I think for most people, hitting the heavy bag is probably the bulk of their training. Other than perhaps mitts/pads and hard sparring, it's the part of training where you can practice throwing with full power at an object. During camp, I would normally shadow box for 5 rounds before going 12 rounds on the heavy bags, and end it with 3 rounds on the double end bag, 3 more rounds of shadow boxing, and a couple rounds with the tennis ball. So like half of my training.
Thinking back on it now, I feel like I didn't really know how to use the heavy bag considering how much time I spent on it. I was just practicing the same power shots and combinations I already knew how to throw, and it really became more of conditioning exercise more than anything. It became really boring and not an efficient use of training time. I would also practice turning and switching angles, but I realized only later there was more to heavy bag work than just this.
I see too many people in the gym just using it just for that. They would stand in front of the bag and wail on it. If you're starting out and learning how to throw punches and kicks, it's of course what it can be used for, but as you progress, I think we should learn how to use it more as a simulation against an opponent who moves around and throws back. Since an opponent isn't going to just stand there and let you throw power shots at him. Using the bag is another skill and it's unfortunate that many gyms and coaches don't seem to teach it.
Now I train for fun, but I've been working more on working with the movement of the bag. If the bag swings away, I step forward and work on attacking. When the bag swings back at me, I defend, time counters, or turn it. If the bag is heavier, I clinch with it and work on my inside game. I try to work on sequences from the outside such as jabbing to the body a few times before feinting it and going up top with a lead hook.
I try to always remember to build in defense with my combinations, try to never reset and try to be "on" at all times of a round. Way too many people throw a combination on the bag and reset, and in a fight, that's when your opponent will counter attack.
Of course I will take a few rounds to just punch or kick and work on perfecting the mechanics of the strike. There is a time and place for using the heavy bag for power and combinations, but I think there's too much of it going on in gyms and people aren't using the bag to it's full potential.
Thinking back on it now, I feel like I didn't really know how to use the heavy bag considering how much time I spent on it. I was just practicing the same power shots and combinations I already knew how to throw, and it really became more of conditioning exercise more than anything. It became really boring and not an efficient use of training time. I would also practice turning and switching angles, but I realized only later there was more to heavy bag work than just this.
I see too many people in the gym just using it just for that. They would stand in front of the bag and wail on it. If you're starting out and learning how to throw punches and kicks, it's of course what it can be used for, but as you progress, I think we should learn how to use it more as a simulation against an opponent who moves around and throws back. Since an opponent isn't going to just stand there and let you throw power shots at him. Using the bag is another skill and it's unfortunate that many gyms and coaches don't seem to teach it.
Now I train for fun, but I've been working more on working with the movement of the bag. If the bag swings away, I step forward and work on attacking. When the bag swings back at me, I defend, time counters, or turn it. If the bag is heavier, I clinch with it and work on my inside game. I try to work on sequences from the outside such as jabbing to the body a few times before feinting it and going up top with a lead hook.
I try to always remember to build in defense with my combinations, try to never reset and try to be "on" at all times of a round. Way too many people throw a combination on the bag and reset, and in a fight, that's when your opponent will counter attack.
Of course I will take a few rounds to just punch or kick and work on perfecting the mechanics of the strike. There is a time and place for using the heavy bag for power and combinations, but I think there's too much of it going on in gyms and people aren't using the bag to it's full potential.
