Boxing training from home?

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lith

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Hi all, I'd like to get some advice on boxing training from home.
I know it's no substitute for a real gym, but I live in a small town with the closest gym being 1.5 hours away. I have a full time job and a shitty car, so that's out of the question for now.

I've been doing some cardio/core training at the gym, followed by practicing footwork, jabs, and simple 1-2/1-2-3 combos with gloves.
Now I'm want to invest in a heavy bag stand, but would like some advice on how to set up an efficient schedule with a logical structure.

So my questions are (preferably for people who have experience boxing in a gym):
1) What type of techniques should I work on first, with bag and without bag?

2) Is it better to work on separate aspects, such as footwork and jabs from a stationary position, and then combine them later?

3) Should I try to focus on both power and technique from the start, or technique first? I'm asking, because the few lessons I had in a real gym, the coach briefly showed me how to what to do and that had me throwing punches at a bag at full power.

4) How long should a workout on the bag be, if I plan doing this say 4 times a week?

5) Can you recommend some good instruction DVDs? I got one with Freddy Roach, and while it has some good tips, it very brief and gives you no sense of structure. Should have listened to those Amazon reviews.

Any other suggestions that don't relate to the questions are also welcomed. Appreciate the help!
 
Most everyone on here will tell you that you will get bad habits that will be hard to fix when you start at a real gym and that is very true.

But if you want to get a good work out go for it. The title boxing dvd set is pretty damn good.

Start shadow boxing slowly concentrating purely on technique. Technique comes first. Workout with shadow boxing for 20-30 mins before working the heavybag. I suggest using the bas rutten workout cd's they are great.

Heavybag work on harder punching but don't let your technique get bad while working the bag.
Workouts should be tough but dont go much beyond when your technique gets bad. This will help with not getting bad habits.

You won't be able to learn proper distance or get to the real meat of movement at home. For these things you will need a coach to do mitt work with you and proper sparring partners.

Also skip rope as much as you can

EDIT: I forgotr one thing. I highly recommend getting a big mirror you can shadowbox in front of!
 
If you are training just for a bit of fun and fitness then don't stress too much, drill lots of easy combinations like 1-2, 1-1-2, 1-2-3 etc. and practice lots of quick footwork.

If you are training for skill and technique then you really should get yourself to a gym. Even top level fighters that have been doing it their whole lives are far from flawless in their techniques and are constantly improving and developing. Find someone that really knows what they are doing and then see it they offer a decent price for their time.
 
Thank you guys for the advice.
I do have a big mirror, so i'll be using that more from now on. And I will check out the Bas Rutten dvd's.
As for my goal, I'd say primarely to stay in shape but I also want to learn something correctly at the same time. I think we all enjoy the feeling of learning a skill properly, even if we're not going to make a living off of it. So i will be focusing on technique as much as I can.

And I am aware that self-training at home is no substitute for a coach and a gym, I just really have no means of joining a gym right now. Trust me, I've spent quite a bit of time of trying to find a solution for this. But hopefully with some home training, I won't be a complete beginner when I do get the opportunity to join a gym.
 
Use a metronome when you shadowboxing. At first tune it at low tempo to make sure that you throw all the punches and combo technically correct. Then gradually speed it up.
 
Dreadlock666 said:
If you are training just for a bit of fun and fitness then don't stress too much, drill lots of easy combinations like 1-2, 1-1-2, 1-2-3 etc. and practice lots of quick footwork.

If you are training for skill and technique then you really should get yourself to a gym. Even top level fighters that have been doing it their whole lives are far from flawless in their techniques and are constantly improving and developing. Find someone that really knows what they are doing and then see it they offer a decent price for their time.
Click to expand...
I agree.
 
Neomage basically covered it. Sometimes because of time constraints I can't really do much aside from work out at home, and so I normally warm up with some shadow boxing, footwork, bobbing/ slipping, etc. If you can get a heavy bag (or maybe a B.O.B.), that would be ideal.

Also, see if you can't get a buddy interested in learning with you, if you're going off a DVD then having a partner can be invaluable, and if you have a 3'rd man then you can rotate and have 1 guy advising you on technique.
 
1) What type of techniques should I work on first, with bag and without bag? With bag just work your basics 1-2, 1-2-Hook, 1-1-2, 1-2-1. Without bag just shadow box over and over again. Try to come up with some combinations of your own after you get comfortable with a few. Then transition them onto the heavy bag.

2) Is it better to work on separate aspects, such as footwork and jabs from a stationary position, and then combine them later? IMO, I'd say it's better to keep the two seperate for now until you can get a good feel for them both.

3) Should I try to focus on both power and technique from the start, or technique first? I'm asking, because the few lessons I had in a real gym, the coach briefly showed me how to what to do and that had me throwing punches at a bag at full power. The heavy bag is a great conditioning tool but can also be a detriment as well. Punch hard and punch fast, but try not to throw away technique at the same time. If you feel like you're not using good technique, then slow it down. With technique comes power.

