speed bag and MMA?

[Elizapunch]

I am small in stature and would like to learn some elbow strikes because they seem to hit harder for me than a punch. But doing these on a heavy bag really makes them ache later. Can the speed bag be used for this? I have been to several karate schools and they don't have one. do they use speedbags? I see them used in most fight movies, and i thought they would also be in MA schools. Can the bag that is connected betweew two bungee cords be used for elbow strikes also? Some of the schools do have those. I Know I can these for home use, but my rental really doesn't have a place for them.

thanks for any insight.

[Ronson]

Under no circumstances are you to base your MMA training on what you see in the movies. If you do, you are a tool. Period.

Wanna learn wicked elbow strikes? MT will do the job. But just because you're small in stature, doesn't mean you should forget about punches. A good instructor will help you emphasize the qualities and strategies that will suit you and hopefully minimize the "disadvantages."

[speedbag]

speed bag and double end bag for elbows.

..I would like to learn some elbow strikes. .. Can the speed bag be used for this? .... Can the bag that is connected betweew two bungee cords be used for elbow strikes also? thanks for any insight.

Yes the speed bag can be used for that.

http://www.speedbagcentral.com/SpeedBagBasics_HittingtheBag.html#B

and the double end bag can be used.

http://www.balazsboxing.com/thegym/boxingbasics_double.htm

and here is an interesting elbow kata movie. ( quicktime)

http://www.hperd.swt.edu/Beginning%20Karate/k081.html

and elbow pads would help on the heavybag .

http://www.oddessy.com/Equipment/Economy.html

hope it helps.

[HtTKar]

There's two types of bags that you can use like that pretty well.
Headache bags, and double-end bags.

I prefer the headache bag for elbows.

It is quite a challenge to learn the timing, speed, distance and technique of hitting a headache bag with your elbows in rhythm but once you learn how, you'll practice it often.

I always tie a 20-25lb weigh to the bottom of my headache bags. You know you have solid hits and impecable timing when the weight is swinging around. Plus this makes the bags react much quicker, and a little more unpredictable.

Stand very close to the bag, with your nose about 4 inches away. Work forward and reverse elbows like you would a cross, hitting the bag every 2nd or 3rd revolution. When working elbows, the bag will swing in a circular motion, when you hit it with one elbow, the bag will reverse direction, slip, time the 2nd revolution and hit it with your other elbow, again changing the bags direction.

Once you get good at using just your elbows, you can then start using regular punches. Regular punches will make the bag swing different, so it will be challenging to work both punches and elbows without a lot of practice.
The key is to be able to use punches and move into elbow range, or use elbows while moving back towards punching range. If you just stand in one spot, your'e not really helping yourself, you have to move in/out, left/right, and clockwise circular/counter-clockwise circular.

Once you get the distance and timing down you begin from further and further away from the bag. (about 3' instead of 4")

There are some elbow that of course cannot be practiced on these bags, so although its a good tool, it is limited.

You really should develope your punch, and these bags will help.

On the heavybag, work the clothesline.

[Elizapunch]

Thanks speed bag!

[QUOTE=speedbag]Yes the speed bag can be used for that.
http://www.speedbagcentral.com/Speed...gtheBag.html#BQUOTE]

Thanks for the post! You've got an awesome sight and it really helped me alot. I'm going to get your Speed Bag Bible book/video program!

[Tom Yum]

I am small in stature and would like to learn some elbow strikes because they seem to hit harder for me than a punch. But doing these on a heavy bag really makes them ache later. Can the speed bag be used for this? I have been to several karate schools and they don't have one. do they use speedbags? I see them used in most fight movies, and i thought they would also be in MA schools. Can the bag that is connected betweew two bungee cords be used for elbow strikes also? Some of the schools do have those. I Know I can these for home use, but my rental really doesn't have a place for them.

thanks for any insight.

Hi Liz!

I would recommend taking up muay thai (thai boxing) for several reasons.

First being fitness. It will keep you lean and mean.
Second, you will learn how to throw mean elbows and knees as well as boxing style punching and kicks.

You can train recreationally and gradually get up to sparring to see how far you can take your fight game.

You are correct about elbows. I got tapped by an elbow during boxing sparring and it felt worse than about anything else I've felt. At the same time, thaiboxing is one of the few styles that teaches how to defend elbow attacks.

Good luck to you.

[Garland]

Agh. Speedbags suck balls. Of all the training implements ever...what's the deal with a speed bag. I won't use 'em. They don't do anything to promote form...they're useless. Thaipads for elbows...or the heavy bag...just don't skin your 'bos...

Or just go to a Blood Brothers show...and put them into practice against some asshole that starts to side kick people out of nowhere...WTF is wrong with cats these days???