Punch bag review – Lonsdale angle bag

Posted on November 25, 2011
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So I wanted to do something new for this blog, a review of one of my favourite bags. I know it can be really difficult when you’re looking though a wide selection of punch bags, if your new to boxing its quite confusing.

As you can see from the photo this bag is huge and it’s as heavy as it looks! However you’re not just paying for the size of this bag it’s the quality too, and this Lonsdale bag is about as high quality as it gets. The bag is coated in genuine cow hide leather in tan and it features 6 D rings at the top for mounting it.

Another technical aspect to note is the shock absorbing inner tube which helps to protect your hands from damage. This is really important if you’re going to be training on a bag every day so it’s a sound investment.

The reason I use the word investment is because this punch bag is not cheap, it costs £215 in most stores (that doesn’t include shipping if buying online). However I do feel if you’re going to splash out on a bag this Christmas and you have a decent amount to spend then this would be the one. I hope you’ve enjoyed the review and I hope to have more soon.

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Which type of punch bag is right for you?

Posted on September 19, 2011
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A lot of people new to boxing training don’t realise that there are actually quite a few different types of punch bag out there on the market. The thing is there’s a bag for almost every skill/technique in boxing so picking the right one in essential.

Leather punch bag. Leather is a favourite of boxers worldwide as it is always easier on your hands than vinyl or some kind of plastic. Also some of the top leather bags come with a “foam inner tube” which helps to absorb even more of the impact. When you think about it it always makes sense to invest in something which is better for your hands/wrists, because if your hitting this thing every day it can really add up.

Upper cut bag. The upper cut bag is quite a strange shape because its much bigger at the top than the bottom. This is to allow you to throw punches vertically instead of just straight. I suppose it could also be said that this bag forces you to move around a bit more as it encourages you to throw punches from all angels. You could also say that this is the best “all round” bag for your money.

Speed ball. The speed ball is something you probably wont see at your local gym as its really only boxers who use it. Its purpose is to build both speed and rhythm as it takes some skill to get the ball moving fast, you cant just throw more energy at it or you’ll miss. I don’t think this is a great bag for beginners as its only designed for one type of workout and takes a lot of practice before you get good.

Ceiling bag. This is another type of punch bag unfamiliar to the general public. It looks strange because its attached to the floor as well as the ceiling and its also very small. Its designed to promote movement of your whole body and not just your arms because when you hit it it comes back very fast and you have to get out of the way.

Free standing bag. The last as you can guess is probably my favourite bag (I named my site after it). This bag is ideal for anyone who doesn’t want to start drilling holes in walls etc so it allows you to put the bag anywhere you have space. I’m also starting to see action stations using this format where they have up to 4 freestanding bags of different types on a single frame. If your looking for the ultimate home training setup then this would probably be it.

So that’s a run down of the main types of bag on the market. I suppose since some high end bags can cost over £200 its important to do your research before you decide. No matter what type you go for just remember to train hard!

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A boxing workout for beginners

Posted on September 3, 2011
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I know a lot of people coming to this blog for the first time may be a little nervous about getting into the whole boxing scene. I suppose the whole thing is a bit more complicated than your average gym workout where you just hit the treadmill for an hour. However once you have the right equipment like a good punch bag and some gloves you’re really set to go. So here’s a sample workout that anyone should be able to follow.

I always start with shadow boxing because it’s a great way to loosen up your arms and legs and it’s a bit more intense than just stretching (which is pretty boring anyway). I usually spend around 5 min at the most shadow boxing, any more and you’re going to tire yourself out.

Next I like to move on to skipping which is another really high intensity exercise you can do from home. I might do only 2 sets of skipping at around 3 min each with a minute or two break between, for me the key is speed and balance which we know is essential for all types of sport not just boxing.

Next I will move on to the bag since I have my own free standing punch bags at home. I want to focus on as much movement as possible when I’m hitting the bag, I see so many people just hitting it from one static position which is really wrong. For a start real boxers are always moving around the punch bag when they hit and also the more you move in general the more calories you’re burning!

So there are other things you could move onto like the speed bag or different types of uppercut bag but I think if you concentrate on these 3 parts it should be enough for most beginners. Also remember you need to take a break between every exercise of about one or two minutes because this is how real boxing matches work, i.e. every round of 3 min you get a break. I hope this helps, until next time.

 

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Using boxing to stay fit

Posted on September 3, 2011
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You may not realise it but boxing training is one of the most intense types of fitness training there is. This is why I decided to call this site free standing punch bag because in my view its one of the most effective tools for staying in shape and keeping your cardio at a high level.

The great thing about the freestanding bags that I’m going to feature on this blog is that they don’t need to be mounted to a wall or ceiling which can be a pretty laborious task. For me if I can’t set something up and running in under 10 minutes I get pretty disinterested!

Prices for these types of punch bags can vary quite a bit and I suppose it would be fair to say that they cost more than the standard ceiling bag as they have to come with a bracket. Still you can usually pick up a really good model for around £100 which to me is great value for a product that will help you supercharge your fitness.

A lot of people also think that boxing only affects your arms and upper body but in fact this couldn’t be further from the truth. Leg strength is really important in boxing and it’s the main reason boxers spend so much time skipping. You see when you hit the punchbag you should actually be using your whole body (including legs) to deliver the punch. Also when you do a bag workout you should constantly be moving around the bag trying to hit it from as many different angles as possible, this is the key to a great workout.

One mistake that many new people make is gassing out within just a few minutes; you really have to think of the bag workout as marathon and not a sprint. The key is to take lots of breaks and spread the workout out over the course of 30 minutes etc. This allows you to really get your lungs going before your arms give out (a problem for beginners).

Hopefully at this stage you’re convinced that the right punch bag could be the answer (or at least part of the answer) to your fitness needs. The key is to find the right bag (more on this later) and also get some basic boxing skills down first. You could be the next iron mike in no time!



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