Bagwork critique, and more (+padwork and light sparring)

[Sano]

Sup guys.

Many of you probably already know that I am dealing with PCS after a few concussions. Been to specialist and basicly the cerebellum aka. little brain has taken some damage along with some of the cranial nerves which is messing up the interplay between my eyes, inner ear and brain. Basicly giving me a few balance, eye and headache problems. Yadda yadda, so forth.

Anyway, I don't know if I'll ever be sparring hard again or whatever, but I can still get better and actually learn the craft. I want to improve. So I've decided to take it a bit more seriously and I joined up with an old training partner of mine, Mikkel Parlo, for proper one on one private sessions. He coaches out of a gym that actually has different tools and a few quality boxing instructors it seems. I am rehabiliting sensory things as well, so we are mostly working pads, tennis balls, reactionary drills, defense. All the things I suck at, so that's great.

I went there today, by myself, just to get a workout in and tried a few different things:

Bagwork 1:


Bagwork 2. I have a tendency moving to my left all the time, so I tried mixing it up more and moving more to my right, and moving laterally more. I also tend to line up my feet when I move left and throw the right hand which gets me off balance.


I don't know what this bag is called lol, first time using it. A little shadowboxing there during the last min:


Only second time ever using the double end bag. I have no idea what I'm doing:


Sorry for the pisspoor quality and lighting. I know it's pretty boring watching me do this as well, but any comments are much appreciated.

Few notes by myself:

- I have a hard time deciding what stance works best for me, I try to have good posture but sometimes I stand straight up and only half heartedly can lean back. I tend to drop my lead hand and use it in odd ways, and given my tendency to have my face right there I sometimes get clipped by hard right hands and rear hand hooks. I'd like to try somekind of crab style and switch between that and a high guard one, but I don't have anyone who can teach me.

- As I said I tend to line my feet up, and when I slip and roll I feel off balance. I find it hard to try to be a smaller target and turn more sideways, without doing that. Found out today that if I point my front foot at the target, even if I get lined up a little bit it feels less ackward slipping to my left. Still, I need to practice moving both ways more, not crossing my feet and being more balanced in my footwork.

I'll probably update with a padwork vid in a few weeks. And later down the road the same drills again.

 

[BillytheFish]

You're far too close to the heavy bag, and punching with your arms 50% of the way out. If you want to work the bag that close then you need better power and technique.

When youre on the DE bag for some reason you keep putting one hand all the way across the other side of your face. If I were you I'd practice each punch individually at 80% power and stand back ALOT further than what you are.

Id highly recommend alot of coaching! Good luck.

 

[Run1981]

I watched the 2 bagwork videos and I feel your movement from your legs until your head are quite static man. Try to get a flow in your movement.

Further advice is to bring your face behind your shoulder when throwing your punches. The way you punch makes you vulnerable for counters.

Just put in hard work. Progress will come with time.

 

[freaky]

This is how you use the double end bag.

 

[Sano]

This is how you use the double end bag.

I just need that sweet ass exercises machine, a girl to dance with, a fish to feed and I'm set. Can I kick the speedbag though?

 

[shincheckin]

not sure if you are looking for suggestions or not, but if so, i would say chin down, and your a bit stiff in the back, try to relax a little

 

[shincheckin]

also, given your medical condition, if your looking into martial arts for self defense, i would highly suggest BJJ if you dont already do it. As long as you train with a friend instead of a douche bag, you should be fine

 

[n.diazismylife1999]

Off topic, but how did the concussions come about, and were they in quick succession?

 

[biscuitsbrah]

Looking good man. You have very fast hands, especially for a big guy.
I also like how you are moving after most combinations, with clean subtle steps sideways.


First off I would like to see more variety in your strikes and longer combos. Seems like you love the double jab 2. Maybe turn it into a 11232. The 123 could be a 1232. Maybe double up the three by going to the body. But you're moving after every combo so maybe you were trying to insert footwork into your combinations.

I know everyone loves to talk about good posture but you stand very tall. More bend in the legs maybe? Idk seems like you use your legs well but I can definitely see why you tend to get caught with over hands.

Last thing I would like to see is giving different looks, maybe a dip here and there (jab to the body feint). Maybe even bend over at the waist and show some leans (I know that's a no-no, but watching reruns of floyd fights and he's always giving different looks. Just other types of movement. It almost seems like you are trying to be too textbook. Because your movements are very clean so I'm not sure if you even have to worry about that.

Either way good job and hope the head is feeling better!

 

[Sano]

Off topic, but how did the concussions come about, and were they in quick succession?

