Quote Originally Posted by Scrap
Question, does anybody use a partner when shadow Boxing. I find it unbeleiveable that this technique is never mentioned, and its a lot of fun. I learned so much using it with great fighters never got hurt once, learned so much.
Scrap yes I was going to make a topic about it someday. Its incredibly useful. In particular learning how to get the feel of when punches get thrown at you and how to respond with fists coming at you. Its great because you get the feel of a real person's body: not a bag, not the mitts, not an imagined person but a real person. Practice all the counters nice and slow to get the feel of how the counter must be thrown. Get a feel for distance and each person's unique individual reach in relation to your own. Get a sense of knowing the visual cues of a person getting ready to punch and when he isnt. Its great.

going a little off topic its in keeping with what I think training for boxing should be all about: keeping your opponent in mind with everything bag, shadowboxing etc. You never do anything in boxing by yourself, its always in response to what an opponent is doing to you and what you are doing with an opponent. Your opponent is just as much a part of you as you are -- he should then always be with you in training in some way or another. It goes against everything anyone ever said about boxing but I think that boxing shouldn't be viewed as a thing where its me vs you. It makes it real nasty and mean spirited and it doesnt have to be. Your opponent shouldnt be seen as the enemy but as your other half. he works off of you and you work off of him.