A few training questions...

[tdellaringa]

I've been looking into using a heavy bag for fitness training, something new to break the boredom and to get a good workout. I've been doing a lot of reading in the past few days about equipment and technique and so forth. (In particular, there seems to be a lot of good info at dub dub dub boxing-4-fitness dot com.

I believe I understand the proper way to throw the basic punches and how to move around the bag. I plan on starting out slowly. I also understand I need to wrap my hands properly and use gloves. But I have a few questions I cannot find answers to. Here they are:

• What weight bag should I get? It seems 80-100 pounds seems right. What is the real difference in getting one weight vs. another?
  
• How do I know what size gloves to get? I've read that glove fit is important, but I do not see how to figure out what size to order.
  
• Speaking of gloves... I don't want to spend a ton of money on gloves, but I do want a decent pair. I could really use some suggestions on what would be a good starter pair without spending too much money.
  
• As far as working out with the bag, it seems that people suggest doing it in "rounds" as a fight, almost. So I assume I'd do something like 3 minutes on, 1 minute off, or something like that. I'd like to do a 30 minute workout to start with, so any suggestions on how to best do this would be great.

Happy to have any tips or comments, and if you think I have missed something please let me know.

Thanks!

[RurouniYume]

get a 100 lb bag, it swings less and is better for individual training. A good pair of strictly bag gloves for a great price are made by Top Contender, I use them daily. http://www.combatsports.com/Boxing%2...20Bag%20Gloves

for size:

175 lbs or heavier 16 oz
147 lbs to 175 lbs 14 oz
147 lbs or lighter 12 oz


train in 3 minutes rounds with a one minute break in between. At my gym we do push ups in between sets. Alternate between quick combinations, ie jab, jab cross, jab cross hook and heavy knockout punches for your sets

[tdellaringa]

Thanks. For size for the gloves, I wasn't referring to the oz's, but rather to Jr, M, L, XL. I'm sure I'm not a junior, but beyond that how do you decide what size? Do you have to try them on or can you measure?

[Cuauhtémoc1520]

Get a good pair of bag gloves, these right here are EXCELLENT for the price.

http://www.ringside.com/Ringside-IMF...ctinfo/IMF+BG/


Heavy bag I would go with over 100lbs+ at least. I work out on a 150lb bag and it's perfect for me. I'm about 5'10" and weight about 185 - 190.

As far as the size, I have a medium size hands and I wear a Large. I find the medium too small because I wear wraps under my gloves. Unless you have small hands I would get the Large.

On ringside you can actually talk to a representative and they can help you with sizing on a live chat on the web site.

[tdellaringa]

Ok, thanks!

[tdellaringa]

I'm a little confused on what bag to buy, with all the crazy choices. I just need something basic I can hit that won't fall apart. What's the difference between synthetic leather and real leather, water filled or not, etc? I was hoping not to spend too much money on this, but some of these bags are really expensive.

Also, I don't really want to pay shipping for something so heavy. Is there a good sports chain where I can buy one?

[Clegg]

I've been looking into using a heavy bag for fitness training, something new to break the boredom and to get a good workout. I've been doing a lot of reading in the past few days about equipment and technique and so forth. (In particular, there seems to be a lot of good info at dub dub dub boxing-4-fitness dot com.

I believe I understand the proper way to throw the basic punches and how to move around the bag. I plan on starting out slowly. I also understand I need to wrap my hands properly and use gloves. But I have a few questions I cannot find answers to. Here they are:

• What weight bag should I get? It seems 80-100 pounds seems right. What is the real difference in getting one weight vs. another?
  
• How do I know what size gloves to get? I've read that glove fit is important, but I do not see how to figure out what size to order.
  
• Speaking of gloves... I don't want to spend a ton of money on gloves, but I do want a decent pair. I could really use some suggestions on what would be a good starter pair without spending too much money.
  
• As far as working out with the bag, it seems that people suggest doing it in "rounds" as a fight, almost. So I assume I'd do something like 3 minutes on, 1 minute off, or something like that. I'd like to do a 30 minute workout to start with, so any suggestions on how to best do this would be great.

Happy to have any tips or comments, and if you think I have missed something please let me know.

Thanks!

Even if you're not planning to fight at any point, joining a gym would be a good idea imo because you'd learn to correct technique and have a set workout plan complete with warm-ups and cool-downs. I used to go to a gym where one of the experienced guys never sparred so if you're just interested in fitness then you could do the same. When exercising alone I am a lot more likely to stop when very tired, whereas with other people training alongside me I just continue. Not sure if you're motivation/willpower is better than mine but that's an extra reason to consider joining up.

I think starting off with a 30 minute punching bag workout would be too hard. I went to a boxing gym for the first time since 2008 yesterday and my arms were killing me within an hour.

The workout we did was (all times are approx) 5 minutes skipping, 4x2min rounds of shadow boxing, footwork drills, then some specialised shadow boxing (someone saying what punches to throw in what order) followed by pad work and ending with stretches and exercises (eg. sumo squats). Maybe search online though if that doesn't sound like your kind of thing, there are lots of other people's workouts online.

[fatburnquest]

heavy bag is great for fitness but just make sure you push yourself. The bag is easy to go easy if its just you. Makes sure your blowing at the end !!