EmptyneSs

i been training in muay thai and boxing for about a year now. i feel like things are coming along well. however i know that i do not do enough bag/pad work. i used to do bag/pad work when i was new, but now that i have learned the techniques and basics, most of my training time goes to parrying drills and counters, and then sparring. i do more sparring than anything else. i have a bag at home that i occasionally use for learning to generate more power and practice techniques on, but i dont use it that much. will not doing enough bagwork hurt me? should i do more? im learning alot from just sparring, what do u guys think?

LiQuiD_PaRaDoX

I think you should try to keep a good balance between both. Although you may have to specialize / focus on one more than the others, you should generally balance them out.

I find that bag work + pad work is great for conditioning for flurries, etc. etc. and with a good partner, you can get pushed to practice using the reserve energies that you feel you don't have when you feel absolutely burnt out.

I also find that working on the bag on my own time gives me a psycholigical edge (i.e. "nothing but the bag and me... ") so sometimes when i find myself doin crappy on a training night; I try to remember the confidence i had when just working on the bag, etc. etc.

Hope this helps and good luck!

SOUTHPAW

Hey bro, you gotta mix it up a little. Maybe spar a few rounds and then switch over to combinations on the mitts & pads. Another night spend more time working the heavy bag and doing flow drills with a partner. Too much sparring will make you stale. Work on new things (different combinations, footwork, etc.) on the mitts & pads and then try and bring that stuff into the ring when sparring. That way you keep progressing and becoming a more multi dimensional fighter. You do, however, need regular doses of heavy bag work for the conditioning aspect.

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kickboxfan

the heavybag rules all!

JIMI

Bag work is a must, because you can only go so hard sparring. Bag work especially for kicks, is a absolute MUST! Not only for technique, but for the conditioning. I have noticed some schools that focus a lot on working techniques and sparring, but neglect working the bags, and getting thier shins conditioned. In my opinion, you should practically be dragging yourself out of the gym everynight you go. If you arent limping when you walk out to go home everynight, your doing something wrong. KICK THE BAG!

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