There is no question that boxing is one of the best ways to develop your body. However, many people think it is impossible to practice without a heavy or speed bag. But, it is not true since you can do shadow boxing at home and many other exercises that do not require any equipment.
You may say that it is not the same as hitting a punching bag, but believe me, if you learn how to do this type of boxing workout correctly and intensively, it is an excellent way to burn fat and develop your endurance and skills. Shadowboxing is done by the professionals as well to improve their technique. Do you need more proof than that? More about the shadow boxing benefits here.
Read on to know how to learn boxing at home.
How to start shadow boxing at home?
Well, first, you will need a space where you can practice. Remember that this type of workout is not about being in the same position and just punching in the air. You have to imitate it as if you were fighting with a real opponent. Hence, you should practice the footwork. For that, you will need space.
It is not bad to have a large mirror on the wall since it is easier to imagine a real opponent. Plus, you can check how you move, throw the punches, and practice your defense skills. By seeing your mistakes, you can correct yourself.
If you are a total beginner, you should learn boxing punches (jab, cross, hook, and uppercut), footwork movement, boxing stance, and defense techniques. In a nutshell, the boxing basics.
Start with single punches and practice them until you can throw them correctly. Then, you can start hitting easy combos such as jab cross, jab-jab, etc. Be patient and practice if you are new to this type of workout. The more you practice, the more naturally you will throw those punches and combinations.
Meanwhile, spend time practicing footwork and defense techniques such as blocking, parrying, rolling, and slipping. Indeed, it would be better to start with footwork and not throw any punches until you are good at your legs. But since punching is the exciting part of this home training, just do it to be motivated.
Note: Jumping rope is a great boxing drill. All the cardio benefits, coordination, agility, balance, and footwork in one exercise. Rhythm and timing are critical to jumping rope. That is why these drills are so important for boxers.
The next step is to decide how many rounds you would like to do and the rounds’ length. That depends on your fitness level, and the best is if you use a timer. If you are a beginner, you can do 3-5 rounds 1-2 minutes long and have 1-2 minutes rest between. Of course, as you get better, you should increase the number of rounds and the length up to 3 minutes and shorten the rest between the rounds.
Keep in mind the intensity is important, especially if you want to burn calories, but pay attention to performing the punches correctly, not letting your hands down, footwork, etc. Also, do not start like mad and then just huff and puff.
From the following video, you can learn the most common shadow boxing mistakes, so you will learn what to avoid.
A boxing application that is perfect for boxing training at home
I’ve already given an overview of my favorite boxing application called Precision Boxing Coach. This boxing app is ideal for getting shadow boxing practice for everyone. You can set the number of rounds, time, speed, level, and others. The punches and combos are called out by the standard numbers, and defense moves are also added.
With its help, you can practice as if you have a coach at home. You can download it here.
A killer shadow boxing workout
What could be a better example than watching a real boxer while he is practicing? You can learn a lot from the following video even though it is not made for beginners. Watch it several times and imitate his punching practice. It’s a good example of effective home boxing training.
Other ways to practice boxing without equipment?
Well, you can practice the traditional boxing exercises done by fighters. Bodyweight exercises such as burpees, push-ups, squats, pull-ups, chin-ups, sit-ups, walking lunges, etc. And we should not forget running, jump roping, and plyometric exercises that we can do in interval training.
Do not underestimate the efficiency of bodyweight training. It can help you develop your strength and endurance, things that are crucial for a home boxing workout. Actually, these movements are a combination of strength training and cardio. Plus, we don’t need expensive workout equipment.
Finally, if you have somebody to train with, you can practice together. Of course, not hitting each other, just imitate what is going on in the ring. If you have gloves and head and mouth protectors, you can spare, but it is not recommended without a coach’s instructions.
Must read: Basic boxing training tips
Conclusion
I think you now have ideas about training for boxing at home without any equipment. Until you do not get a punching bag, you can do so many things. And once you get one, you will be able to use it more efficiently since you already have a routine. Look around in our training category for more boxing workouts at home.
Do you know other activities to do without a heavy bag? Share with us below.
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