Okay this is going to sound really stupid, but I bought boxing gloves, but I don't have a bag. Right now I work out in my room and hanging a punching bag from my suspended ceiling is just not in the cards lol Can anyone think of anything else I can punch? I'd like one of those free standing bags to be a last resort and maybe try something else first. ANY workable ideas would be great!
Boxing Alternative
- Thread starter darkangel
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I can get you a list of people... are you willing to travel or do I have to send them to you? 
Shadow boxing I'd imagine is a good workout...
Shadow boxing I'd imagine is a good workout...
James2
New member
the standing bags are okay if you have a partner to hold 'em for you, but other than that they're pretty worthless.
If you can get a partner, have him hold up his hands shoulder high like a frenchman that just dropped his gun, and drop 'em to waist high like he's shaking someone's hand for a hook to the body. Follow his hands with your punches.
If you are looking for shadowboxing type stuff, thumbtack a string to the ceiling, have that string terminate right between the top of your shoulders and your nipples, and attatch something small but with a little weight to it. Hit the weight (now your target), and work your triangles from it, following its motion. 'Cause you are not hitting the heavy bag, REALLY focus on your form and stance and everything else.
If neither of those are what you are looking for, get a little more specific, and I can help ya out.
If you can get a partner, have him hold up his hands shoulder high like a frenchman that just dropped his gun, and drop 'em to waist high like he's shaking someone's hand for a hook to the body. Follow his hands with your punches.
If you are looking for shadowboxing type stuff, thumbtack a string to the ceiling, have that string terminate right between the top of your shoulders and your nipples, and attatch something small but with a little weight to it. Hit the weight (now your target), and work your triangles from it, following its motion. 'Cause you are not hitting the heavy bag, REALLY focus on your form and stance and everything else.
If neither of those are what you are looking for, get a little more specific, and I can help ya out.
I use my nintendo WII for that. I love the boxing game on that and it makes me sweat as much as full out running. I don't like running but I love a good punch so this is easy to do.
You have to be careful not to get carried away with the game though, I often feel I'm snapping my elbows pretty hard and have bad form in my punches so I try to focus on a good punch rather than winning the game. If you don't snap your elbows and use the virtual punch bag it's possibly better for you that impact with a bag.
You have to be careful not to get carried away with the game though, I often feel I'm snapping my elbows pretty hard and have bad form in my punches so I try to focus on a good punch rather than winning the game. If you don't snap your elbows and use the virtual punch bag it's possibly better for you that impact with a bag.
Thanks for replies
I looked up some shadow boxing videos just to get a good sense of what to do, and I tried it out today. It's actually quite a workout!
James, that's a really neat idea to hang something from the ceiling, I can easily do that. I do wish I could make contact with something though, but I'm really thinking there is simply nothing I can punch but a bag.
Later edit:
Introducing.... The ghetto punching bag for low-income, low-space, anti-social, wanna-be boxers!!
Yes that's right, two leather bed cushions duct taped to my wall. Ugly as hell but it works! I don't even need the boxing gloves to use it. It's high enough for my arms and low enough for those knee kicks even which is a bonus. And if the tape holdssmilielol5 I could probably get some sort of uppercut in there as well. I'd try some Chuck Norris roundhouse kicks, but I don't want to knock over my 42" Plasma that's right beside my "boxing arena" 
I looked up some shadow boxing videos just to get a good sense of what to do, and I tried it out today. It's actually quite a workout!
James, that's a really neat idea to hang something from the ceiling, I can easily do that. I do wish I could make contact with something though, but I'm really thinking there is simply nothing I can punch but a bag.
Later edit:
Introducing.... The ghetto punching bag for low-income, low-space, anti-social, wanna-be boxers!!
Yes that's right, two leather bed cushions duct taped to my wall. Ugly as hell but it works! I don't even need the boxing gloves to use it. It's high enough for my arms and low enough for those knee kicks even which is a bonus. And if the tape holds
smilielol5 I could probably get some sort of uppercut in there as well. I'd try some Chuck Norris roundhouse kicks, but I don't want to knock over my 42" Plasma that's right beside my "boxing arena"
Last edited:
James2
New member
Out of curiosity, are you boxing just as a form of exercise, or as training for some million-dollar-baby-minus-neck-injury style boxing?
