Shadoboxing with weights

[Kimbo123]

when i go to a boxing gym i see people with weights while they shadow box and i was wondering why they do it is it to improve speed or power or something else if it is something else what is it for

[the killer]

Speed, i do this everyday for about 3 rounds

[gramm]

I also do it everyday, but I hear a lot of mixed things about doing it. some people say it actually slows down your speed, and the extra weight makes your mind wanna drop your hands. I dont know if I agree with that. does everyone else use dumbells to shadow box?

[iceman]

i've done it, i hate it(so that may mean it works), theory is that it makes you like(or feel like) greased lightning after you let the weights down and just use hands. i think Scrap had a post about its the snap back not the push out that makes you quick, so if you agree to that this may be of mediocre help. i think this was started by the Russians, but i could be wrong

[WayneFlint]

i've done it, i hate it(so that may mean it works), theory is that it makes you like(or feel like) greased lightning after you let the weights down and just use hands. i think Scrap had a post about its the snap back not the push out that makes you quick, so if you agree to that this may be of mediocre help. i think this was started by the Russians, but i could be wrong

Its a load of crap if you ask me, emulating having 2.5-5kg hands, how is that boxing specific? over using all sorts of muscles that really arent required to throw a good shot? resistance is good but the majority of the resistance is in the wrong direction due to gravity in this case, theres much better ways to add resistance to the trigger muscles of a shot.

Thats just how i see it, i do see lots doing weighted shadow boxing so maybe they get somthing from it that im not aware of, all i see is a bad feel and drilling poor technique i find it hard to see the benefits of it outweighing the cons.

[Kimbo123]

the thing im thinking of it strengthins the muscles needed in the certain punch

[iceman]

actually i also have seen lots of folks "hurt" their elbows because they use 5 lbs and snap it like a punch...ow.

[Scrap]

Throughout a punch there are different Feels, the explosion as we call it comes at the last 4" ofthe punch,. or direction if you like.With Rubber or Elastic, the feel is better than Iron as iron is constant, elastic is not. Plus it elastic, brings the fist back qiucker a good habit to have.

[the killer]

I use 3lbs weights and i dont have any pain or problems with this. its like putting a weight on your bat before you go to hit the ball(baseball) everyone does that. It makes your hands feel lighter and easier to throw

[WayneFlint]

I use 3lbs weights and i dont have any pain or problems with this. its like putting a weight on your bat before you go to hit the ball(baseball) everyone does that. It makes your hands feel lighter and easier to throw

I see what your saying and i see what people are trying to emulate while doing this however i just think its not the best of ways to do things in boxing, listen to scrap and you will be doing yourself a favour. elastic isnt going to cause the same overly tense guard as weights because the resistance isnt there until its activated by your movements either by a punch or defencive manouver or a simple guard/muffs on.

also with the weights as you build momentum throughout the shot it no longer requires much intense contraction throughout the movement as momentum of the weight builds, whereas elastic will add resistance as the punch develops which is one of the oldest strength building principles right there so that must be a nice added benefit.

Not to mention its going to have you boxing from a slightly different stance than usual as youve drastically changed your centre of gravity by having big weights in your hands so your probably going to be well off balance, it seems to me your guaranteed to end up leaning/reaching on the front foot unless you have overly good posture. in time both these bad habits caused through the training and the effect of the training method itself will start costing you speed rather than developing it. doesnt sound like good speed training to me, doesnt sound like good anything training really.

[Scrap]

One thing works everything, Conciuosness, ask Andre .

[WayneFlint]

Now things are getting interesting, id like to hear what andre has to say on this regarding all messages being sent and recieved to the brain, obveously if things arent right there (in the head) at the time needed then there is going to be a big problem no matter how much ability you have or how much has been done in preperation.

[the killer]

alright now im interested...

[Andre]

Aww fruit ..its New years day I have a ache where my consciousness is meant to be .


I feel like I got weights strapped to both hands and both feet

that should answer it for you.


I would NOT do it often put it that way.

Balance and awarness would eventually shift and start to align with the habit of adjusting to the weights I think.

[Irish]

It's good in moderation..couple times a week if that, don't snap hard on ur punches it's more of going through the motions like lifting other weights, do high rep sets,it helps build up the muscles that fatigue when you go 10 rounds and your arms feel like logs, it's a good exercise for stamina in your arms but you must place focus on proper form and returning hands to guard ALWAYS..this is where it is beneficial, as in a 8th round when your gloves feel like 100 pounds and you can't keep that guard up, thats the main point of this exercise while speed and strength can be helped to an extent, it is not it's main purpose, there are other more effective ways to train those areas with different exercises