Shadowboxing with dumbells

back in the 50s they would have basketball players practice shots and passes with medicine balls...the theory being that it would make your shots and passes more powerful and all (and if you ever tried to take a half court shot [which you shouldn't really be doing much anyhow, other than if you only have a second left] you will know it does take some power). I am sure those throws did make guys stronger, but some of the first real application of sports science showed that you actually screw up your throwing mechanics using a medicine ball instead of a basketball for shots..hence you might get stronger but less accurate. A case where trying to be sports more specific is actually worse than the less sports specific alternative (like lifting or body weight exercise for improving strength..because those won't confuse your neuro muscle system for the throw).


I have never seen any studies on it..but i suspect it might be the same for boxing with weights. Now having said that...I use to do it all the time..and after i would do it for a few rounds I would go and shadow box without weights and "feel" much faster..but I suspect that was just a psychological illusion.

Anyhow...i would say some weights would be a good idea..but no more than whatever the gloves you will be wearing will weight...12 oz or whatever...

heck..good pros actually wear fight weight gloves in sparring (although usually the paid sparring partners still have to weigh 16 oz, I read that about Pac..i suspect it is for the reason above).

anyhow....paradoxically...i suspect medicine ball throws are good for boxing..because its far enough away from the boxing movement as to now really screw up the mechanics of the punch (but thats just me guessing).

Anyhow....just weight for dealt with....I am sure he will come in...make some comment about me being fat..and than tell you truth

 

I'd use it for endurance, but not at all for any kind of strength or explosive work with any sort of snap. Easy way to injure yourself and throw off your mechanics. That weight is simply not going to be at the end of your arms in the ring no matter how fatigued your shoulders are.

 

This.

Using a weight less than your gloves is pointless. Using a weight heavier than your gloves will throw off your mechanics and put extra uneeded strain on your joints. Using the same weight as your gloves.... What the **** is the point? Just wear your gloves.

Overall it's either useless or bad for you.

 

Floyd Mayweather does it a lot.

A normal person will get tennis elbow from it

 

Good for endurance - being always careful not to fully extend the elbow joint. Uppercut burnout drills are pretty effective with 2-3 pound weights.

 

Use Rubber Bands, they are better for what you are trying, to accomplish.

 

Punching with light dumbells (no more than 3 pounds, but 1 or 2 pounds is better for a smaller guy) actually improves hand speed and power. I recall hearing about a Russian boxing coach who did studies/ experiments that proved this to be true. I can't find any info on the guy right now because I forget his name, but I know I've read in more than one place about this.

It's not a new concept, and as far as I know it's a pretty well accepted technique amongst trainers and fighters. Floyd Mayweather does it all the time and it works pretty well for him. I'd be inclined to take the P4P #1 fighter in the world's advice on boxing over some random dopes on a forum.

The same effect can be achieved by using heavy gloves in sparring and training.

The Russian coach I mentioned earlier advised his fighters to start by doing short intervals using the heaviest weight (usually 3 pounds, but I've heard of heavyweights using 5 pounds or more) and then tapering down in the next intervals by doing a lower weight (maybe 2), and then move onto 16oz gloves, and then shadowboxing for a round or two.

After proper recovery, the end result will be a gain in hand speed and power.

A couple of you mentioned you've done this and it "felt" like you were faster afterwards, but you assumed it was a mental trick of some sort. It probably was, because you don't get stronger immediately. Your muscles have to rest in order to rebuild themselves and get stronger.

It does work, but it's fine if you're skeptical. You don't have to take my word for it. Do some research and you can find out for yourself.

 

Good thread lads. :good

 

Post some links to these studies proving what you're claiming. I've never seen or heard of any studies proving that punching while holding weights improves speed and power.

 

Me neither.
If i am shadowboxing with weights its usually about 0,5 kg or 1 kg.
I dont snap punches and i do specific defence movements as well.

 

Arthur Abraham uses weighted boxing gloves when training. He says it helps with his power.