Hi everyone, 38 year old dad of two here, started hitting the heavy bag almost daily about 12 months ago following YouTube instructional videos. While I lost about 20 pounds and my stamina increased significantly, I feel like my boxing technique still sucks and I look clumsy and slow on the bag. I would appreciate any kind of feedback. This content is protected Cheers, Nico
The one I‘m using in the video is rather light, probably around 50 pounds. The blue bag in the back is heavier and I also use a Waterbag which is something in between. I like to switch them up now and then…
Hey man take a gander at the book “Boxing” by Edwin Hasilet that’s a must, the only YouTube guy I trust is “World Class Boxing” he’s a good start. You don’t really look like you’re putting your hips into it, just hitting at the bag from the arms… when you throw a body punch bring your shoulder down to the level of the target… remember hips! the initial chapters of the book explain the involvement of the hips very well - build slowly, you’re self taught you don’t have someone to correct you daily so don’t rush your foundation, I can punch a bit people have said and I taught myself how to shift the weight just using advice over messages lol.
Thanks for your feedback and advice. The thing is, I am quite familiar with this in theory, it’s the transition into practice where I tend to have a hard time… Well I tried to focus more on hip involvement and gave it another shot… does that look any better? And feel free to be brutally honest This content is protected
I’m a nothing, don’t listen to me without caution I am a total novice @Rockin1 and @greynotsoold might be able to help…. @Pat M if you’re around? It looks to me (remember my warning) like you’re not involving the hips still, hard to tell, I don’t have a good eye for these things but when I see your feet I notice you’re not pivoting at all… the “putting out the cig” as they say, this is important, I believe it is also a symptom of proper punching, your hips will move your feet… it opens up your hips? I don’t know if that’s the right term, try slipping either way (slipping to your left will make it more obvious) without “squishing the bug” (moving your feet) as I believe Futch would say and you’ll notice you won’t be able to move as far… if you wanted to throw a right hand and simultaneously avoid your opponents you will need to be able to do this, those extra inches will help there, just one example… see the punch that Quarry used to take out Shavers (the last hurtful right hand) they swap rights… if nothing else you need to be moving your feet “putting out the cig” for the sake of your knees. Speaking of symptoms one for being good at anything is admitting what you don’t know and asking to be taught, I’m sure when the actual smart guys get on you’ll learn something chap.
Some of the best advice I ever got and I’m sure @Pat M and my good friend @greynotsoold will agree on is that watching Joe Louis is a great start (ignore everyone else for a little bit) absorb what you see there everything is very deliberate, he’s slower because he’s a heavyweight and all his movements (mechanically speaking) are very clear you won’t learn a bad habit watching him either.
I’ll add one last thing… don’t get caught up trying to get faster, you’ll end up cuffing/slapping or punching at the end of your reach… speed is punching short, when you watch Louis I hope you’ll see.
Journeyman92 gave good advice, Joe Louis is a guy a lot of trainers/fighters have studied, and as Journeyman pointed out, Louis is bigger, so you can see what he is doing. As Journeyman said, we don't see your feet much in the videos, the feet are where punching begins. If the feet are wrong, everything else will probably be wrong too. You are training yourself so you have to be your own worst critic, check yourself and make sure you can always throw another punch from where you are, make sure your feet are under you, don't lunge or over extend, make sure you're hitting with your knuckles, pivot and shift your weight, keep your elbows in, turn your punches over and cover yourself with your shoulders. Don't try to go too fast, speed will come, concentrate on technique first.