Bag techniques?

[sccr06]

If anyone has any techniques they could share, I would appreciate it.
I have access to those adjustable height bags with the plastic base you fill with water. What are some good drills for that particular bag?

Thanks.

[mushinmaster]

No offense, but those bags really suck!

The hanging heavy bag swings and moves and forces you to move too - that's one of the reasons it's so good. Your measure is always changing, and you have to change accordingly, either by footwork or by using a longer or shorter weapon.

I used that type of bag when I did TKD. There is some stuff you can do on it, though.

1. Practice circling it while striking - jabs, roundhouses (watch out for the base), doing a bob and weave with a step and an uppercut -anything that fits in your system where if you practice it repeatedly it makes a circle

2. Unload your combinations - it just stays in one place, so you can reallt connect your shorter combinations and make them flow, whereas the heavy bag flies away after a few hits

3. Don't do linear kicks - side kick, front kick or variations thereof - you'll knock it over

4. Do a combination for say, 60 secs, and do some hindu pushups for like 30, then do more combos - for at least a half hour. It's a great workout and you get to know your tools

5. It's really good for implementing elbows, 'cuz the bag won't go anywhere - you don't have to grab behind the bag, you can just let it flow as part of your punches and kicks

6. I never tried doing knees or clinching - the bag had to be set to high for head target- that's why I rely heavily on the 6ft banana bag

[Szczepankiewicz]

You rely heavily on a 6 ft banana?

You will make the perfect officer in the Army.

The bag work we do consists of a 100 heavy bag suspended (power), a 25 lb suspended bag (technique), and a 3 lb rice bag (precision). Used in combination or singularly.

The work we do is stick and move, so to speak. Working with a heavy bag like a boxer is a static environment which is useful to a point. We also combine moving into and away from the bags to simulate distance variations during striking. I.e. You are moving towards/away from the target. Some strikes move the bag, other strikes move you away from the bag. Either way you are creating space to perform your next technique.

Our philosphy is a little different. Our basic striking methods are used to create space, so if the bag moves us then that is just as good as moving the bag. After all, somtimes you will haul off and strike someone who just stands there looking at you...

To mix it up by approaching the bag in a linear fashion gives you good experience in length of weapon, coordination as you approach the target, and a similar experience to a true sparring match, if somewhat slower and watered down.

If you stand at the same distance or even move in a little circle around the bag, it gives you good work with a target who stands toe-to-toe with you. Sports competition is full of toe to toe. Self-defense isn't always so...

Kinda reminds me a little of standing in one spot practicing the same move in the air over and over and over like the karate kid. You get really good at that one move at that one distance....
I just can't get my sparring partners to stand still for me...


SZ

[sccr06]

Guys: thanks for the tips. I will definitely try that stuff out my next time on the bag. I really don't care for that type of bag either but since they are the only type my apartment complex bought, I guess I shouldn't complain too much!

SZ: what was that officer remark????? Thou dost vex me varlet!

[mushinmaster]

Yeah that's pretty much my bag routine - I don't use the free standing, I always use the hanging bags 'cuz its more like fighting and you always have to change your measure.

About the banana bag...I walked into that one. But it really is a good bag - you can do leg kicks and knees with punches and elbows and the clinch is more realistic. I got mine for $100 and its well worth $300.

I currently only use the 6ft heavy bag, a speed bag, and my old TKD vest mounted on the wall. I practice my technique on the vest - its got a solid surface behind it, so if the muscles aren't lined up right, you'll know. The speed bag is for rythm, hand speed, coordination.

How big is that rice bag?

We do about a half hours worth of heavy bag routine, which is, for thai fighters nothing - but it gets me winded. 60 sec rounds followed by 30 secs of hindu pushups - striking muscles followed by your grappling muscles - no rest between.

We do all sorts of combos, linking kicks, knees, punches, elbows, and defense (my sensei likes to swing the shinai at us when we do this stuff - the bamboo sword - that makes it a little more realistic - if you aren't quick enough, ouch). Oh yea, keep your hands up - he really gets pissed about that - you'll go home with a big black and blue on the side of your head!

