Should I shadowbox full power or focus only on speed?

[Dayuum]

Did some shadowboxing yesterday in segments (With maybe 30 minute rests inbetween)
I didn't properly warm up the third time thinking I was still warm and now my entire shoulder is sore, when I threw a full powered hook I felt like I pulled something in my shoulder.

I know not to hyperextend when shadowboxing full power but is it safer/better to just focus on speed?

 

[ebe9]

Wait, why did you rest for 30 minutes in between? Shadowboxing should be a part of your daily training routine. At the gym, following a timer, shadowbox after warming up for 3 or 4 rounds, and your timer should be set to 30 second rests in between rounds anyway. Shadowboxing is an integral part of developing technique as well as conditioning. You develop the muscle memory as well as the conditioning to throw the punches/other movements.

As far as what you are focusing on, focus on building your technique and fluidity of your combinations. Speed will come naturally as you become more fluid.

edit: Power is for the heavy bag man, not shadowboxing.

 

[An Dathuil**]

Really, there is no point in shadowboxing without really throwing your shoulder into it, hyper-extending may be sore but it's the only way to increase your reach, also I suggest you take one hour rest periods instead of thirty minutes

 

[CrazyMonkeyNMex]

Shadowboxing is the time to focus on fluidity and balance. Power shouldn't be entering the picture, and speed will come with time after first developing good technical flow. Trying to bring power into the equation is using the wrong tool for developing the wrong skill. That's what your heavy bag is for. Hyper-extending the arms does more then make them sore, over time it creates a repetitive stress injury that can be quite serious for a regular practitioner. Get full extension on the pads or in sparring.

 

[Dayuum]

Also If I throw jabs in quick succesion my elbow burns like hell

 

[Sinister]

Shadowboxing is about technique. Nothing more. Technique. No speed, no power, just form. A lot of people have bad habits that are subconscious as well:

- Do not look down. You would never look at the ground in the middle of a fight, don't practice doing it in shadowboxing.

- Do not look at the mirror. All you learn from that is how you look in the mirror throwing punches. You can't see yourself when you fight, don't get dependent upon seeing yourself when you practice fighting. ESPECIALLY if you do that crap of turning your head to the side and standing sideways.

- You should be envisioning an actual fight. If you don't look like you're fighting, you're not shadowboxing properly. But the funny thing is, watch guys in your Gym shadowboxing. How many of them actually DO look like they're fighting? My guess, not many.

- Look where you're punching. This is the correct place your eyes should be.

- Imagine the guy is trying to hit you back. Throwing only punches with no mind for defense is not correct, either.

 

[CharmingCritic]

Imagination is key imo. When you're first starting out, you're mostly just going through combinations. As you get more experience, you can vividly imagine someone jabbing at you and having to parry, slip, whatever, or someone high kicking you and having to lean back and counter. Having that imagination is key...its like being able to spar without having someone to spar with.

 

[MisterT]

I've always thought that Bernard Hopkins had a great shadowboxing routine:

[YT]9CnNqMfkydU&feature=related[/YT]

He uses it to warm up, maintain good footwork, envisions an opponent in front of him, etc.

When shadowboxing, my coach tells me to imagine I'm sparring against a fictional opponent at 20%. In fact, sometimes he'll have me and my sparring partner warm up by shadow-sparring: an activity where we stand in front of one another and pretend to spar at 20% (but not actually hit one another). The emphasis, of course, is on having good footwork, good technique, and develop good rhythm.

 

[Sinister]

When I shadowbox I envision shadowboxing my future self, who is a much better boxer.

 

[StrongLikeBear]

There's a bunch of ways to use shadowboxing. Primarily technique, but it's a great way to work on your speed. Watch Manny go:

YouTube - ‪Manny Pacquiao: Speed Kills {FightFan.com}‬‏

He wasn't even throwing punches half the time, just moving his body as fast as possible.

You can also work on your snap by throwing hard shots and decelerating them at the end (ie not hyperextending your joints). Tough to explain but when you do it you'll feel it in your back mostly.

 

[KiddMuscle**]

When I shadowbox I envision shadowboxing my future self, who is a much better boxer.

I'm stealing this.

 

[Sanshou Kid]

I shadow box using a resistance band, focusing on speed and foot work. I think it's silly to punch the air full power.

Also, use an interval timer and throw in some press-ups/burpees/squat thrusts every 30 seconds or so to interrupt your breathing patterns. Make sure to come up punching without taking a deep breath.

 

[Judoxing]

I'm stealing this.

Too late, I already did :icon_chee

 

[SaiWa]

if you are an inexperienced noob like me, get a few sparring sessions with a trainer or someone who knows how to box well (but he/she needs to go easy on you a bit). then you'll have a vision of a boxer (him or her) in your head when you shadowbox for an opponent.