I'm asking, 'cause if you don't know what shadow boxing is, I'm guessing that you probably haven't been to a boxing gym, and probably haven't had any training. If you plan on competing in any activity involving punching, you might want to look into a few lessons before you start trying to do it all on your own. To quote every little league meathead coach ever: You play how you practice. If you learn to box your own way, and your stance isn't right, and your movement is incorrect, and your punches are off, it is going to be a hard uphill struggle to relearn the proper form. Boxing in a ring for points is far from fighting.
However, if you are just doing this for a workout, and possibly a little self defense, then that's awesome. Remember to get a good warmup in before going. Get in some light jumping jacks (shoulders / core / calves), some arm circles (shoulders), some pushups (shoulders / core / chest / arms), and whatever your favorite core exercises are. Jumping straight in to bag work (even if it is just two pillows taped together, or something hanging off the ceiling) could lead to some nasty tendonitis or worse at any of the muscles used in the punch.
If you are doing it for a little self confidence, and some self defense, remember to keep your chin tucked in behind your shoulder, keep your core tight while going at the bag, and snap the punch from your whole body, not just your upper body (snap the hips), follow a punch with another punch from a different direction, and work your triangle (described below). Then remember: Self Defense means keeping yourself safe. Taking extra steps to make sure you aren't in a situation where you'd need it is worth 1,000 times more than knowing how to kill a man by looking at him. If you HAVE to engage someone (there is no other choice), do it just long enough to get them off balance or distracted to where you can get away, then get the eff away.
Triangle Idea:
Don't attack along a straight line. When you move in to make an attack, move as if you are starting at the tip of a triangle, and your next mid-sized step into the person against you isn't straight at them (what they'll be expecting), but is to one of the other vertices of that triangle. In one step, you have changed your direction and distance from him. Bring the other leg up to meet your lead leg, and drop it while swiveling to be facing your opponent.
I'm asking, 'cause if you don't know what shadow boxing is, I'm guessing that you probably haven't been to a boxing gym, and probably haven't had any training. If you plan on competing in any activity involving punching, you might want to look into a few lessons before you start trying to do it all on your own. To quote every little league meathead coach ever: You play how you practice. If you learn to box your own way, and your stance isn't right, and your movement is incorrect, and your punches are off, it is going to be a hard uphill struggle to relearn the proper form. Boxing in a ring for points is far from fighting.
However, if you are just doing this for a workout, and possibly a little self defense, then that's awesome. Remember to get a good warmup in before going. Get in some light jumping jacks (shoulders / core / calves), some arm circles (shoulders), some pushups (shoulders / core / chest / arms), and whatever your favorite core exercises are. Jumping straight in to bag work (even if it is just two pillows taped together, or something hanging off the ceiling) could lead to some nasty tendonitis or worse at any of the muscles used in the punch.
If you are doing it for a little self confidence, and some self defense, remember to keep your chin tucked in behind your shoulder, keep your core tight while going at the bag, and snap the punch from your whole body, not just your upper body (snap the hips), follow a punch with another punch from a different direction, and work your triangle (described below). Then remember: Self Defense means keeping yourself safe. Taking extra steps to make sure you aren't in a situation where you'd need it is worth 1,000 times more than knowing how to kill a man by looking at him. If you HAVE to engage someone (there is no other choice), do it just long enough to get them off balance or distracted to where you can get away, then get the eff away.
Triangle Idea:
Don't attack along a straight line. When you move in to make an attack, move as if you are starting at the tip of a triangle, and your next mid-sized step into the person against you isn't straight at them (what they'll be expecting), but is to one of the other vertices of that triangle. In one step, you have changed your direction and distance from him. Bring the other leg up to meet your lead leg, and drop it while swiveling to be facing your opponent.
JMike
New member
You could get yourself a double-ended bag(aka headache bag) they are like 12 bucks and weigh next to nothing. You screw one end to a stud in the ceiling and put the other end on a weight on the ground. Its a bag in the middle about the size of a volleyball with two elastic like strings attached to either end.
the object is to throw punches at it in a rhythm that keeps the bag bent out away from centered. You can also hit it and then move your head as it comes back at you. It's called a headache bag because if you miss it hits you in the face
Speed bags are also good, if you don't live in an apartment. They take four screws into the wall, and don't leave very big holes. They make alot of noise though. I live in a suburban type area and you just barely can hear mine in the yard, so its fine here, but in an apartment it would be horrible for the neighbors.