Sparring. Accumulation of hard sparring sessions over the years and just very rough sessions. First one about a year ago, got caught flush with a few headkicks and left hooks. Second one was 2½ months ago, was just getting back and then I sparred this douche boxer who couldn't control himself. I wasn't knocked down either time, but I got rocked and rattled and unfortunately my brain took damage.

Looking good man. You have very fast hands, especially for a big guy.
I also like how you are moving after most combinations, with clean subtle steps sideways.


First off I would like to see more variety in your strikes and longer combos. Seems like you love the double jab 2. Maybe turn it into a 11232. The 123 could be a 1232. Maybe double up the three by going to the body. But you're moving after every combo so maybe you were trying to insert footwork into your combinations.

I know everyone loves to talk about good posture but you stand very tall. More bend in the legs maybe? Idk seems like you use your legs well but I can definitely see why you tend to get caught with over hands.

Last thing I would like to see is giving different looks, maybe a dip here and there (jab to the body feint). Maybe even bend over at the waist and show some leans (I know that's a no-no, but watching reruns of floyd fights and he's always giving different looks. Just other types of movement. It almost seems like you are trying to be too textbook. Because your movements are very clean so I'm not sure if you even have to worry about that.

Either way good job and hope the head is feeling better!

Hey man! Thanks and yep head is feeling a lot better.

I know what you mean, I tend to not throw combinations on the bag. It's funny, I've been hitting the bag by myself for so long that I tend to revert to a specific style on the bag. The same about giving looks. When I'm sparring I play around with it a lot more. I tried doing that first on the bag, but I saw the vid and it looked sloppy. So I'm trying to be clean and smooth and ready, but at the same time as has been said it's a bit stiff.

You're right about my elevation as well. I move in and out fast, but I stand pretty tall. Mostly it's lazyness and habit. I've been benching a lot this summer and I honestly have to stop, I'm beginning to look like a square. It's not really slowing me down, but it's just a little in the way. I'm about 6'2, 200lbs btw.

I will definitely work on using more combinations on the bag and changing my elevation around, going lower more often. Those are two solid things I can use right away.

Thanks for the feedback my man!

 

[n.diazismylife1999]

Sparring. Accumulation of hard sparring sessions over the years and just very rough sessions. First one about a year ago, got caught flush with a few headkicks and left hooks. Second one was 2½ months ago, was just getting back and then I sparred this douche boxer who couldn't control himself. I wasn't knocked down either time, but I got rocked and rattled and unfortunately my brain took damage.

That's some shitty luck. Explains your comment in another about hating asshole sparring partners. I'd definitely stick to sparring with people I trust to control themselves after that experience.

In my experience boxers have the highest chance of being asshole spar heroes with something to prove, for some reason...

 

[macklin]

Hey man I think you need to incorporate some TRUNK MOVEMENT. Anthony Fowler is a former Olympian and upcoming pro who's been really working on it lately (and documenting it on his instagram - afowler something I can't recall but highly recommend Googling it!).

Your spine is structurally in a good position (no silly rounding), but you're too upright with it. You can keep that "posture" and bob the trunk from side to side, initating the move at the hips almost thinking of a hip hinge lifting pattern (this is something I stole from MacRea at warriorpunch). Your head only moves when you really make an effort to move it, whereas trunk movement makes it a lot more effortless... but watching your clip for 30 seconds, your head never really changes positions. If you do spar again I think that'll be something to adjust, because you'll instantly be more elusive and probably have better feints/flow too.

 

[eternaldarkness]

That's some shitty luck. Explains your comment in another about hating asshole sparring partners. I'd definitely stick to sparring with people I trust to control themselves after that experience.

In my experience boxers have the highest chance of being asshole spar heroes with something to prove, for some reason...

just a boxing thing. a lot of boxers spar 100%. personally it shits me and i tend clobber them when they get carried away (i train with fairly low level sparring partners and usually take it easy as i can hit pretty hard)

 

[eternaldarkness]

depends if your talking boxing or kickboxing, but for boxing your standing a bit to upright, and more later movement would be good. also i know a lot of trainers always say to pivot on your foot and twist your hips but forget that shit it's taking away from your punching power. put all your weight on the foot your punching off, push off that foot and punch THROUGH the bag. your hips will pivot naturally anyway and you will transfer a lot more weight through the target. the only thing about this is it can slow your punches if your not careful so make sure your bringing them back as fast as possible.

