shadow boxing blindfolded

[white devil]

anyone does this? it's great for balance and helps you imaginate more clearly your oponent...

[demonleg]

I do that and also work drills with other guys with my eyes closed so when they hit me in the ribs on the right side I know that the left side of their face is open, and everyone asks why we do that, but when your are in the corner and getting smacked around all you can do is feel, you can't really see.

[gabbah]

That is the case in the beginning.. but after some time, you will be able to see through your guard and always see what's happening. Then you can counterpunch a lot easier as soon as his chin is unprotected.

[thai_me]

Yes, this is one of the first things I got taught. To not flinch (especially on high kicks) and keep your eyes open when your getting hit. Its not easy to do. I think a lot of this comes down to relaxing and rolling with the punches too.

Its a good approach though, the blindfold thing. I agree it would be great for your balance and the "feel" it instead of seeing it thing. It could only make you sharper.

[Rebiu]

This is the stupidest concept I ever heard of.

This is the stupidest concept I ever heard of.

Furthermore one does not want to eleminate the flinch response as the tensing of the body helps you resist the blow. Most people must refines there flinch response down to what is useful and not excessive. This comes form being able to relax as you spare not from a blindfold.

[Khun Kao]

I was never trained in closing my eyes during shadowboxing, but I used to regularly clinch with my eyes closed, and I've seen actual matches where the fighters are blind-folded! (the ref got knocked out in one of them!)

[gabbah]

I was never trained in closing my eyes during shadowboxing, but I used to regularly clinch with my eyes closed, and I've seen actual matches where the fighters are blind-folded! (the ref got knocked out in one of them!)

Did they only do clinch then or was it all out?? That sounds scary! When and where??

[Khun Kao]

Thats actually a semi-common form of amusement in Thailand. Not just blind-folded clinchwork, but they conduct blind-folded MuayThai matches. They cover the ring floor with dried palm leaves....

The one video that I've seen of it had 3 boxers and 1 ref. It was actually on one of those reality "caught on video" tv shows....

[Rebiu]

Clinching is another matter.

I was never trained in closing my eyes during shadowboxing, but I used to regularly clinch with my eyes closed, and I've seen actual matches where the fighters are blind-folded! (the ref got knocked out in one of them!)

Clinching can be done with you eyes closed. There are schools for the blind with wrestling teams. The start off touching. I trained with a guy who worked out with them at a wrestling camp. Their initiation consisted of turning out the lights and beating the crap out of him.

[ACP]

In some kali drills closely related to clinch work you do it blindfolded to feel your oponents direction of energy.

[gabbah]

Thats actually a semi-common form of amusement in Thailand. Not just blind-folded clinchwork, but they conduct blind-folded MuayThai matches. They cover the ring floor with dried palm leaves....

The one video that I've seen of it had 3 boxers and 1 ref. It was actually on one of those reality "caught on video" tv shows....

And here I was thinking that only Japan had crazy TV shows!

[thai_me]

Furthermore one does not want to eleminate the flinch response as the tensing of the body helps you resist the blow. Most people must refines there flinch response down to what is useful and not excessive. This comes form being able to relax as you spare not from a blindfold.

Yes I agree. I mean you should not flinch to the point where you shut your eyes, throw your head back and expose your chin when youve clearly got the kick covered by a check or a block. But yes, you do flinch when you defend, its just to what degree. Keeping your eyes open is a must though and thats what Im really getting at when I say dont "flinch".

[gabbah]

I'd say the word "flinch" refers to the natural reflexes that take over when you see a punch coming. So after some training, your reflexes are no longer natural, instead you react with a trained response. I wouldn't call that flinching.
Also, you shouldn't tense your body when getting kicked or punched, this takes too much energy. You should only tense specific parts of the body to conserver energy, tensing the rest is not really useful.
And tensing too much makes you slow to counter as well, and telegraphs the counter.

[Rebiu]

You obviously have never sparred.

I'd say the word "flinch" refers to the natural reflexes that take over when you see a punch coming. So after some training, your reflexes are no longer natural, instead you react with a trained response. I wouldn't call that flinching.

Call it a modified flinch then.

Also, you shouldn't tense your body when getting kicked or punched, this takes too much energy. You should only tense specific parts of the body to conserver energy, tensing the rest is not really useful.
And tensing too much makes you slow to counter as well, and telegraphs the counter.

When a blow comes to you head you cannot tense you head in any useful way. You tense your neck, shoulders, chest, traps, lats and stomack to spead the shock. If the blow goes to you stomach you tense you stomach, arms, shoulders and everything else for the same reason. If you get kicked in the thigh you cannot tense if because you will fall down. You must thrust you weight onto it to make the muscle flex.

[Rebiu]

Better to shut eyes.

Yes I agree. I mean you should not flinch to the point where you shut your eyes, throw your head back and expose your chin when youve clearly got the kick covered by a check or a block. But yes, you do flinch when you defend, its just to what degree. Keeping your eyes open is a must though and thats what Im really getting at when I say dont "flinch".

I think it is better to shut you eyes at the moment of impact. Betting poked in the eye is not uncommon.