Do you have a tree? I know those are rare this day and age, but I hung my heavy-bag from a big branch in the back yard
the object is to throw punches at it in a rhythm that keeps the bag bent out away from centered. You can also hit it and then move your head as it comes back at you. It's called a headache bag because if you miss it hits you in the face
Speed bags are also good, if you don't live in an apartment. They take four screws into the wall, and don't leave very big holes. They make alot of noise though. I live in a suburban type area and you just barely can hear mine in the yard, so its fine here, but in an apartment it would be horrible for the neighbors.
Do you have a tree? I know those are rare this day and age, but I hung my heavy-bag from a big branch in the back yard
JMike
New member
Looks like you bought 16 oz gloves? Or your really small and their 14s. Those are good for shadowboxing. Get yourself a mirror and throw punches in front of it, visualize fighting, fist coming at your head, keep your neck straight and bend at the hips to avoid the shots. Heres a good video, this guys got some straps on for resistance but his form is good. I'd hate to fight him
Can't believe I didn't spot this first, but this is what works for me:
I have basically unlimited plywood or stuff like that. It's just like sheets of wood. Hang 'em with some hooks out back and punch holes through them all day. If you're creative, you can add targets and try and blow the crap out of them in a few swipes.
Wrapping knuckles is a must for that one though, but it sure is fun.
I have basically unlimited plywood or stuff like that. It's just like sheets of wood. Hang 'em with some hooks out back and punch holes through them all day. If you're creative, you can add targets and try and blow the crap out of them in a few swipes.
Wrapping knuckles is a must for that one though, but it sure is fun.
Thanks for the suggestions! I picked up some really good tips so far.
As for my "punching bag", that is no more. It wasn't really working out for me, so I took it down.
Tip: Do not put duct tape on your painted walls.
I just decided to try the boxing thing 100% for fitness and just something to change up my regular elliptical/dumbell workout. It puts me out of breath quite fast so I thought it would be a good thing to get going. I'm going to stick with the shadow boxing for now, I'm just doomed not to be able to "beat the shit" out of something LOL I've also been throwing in some kick boxing too. I should probably look up proper technique for all of this though..
I do all of my activities right now in my basement bedroom, so my options are pretty limited. We do have a tree in the front yard, but I might feel just a wee bit odd out there on the front lawn pounding a speedbag lol
I have no idea what my gloves are, but here is a pic:
I don't even know if they're male or female.. I just know that they are for boxing and they are red (I'm such a girl )
As for my "punching bag", that is no more. It wasn't really working out for me, so I took it down.
Tip: Do not put duct tape on your painted walls.
I just decided to try the boxing thing 100% for fitness and just something to change up my regular elliptical/dumbell workout. It puts me out of breath quite fast so I thought it would be a good thing to get going. I'm going to stick with the shadow boxing for now, I'm just doomed not to be able to "beat the shit" out of something LOL I've also been throwing in some kick boxing too. I should probably look up proper technique for all of this though..
I do all of my activities right now in my basement bedroom, so my options are pretty limited. We do have a tree in the front yard, but I might feel just a wee bit odd out there on the front lawn pounding a speedbag lol
I have no idea what my gloves are, but here is a pic:
I don't even know if they're male or female.. I just know that they are for boxing and they are red
(I'm such a girl )
JMike
New member
Thanks for the suggestions! I picked up some really good tips so far.
As for my "punching bag", that is no more. It wasn't really working out for me, so I took it down.
Tip: Do not put duct tape on your painted walls.
I just decided to try the boxing thing 100% for fitness and just something to change up my regular elliptical/dumbell workout. It puts me out of breath quite fast so I thought it would be a good thing to get going. I'm going to stick with the shadow boxing for now, I'm just doomed not to be able to "beat the shit" out of something LOL I've also been throwing in some kick boxing too. I should probably look up proper technique for all of this though..