 

[biscuitsbrah]

Sparring. Accumulation of hard sparring sessions over the years and just very rough sessions. First one about a year ago, got caught flush with a few headkicks and left hooks. Second one was 2½ months ago, was just getting back and then I sparred this douche boxer who couldn't control himself. I wasn't knocked down either time, but I got rocked and rattled and unfortunately my brain took damage.


Hey man! Thanks and yep head is feeling a lot better.

I know what you mean, I tend to not throw combinations on the bag. It's funny, I've been hitting the bag by myself for so long that I tend to revert to a specific style on the bag. The same about giving looks. When I'm sparring I play around with it a lot more. I tried doing that first on the bag, but I saw the vid and it looked sloppy. So I'm trying to be clean and smooth and ready, but at the same time as has been said it's a bit stiff.

You're right about my elevation as well. I move in and out fast, but I stand pretty tall. Mostly it's lazyness and habit. I've been benching a lot this summer and I honestly have to stop, I'm beginning to look like a square. It's not really slowing me down, but it's just a little in the way. I'm about 6'2, 200lbs btw.

I will definitely work on using more combinations on the bag and changing my elevation around, going lower more often. Those are two solid things I can use right away.

Thanks for the feedback my man!

Imo it's ok to look sloppy if you mentally note it and try to improve it next time. Your 'A' game is very very clean already.

 

[j123]

Maybe its just the style I've been trained, but you seem a little too upright. The straights although prob fluff, doesn't look sellable to non-novices. There's no weight behind it, so its not going to do damage, which means they won't buy it.

Hooks and speed looks good.

Straights are a bit jammed also, maybe if you're working on jamming straights to get close for takedowns, elbows, its alright I guess. I'm lazy so I'm not using headphones and just watching a visual without audio aid.

Do you feel rocked or fucked when you hit pads/bag hard?

Also in vid 2 why is there a psyco trying to stab the kid in the cap.

I think the main issue is not getting weigh into your strikes, try to work on that before focusing on speedwork. Maybe you do have weigh behind your strikes and me being a lazy ass not putting on audio is screwing the critique.

Your gym looks like something out of a horror film btw. That makeshift speedbag in vid 3 looks like something JigSaw used.

For stance, its okay to have more than one. Really my stance changes depending on the type of opponent. I do this in MMA alot, but I feel it applies to striking as well.

eg. Against a grappler with a strong base in wrestling, I'm gonna stand front-leg heavy. No traditional thai for me.

Against a striker thats gonna tear my leg, maybe a dutch KBer, I'm going 50-50 or traditional to defend that.

You'll have to find what works for you, being a non-manlet, everyone will tell you to stand tall and use your reach, but you have a tenacity to let me bang bro, so forward heavy might work better for you.

For me I tend to be lead-leg heavy because thats the way I was taught from day one. My supplement to this stance is I retaliate immediately, its extremely rare for me to take strikes and do nothing, so even if I get leg chopped I'm blitzing forward immediately. Thats not to say I don't check kicks though.

 

[Sano]

That's some shitty luck. Explains your comment in another about hating asshole sparring partners. I'd definitely stick to sparring with people I trust to control themselves after that experience.

In my experience boxers have the highest chance of being asshole spar heroes with something to prove, for some reason...

just a boxing thing. a lot of boxers spar 100%. personally it shits me and i tend clobber them when they get carried away (i train with fairly low level sparring partners and usually take it easy as i can hit pretty hard)

Yeah some boxer have that mentality. It really pisses me off when they do it against someone they are superior than. I mean, two equally skillled guys who have the defense and know how far they can push it, it's fine sparring hard.

It's easier to check low level amateur boxers and low level pro MMA fighters when they do it, but against high level amateurs and pros it's another story.

This whole thing has changed how I view sparring. I used to always eat shots for breakfast and I still really like a good slugging, but I don't want to end up permanently damaged. CTE, and PCS is not fun. The good thing is though, that it has forced me to review and start over. When one door closes, another opens. Oddly enough, this might have been the exact thing I needed as it has made me re-evaluate not only martial arts (which I was honestly just stuck not improving), but also my life and how I spend my time (less computers and screens and stress).

depends if your talking boxing or kickboxing, but for boxing your standing a bit to upright, and more later movement would be good. also i know a lot of trainers always say to pivot on your foot and twist your hips but forget that shit it's taking away from your punching power. put all your weight on the foot your punching off, push off that foot and punch THROUGH the bag. your hips will pivot naturally anyway and you will transfer a lot more weight through the target. the only thing about this is it can slow your punches if your not careful so make sure your bringing them back as fast as possible.

