Three Main Reasons to Adopt a Punching Bag Routine

My name is Tyler Reynolds, and today I will be showing you how to select a punching bag appropriate for your weight and skill level. But first, let me tell you a little bit about my experience.

I’ve been training in various martial arts and kickboxing for almost 6 years now. One crucial aspect to any martial art is the development of power through the use of the punching bag. In the time frame of hours, I have racked up close to 400 hours on the punching bag alone, so I know a thing or two.

Before I recommend you a punching bag, I want to discuss precisely why you need to train on the punching bag.

Here are the three main reasons a beginner(or anyone) should be training daily on the punching bag.

• For technique/power – When you are new, or even experienced it is important to develop and improve your hitting speed and power. The best way to do this is with a consistent routine on a punching bag. It also helps you develop those important shoulder muscles, and helps you learn how to use your shoulders, hips, and legs in the punching motion.

• For those of you that don’t know, 75% of your punching power is generated through your hip and leg movements, so you need to practice those movements over and over(we’re talking years for perfection here)

• For developing combinations – Combination development is crucial for striking styles. If you develop a consistent training routine you can perform these combinations without even thinking through muscle memory. You have to be able to do them while in fighting conditions– which is impossible to do unless you have done the combos thousands of times

• To condition your knuckles and wrists – Perhaps the most important reason to practice on a punching bag. People don’t understand that it is very easy to break your fingers when punching someone in the face/skull. Someone who has never been in a fight, or even a couple street fights before, are extremely vulnerable to this problem. One slightly wrong hit with your knuckle, and the supporting hand bone will crumple making your hand USELESS until you get surgery on it. You have to condition for YEARS in order to ensure this does not happen.

Now that you have accepted the power of punching bag training, Let's find you a good punching bag!