4) How long should a workout on the bag be, if I plan doing this say 4 times a week? If you're planning on doing this four days a week I'd say start with three (3) minute rounds on the heavy bag and gradually add more. Combined with skipping rope, jogging, and other cardio work that should suffice for the beginning. Throwing punches will make you sore in muscles you didn't even know you had when you first start out.

5) Can you recommend some good instruction DVDs? I got one with Freddy Roach, and while it has some good tips, it very brief and gives you no sense of structure. Should have listened to those Amazon reviews. I would recommend the bas rutten set.

Any other suggestions that don't relate to the questions are also welcomed. JUMP ROPE!!!
 
Thanks for the useful advice and links, guys. Much appreciated.
I've ordered a heavy bag stand, can't wait to start a more organized routine.
 
Nuclearlandmine said:
Use a metronome when you shadowboxing. At first tune it at low tempo to make sure that you throw all the punches and combo technically correct. Then gradually speed it up.
Click to expand...

Interesting advice.

Never heard this before (not knocking it)

It would difinately work to keep a beginner active during a round on the bag and keep a decent pace.

just be aware that it is the "off beat" shots that land most... not the robotic ones (e.g 1,2,3 compared to 1....2,3 or 1,2....3)

if ur training at home for fitness... just smash the bag till you cant hold ur gloves up

if you plan on fighting... you will need a trainer and sparring partners

there is only so much you can learn from instructional videos and books (or internet forums).... i'll be honest and tell you that you wont even get to 10% of you potential if you rely on "training at home".
 
If you can accept that all its going to be good for is a good workout and not much else, then go for it. If you ever do go to a gym forget everything you learnt and just let the teacher do their thing, dont think you know what your doing.
However, starting with a bag and learning to get comfortable throwing punches is great,

I HIGHLY reccomend the Bas Rutten DVD. This will get you comfortably with throwing pretty much any combination in the book, and if you go to a gym and the teacher asks you to do specific combinations, you will be able to do it without feeling awkward, your technique will be off but you will be throwing the punches.
Its also a fucking insane workout, and theres heaps of different levels to work up to.

The problem with learning yourself is you will hear things like "push off your back foot", and "put your wieght into the punches", and you will start to think that you are doing those things but trust me, you wont be. The key to learning how to do those things PROPERLY is different for every person, and you need a teacher to help you with that.

The other thing is a heavy bag is not the greatest tool for developing technique, one of the worst compared to others actually.

Remmember to STAY LOOSE. Dont tense up. If your throwing hooks they should be like a slap, there shold be no tension in your arms, untill the moment of impact. This wastes energy, makes you push your punches, makes you slow and you dont develop power. Have someone hold up a focus mit, hit it with a hook and take note of the power. Then SLAP it, with an open palm and notice how much more power that has on it. Watch great boxers, they are all completely loose, relaxed at all times.

Look at the Anderson Silva v Forrest Griffin knockout, thats what you should aspire for you punches to be like, effortless, relaxed and loose. Not like Krzysztof Soszynski.

Get the Rutten DVD!!
 
lith said:
Hi all, I'd like to get some advice on boxing training from home.
I know it's no substitute for a real gym, but I live in a small town with the closest gym being 1.5 hours away. I have a full time job and a shitty car, so that's out of the question for now.

I've been doing some cardio/core training at the gym, followed by practicing footwork, jabs, and simple 1-2/1-2-3 combos with gloves.
Now I'm want to invest in a heavy bag stand, but would like some advice on how to set up an efficient schedule with a logical structure.

So my questions are (preferably for people who have experience boxing in a gym):
1) What type of techniques should I work on first, with bag and without bag?

2) Is it better to work on separate aspects, such as footwork and jabs from a stationary position, and then combine them later?

3) Should I try to focus on both power and technique from the start, or technique first? I'm asking, because the few lessons I had in a real gym, the coach briefly showed me how to what to do and that had me throwing punches at a bag at full power.

4) How long should a workout on the bag be, if I plan doing this say 4 times a week?

5) Can you recommend some good instruction DVDs? I got one with Freddy Roach, and while it has some good tips, it very brief and gives you no sense of structure. Should have listened to those Amazon reviews.

Any other suggestions that don't relate to the questions are also welcomed. Appreciate the help!
Click to expand...


1) Work on the basics or Jab, Cross, Uppercuts, and Hooks. And play around with it by mixing your own combos up.


2) Either way will help, do both, work on them separate then work on them together.

3) Technique, with proper technique comes the power, people seem to think they have to swing with all their might for a hard punch, but with good technique the power will come.

4) Do like 10 Rounds 3 or 5 min each.

5)I really dont know any good videos but if you search hard enough im sure you'lle find a good one. Heck even youtube might have some good ones.
 
Cool, I might download this later just so I can give you 1 star and then uninstall it.
 
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