I prefer boxing, but I always have kicking in the back of my head. I don't want to develop habits that will increase the danger of me getting kicked in the face, so some things I have to adjust. Still, that doesn't mean that I can't change my stance and be less upright and use my hips more. I'm playing around with different stances atm.

Maybe its just the style I've been trained, but you seem a little too upright. The straights although prob fluff, doesn't look sellable to non-novices. There's no weight behind it, so its not going to do damage, which means they won't buy it.

Hooks and speed looks good.

Straights are a bit jammed also, maybe if you're working on jamming straights to get close for takedowns, elbows, its alright I guess. I'm lazy so I'm not using headphones and just watching a visual without audio aid.

Do you feel rocked or fucked when you hit pads/bag hard?

Also in vid 2 why is there a psyco trying to stab the kid in the cap.

I think the main issue is not getting weigh into your strikes, try to work on that before focusing on speedwork. Maybe you do have weigh behind your strikes and me being a lazy ass not putting on audio is screwing the critique.

Your gym looks like something out of a horror film btw. That makeshift speedbag in vid 3 looks like something JigSaw used.

For stance, its okay to have more than one. Really my stance changes depending on the type of opponent. I do this in MMA alot, but I feel it applies to striking as well.

eg. Against a grappler with a strong base in wrestling, I'm gonna stand front-leg heavy. No traditional thai for me.

Against a striker thats gonna tear my leg, maybe a dutch KBer, I'm going 50-50 or traditional to defend that.

You'll have to find what works for you, being a non-manlet, everyone will tell you to stand tall and use your reach, but you have a tenacity to let me bang bro, so forward heavy might work better for you.

For me I tend to be lead-leg heavy because thats the way I was taught from day one. My supplement to this stance is I retaliate immediately, its extremely rare for me to take strikes and do nothing, so even if I get leg chopped I'm blitzing forward immediately. Thats not to say I don't check kicks though.

Yeah I am a little too upright here. I'm trying to find what works when and how.

You're right about the right hand. I tend to use it mostly as a throwaway punch, which is not that smart as I got some decent speed on it and can throw it very straight. I've always had a hard time landing the right hand in sparring, I don't know why that is exactly. You're also right that I tend to jam it a little bit. That, combined with not comitting to it and a few footwork mistakes I sometimes make, might be why I don't land it as often.

Haha, the lighting of the gym + my shit camera quality makes it seem a lot worse

I like having different options on stances too depending on the situation. Still figuring it out.

Thanks for all the comments and thoughts everyone! It's much appreciated! I'll keep working and learning, and I'll post a padwork video sometime in the near future!

 

[eternaldarkness]

Yeah some boxer have that mentality. It really pisses me off when they do it against someone they are superior than. I mean, two equally skillled guys who have the defense and know how far they can push it, it's fine sparring hard.

It's easier to check low level amateur boxers and low level pro MMA fighters when they do it, but against high level amateurs and pros it's another story.

This whole thing has changed how I view sparring. I used to always eat shots for breakfast and I still really like a good slugging, but I don't want to end up permanently damaged. CTE, and PCS is not fun. The good thing is though, that it has forced me to review and start over. When one door closes, another opens. Oddly enough, this might have been the exact thing I needed as it has made me re-evaluate not only martial arts (which I was honestly just stuck not improving), but also my life and how I spend my time (less computers and screens and stress).


I prefer boxing, but I always have kicking in the back of my head. I don't want to develop habits that will increase the danger of me getting kicked in the face, so some things I have to adjust. Still, that doesn't mean that I can't change my stance and be less upright and use my hips more. I'm playing around with different stances atm.


Yeah I am a little too upright here. I'm trying to find what works when and how.

You're right about the right hand. I tend to use it mostly as a throwaway punch, which is not that smart as I got some decent speed on it and can throw it very straight. I've always had a hard time landing the right hand in sparring, I don't know why that is exactly. You're also right that I tend to jam it a little bit. That, combined with not comitting to it and a few footwork mistakes I sometimes make, might be why I don't land it as often.

Haha, the lighting of the gym + my shit camera quality makes it seem a lot worse

I like having different options on stances too depending on the situation. Still figuring it out.

Thanks for all the comments and thoughts everyone! It's much appreciated! I'll keep working and learning, and I'll post a padwork video sometime in the near future!

when you stopped thinking about technique and were just throwing hard your punches improved notably.

 

[QueenVitor]

Absolute garbage. Would ko you in less than 30 secs

 

[j123]

Absolute garbage. Would ko you in less than 30 secs