.

 

Had to look it up to be certain but yes that was me

[url]http://www.eastsideboxing.com/forum/showthread.php?p=7987709[/url]

 

I am starting to believe that shadow Boxing (where you are going through mental fight progressions not looking sexy to yourself in a mirror) is equal too or slightly better than working a HB. You tend to not develop hand/food coordination, over focus on power, lean into, and worst of all develop the habit of throwing assuming something is there to check your swing.


Taking a while off shouldn't hurt too much. Good luck.

 

thought this sounded familiar
an update from that

it deffinatly works. i still hit the heavy bag. My shoulder is still bad but a million times better than it was! Since i started shadow boxing before each training session, using a resistance band (physio gave me and suggested exercises) and the double end bag. It deffinatly helps to get used to missing if that makes sense! Especially the double end bag! If i miss i dont stop throwing as if it was a real opponent and a real round of sparring and my balance and my shoulder has both improved!

However it still aches like hell some days and its not ready for boxing properly yet :-( im toying with the idea of taking some complete rest to heal up that and a couple other injuried iv been "working" through