Boxers are compelled to come into the ring in top condition and in command of a remarkable skill set. To go into the ring without those advantages would be foolish. Every time you step in the ring, you are going up against an opponent who is trying to hurt you. You are trying to do the same to him. To give yourself a chance to survive and thrive, you must train with a purpose. You can train with the speed bag, heavy bag and floor-to-ceiling bag.
Speed Bag
Many boxing fans are familiar with the speed bag. In feature stories prior to a big fight, cameras often focus on a boxer who pounds out rhythmic punches on the speed bag. It requires quickness and timing and helps a fighter build punching accuracy. It leaves a boxer with the feeling of confidence and helps him understand the rhythm of his sport.
Heavy Bag
The heavy bag helps a fighter gain strength and power in his punches. Boxers can lift weights to get stronger, but that strength may not be functional in the ring. Hitting the heavy bag helps a fighter learn to throw strong and powerful punches. It teaches a fighter that effective punches are not thrown with just the fists and arms. They come from the whole body, including the leg, glutes, core muscles and the back. Hitting the heavy bag for five minutes at a time, taking a one-minute break and then continuing to hit the bag prepares a fighter for throwing punches in the ring.
Floor-to-Ceiling Bag
The floor-to-ceiling bag is one of the most effective tools for throwing punches from several different angles and throwing them quickly. The floor-to-ceiling bag is a large protruding rounded punching bag that hangs on a rubber band that goes from the floor to the ceiling. When you hit the bag, it does not fly or rebound in a predictable manner. As a result, it teaches fighters to move their feet quickly and deliver quick punches.
History
Great fighters have used the speed bag, heavy bag and floor-to-ceiling bag to help with their training for decades. Sugar Ray Robinson, Joe Louis, Muhammad Ali, Sugar Ray Leonard and Manny Pacquiao are among the fighters who hit the speed bag so quickly that it appeared to "sing" when the boxer tattooed it with punches. More than 15 years after he retired from the ring, Robinson continued to hit the speed bag every time he went into a boxing gym. "I love to hit the bag," Robinson told "LA Sports Magazine" in 1976. "It never hits me back."
Misconceptions
Punching the speed bag, heavy bag and the floor-to-ceiling bag help a fighter prepare for a fight. However, just because you can learn to make the speed bag sing doesn't mean you can fight. The true test comes when you get into the ring and start sparring against a live opponent. Only then can you tell that you belong in the ring.
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