Heavy Bag Training - Bad Habits

The heavy bag is one of the most popular training devices for martial artists and boxers. It has been used for many years to simulate an opponent. Strength, timing coordination and stamina are all improved whilst training with the heavy bag for a period of time. But should the heavy bag be used all the time?

My personal opinion is that it should not. The main drawback to the heavy bag is its whole purpose, which is to be hit without hitting back. Because it does not hit back some hard to break habits can be developed. The most common is dropping your guard when punching and when moving. Its something that is seen more with beginners, but also can be developed by advanced martial artists. Training whilst someone is watching you on the bag can be valuable for this reason. When your guard drops you may not notice yourself, but the person watching should and inform you of it. Another common habit which is developed is relaxing after hitting. Because the bag will swing backwards when it is hit, you may fall into the habit of relaxing slightly and losing concentration whilst it swings backwards then forwards. The reason why this habit is developed is because you become used to the timing of hitting the BAG, but the timing of hitting a person is much different. Most of the time, if you throw a strike at an opponent, he/she will counter quicker than a bag would swing back at you, so it is ideal to keep this in mind when training.

There are many other bad habits that can be developed when bag training, so keep in mind always that hitting the bag is different to hitting someone when sparring or fighting. In his book, The Art of Expressing the Human Body, Bruce Lee warns of too much bag use, as the types of bad habits shown above can easily be developed. Using the heavy bag is a definite must for all martial artists, but it must be used cautiously and balanced out with focus pads, sparring and other training methods.

Marks

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