Boxing- Shadow Boxing
What is Shadow Boxing?
Shadow boxing is throwing punches into the air, which is good for improving your technique, conditioning your arms, warming up and cooling down.
Benefits of Shadow Boxing
Shadow Boxing is used to improve your boxing technique, speed, rhythm, footwork and defensive manoeuvres such as slipping and dipping. It is a good way to practice as there is no distractions and can practice particular moves with ease, and using a mirror will help you give yourself feedback.
Common reasons for Shadow Boxing
Warm up - Get moving around, throw punchs to warm up arms and shoulders, get footwork going and head movements, just keep moving.
Technique - Make sure you are doing the technique correctly this is main part, then just repeat it over and over, the best part is you can practice a part/section of the technique until you get it right before going over the whole movement.
Rhythm - You can work on the flow of punches rather than just 1 or 2 punches you can work on the flow of 4 or 5 punches together.
Practicing new combos/techniques - Good for getting the hang of new moves before heading onto the bag/sparring, get the feel for the way it goes, slow it down.
Conditioning - Work on the repetitive movements used during a fight to condition your arms and shoulders.
You can also add a slip rope or slip bag to practice slipping, dipping, bobbing and weaving and head movements.
Get feedback from a coach or partner on ways to improve.
Yes it is great training!
Not by the champion of our gym. Especially you when you are imagining your opponent and timing his reactions as well as movements it helps to increase your abilities.
Often overlooked too i think
Great article and I agree with the contents wholeheartedly! I attended krav maga classes for a couple of months and some basic instruction with shadow boxing practice boosted my confidence. It also puts you in the right mindset to spar with a partner and practice on a more advanced level during a training session.