We usually do a thrusting straight lead, an explosion type movement, or another distance closing technique, and after the combo, push the bag away as you move out - or go to the clinch. Because elbows and knees are more powerful than punches and kicks, we usually like closing the gap better than creating space. Usually when we do create space, its primarily for the thai kick - my favorite. We do those things moving in and out, side to side, and even try and get behind the opponent - side stepping, circling. We grab the bag and pull it into our elbows and knees. Sometimes, at the end of our workout, sensei has us push the bag till its at a 45 degree angle and hold it for about 15-30 secs, and then unleash a combo, and push it and hold right away - that's a killer.

Then we usually incorporate some sabaki where a partner swings the bag at you. It's pretty good, that bag can fly.

Word of Advice: If you don't incorporate the low thai roundhouse kick into your routine, you're missing a valuable weapon. My sensei demostrated one on me before, without the pad - I thought he was only going to go through the motion - I thought the first one was bad - I could hardly walk out after the third! I don't usually get charlie horses, but man o man - they even hurt through the pads!

[mushinmaster]

Oh yeah - forgot the best part!

We've got these little foam pads - three tied together, about an 3 inches total, and you put it square over your chest - not your abs, your chest.

We do loads of punches, front kicks, elbows are a killer. It is a true measure of your power, based on if the holder is ready to puke or not. You can fake your power on the bag, by making it move, but when you hit this thing, to light someone up you gotta have the right combination of speed and strength - power.

[Szczepankiewicz]

Oh Scc06, DON'T tell me your an officer???!!! As in military....

That was meant for our young cadidiot bound for West Point. His first assignment will be straight to Ft. Wainwright, mark my words....


Man Mushin, you are one busy dude. What all do you do in your "spare" time anyway?

SZ

[mushinmaster]

I'm in the middle of my last basketball season - so I don't have much spare time, with training for the Point and all.

I still try and find some time for the females of SGF, sharing the love

[Szczepankiewicz]

Well, when you get stationed at Wainwright, send me a picture postcard of Birch Hill. I sure do miss the snow and mosquitos.

What are you doing surfing the internet in the middle of a school day anyway?

[mushinmaster]

I take all my classes at the local community college, so I'm out till the 21st.

How long were you in for?

[sccr06]

SZ: OK........I won't tell you But at least I'm not a Point-puke. I went to Norwich. Mushin you'll learn about NU when you get to the Point....it's where all the Army's squared away officers come from.

Better hope you don't get sent to JRTC after Wainwright. That happened to my buddy and he was NOT a happy camper!

[Szczepankiewicz]

The Army has squared away officers? roflmao!

Thanks S6 I needed that....

I was in the Infantry as 11C for 2 years from 1990 to 1992. It taught me very valuable life lessons.

When did your buddy go to JRTC? I was on the 92 rotation with our unit. Absolute paradise..... Nothing like Ft. Chaffee in March. Our CO was from West Point. Do they teach you to station your mortar support on the perimeter facing the enemy? I didn't think so....

Actually, I have been mulling over going into the Nasty Guard and trying to get a commission. I have an Associates and I am 9 credits short of my Bachelors. It would make a good second job. I think I am much better prepared to deal with all the chuckleheads than I was ten years ago....

[mushinmaster]

Point-puke?

Norwich? I was thinking about that.

But all the people I talked to said Norwich was for the runner up

[sccr06]

Mushin: you must be talking to Pointers! You know what they say......"West Point.............because not everyone can get into Norwich!"

SZ: Actually he got stationed at Polk in 98. Worse than a JRTC rotation huh? So were an 11C? My condolences. I won't hold it against you though!

[Szczepankiewicz]

Not only an officer, but probably a pogue officer to boot!

I'm glad I didn't have to go to Polk, it had to be worse that Chaffee. I got out 6 months before they rotated to NTC. I was pretty heartbroken...