Newbie here learning the ropes. One thing I've heard from my coaches or peers is that I should be shadowboxing more (pre/post workout) to work on my technique and movement. But I've never really enjoyed shadowboxing. It feels awkward and I'm not even sure what I should be doing. I wanted to fix that. Or at least, train myself to feel more comfortable punching into the void. So I built a toy helper app on my phone. The app is simple. There's one screen. There's one button. You hit the one play button and the app will call out basic moves (jab, cross, slip, etc) in a random-ish fashion. I've been using it for a week now, and shadowboxing is starting to feel a bit more natural. Obviously the app is guided vs traditionally non-guided work, but I can turn off my brain and focus on the called-out move. Anyway I wanted to share this non-traditional approach with the community. Let me know if you have any questions!
Uh it's just on my phone. It's not on any of the App Stores, if that's what you're asking. Do you want to try it? I can probably send it to you.
Cool idea. If it does no more than help motivate you to shadowbox more and become more comfortable with it, it’s well worth it. And who knows, maybe it will do more than that. As someone who still trains (not spars) in his older age, I can tell you after years of shadowboxing that you begin to get a feel for how well your technique is. When it’s new, you don’t have that perspective. You’re still learning. But I can tell when I’m over my front foot too much, when I’m not snapping my punches, etc. A good for instance: My first round of shadowboxing is ALWAYS the worst. I can tell I have no snap, my legs are a big sluggish or slow, I’m not moving my head, etc. And literally the second the bell rings for round two (because I’ve loosened up those muscles and gotten my mind focused) I can feel the snap, everything is flowing better and coming out quicker, I get a rhythm, etc. I would never at this stage start out by hitting the bags. I need a few rounds to limber up, get into my rhythm, find my focus and have everything ‘working right’ to get maximum benefit of the rest of the workout.
After I left the sport, I just started shadow boxing in the yard of my place. Up top a hill infront of the Northville Horse racing track, I don't remember what it's name was. But I'd get out there, with my two pound hand weights, and get throwing down. It inspired me watching the horses train under the lights. One time, for some reason, I decided to go across the street and shadow box. I did this late at night and early morning, it kept me in shape. So I was across the street shadow boxing, when suddenly this cop car comes raging into the parking lot with siren and lights blaring. I'm like WTF?!! The cop turns off the lights and siren and tells me that it looked like there was a fight going on. I laugh and say that I must be doing it right and that I was just shadow boxing to keep in shape. He asked me if I had fought and then we just strarted talking about boxing. He seemed like a nice guy who was just mistaken. Shadow boxing is a great vent as well as a great way to stay in shape.