I do all of my activities right now in my basement bedroom, so my options are pretty limited. We do have a tree in the front yard, but I might feel just a wee bit odd out there on the front lawn pounding a speedbag lol
I have no idea what my gloves are, but here is a pic:
I don't even know if they're male or female.. I just know that they are for boxing and they are red
I use the same ones for sparring, the number is the weight, should be written in gold or black letters on bottom of the wrist. they are good for sparring but wear out quick when applied to a heavy bag. Perfect for shadow boxing.
If your interested in something to do for fitness, boxing is the way to go for a fight sport, it may be the most physically demanding of all sports. BUT you could learn some katas, or forms, from a martial arts instructor. Those are basically sets of movements/strikes that are done without a target, that flow into each other. Tae Kwon Do is good for fast paced power/strength/fitness oriented forms. Its kicks also compliment the boxing punching technique really well.
Tae Kwon do forms range from this, the first form you learn:
To this:
Dont do this:
Thanks for the suggestions! I picked up some really good tips so far.
As for my "punching bag", that is no more. It wasn't really working out for me, so I took it down.
Tip: Do not put duct tape on your painted walls.
I just decided to try the boxing thing 100% for fitness and just something to change up my regular elliptical/dumbell workout. It puts me out of breath quite fast so I thought it would be a good thing to get going. I'm going to stick with the shadow boxing for now, I'm just doomed not to be able to "beat the shit" out of something LOL I've also been throwing in some kick boxing too. I should probably look up proper technique for all of this though..
I do all of my activities right now in my basement bedroom, so my options are pretty limited. We do have a tree in the front yard, but I might feel just a wee bit odd out there on the front lawn pounding a speedbag lol
I have no idea what my gloves are, but here is a pic:
I don't even know if they're male or female.. I just know that they are for boxing and they are red
Everlast (the same company as your gloves) also do an inflatable boxing bag. It's not bad, you fill the base with water and knock the crap out of it, but it punctures fairly easily. Also, if you put just a bit too much air into it, and you're sporting a 230 pound-enforced punch, the seams sometimes just blow.
I've gone through two of 'em, they're not bad for domestic exercising type thing.
If all else fails, try using a younger sibling.
James2
New member
Boxing is a very tiring sport, and it is incredibly physically demanding. Obviously it is a personal opinion, but I don't know if I would say that it is the most physically demanding of all sports. Off of the top of my head comparing it to the other sports I have competed in (and in my own opinion), Wrestling, Rugby and Swimming all are more physically demanding due to the fact that you actively use power from every muscle in your body, whereas in boxing your legs are secondary to core/arm work. Boxing practices are still some of the hardest practices a person can go through, especially if they are used to practices for sports like football, baseball, soccer, basketball, and the like.
That isn't the first form. The first form is the Chon Ji Hyung, traditionally taught to the white belts.
deltafour1212
New member
I love the boxing workout. One time I was living at a place where you couldn't drill through walls or ceilings to hang a heavy bag or speed bag, double end bag etc etc
I sure wasn't going to build a structure or hang stuff from a tree limb.
Plus have the neighbors looking out their windows at me.
I also live in Michigan so you have cold weather for half the year.
Whats a person to do?!
I wanted something that was easy to put up, didn't require a builders permit, it was portable and you can take it down in seconds and store in your shirt pocket, junk drawer or if your a woman in your purse and didn't require a 2nd job to pay for it all.
.Shadow boxing is great, but i'm sorry, it gets boring pretty quickly punching in the air and not really punching anything.
Now don't laugh I got super lean doing this. Don't knock it until you try it. You sweat like a pig doing this after a few minutes.
Here is what worked for me,
You'll need:
1. Cheap or Expensive 16oz boxing gloves ,1lb hand weights or both
2. Card Clamp Badge Lanyard
3. Any type of string or yarn
4. Large trash bag (yes I said a trash bag)
5. Any type of small clamp , clamp style clothes pin, push pin or thumb tack
6 Imagination
What I did was take a large trash bag, open it up and swung it through the air to fill the bag with air. I quickly grabbed the closed the opening of the bag before all the air got out.
Now you don't want the bag filled tight with air. You just want it so the bag as some shape to it. Actually less air the better.
Take either the clamp badge laynard,string, yarn, clothes pin or small clamp and seal the opening of the bag so no air gets out.
Take your bag thats partly filled with air tie another string to the bag so you can hang it.
I take the laynard that I use the clamp to seal teh opening of the bag then and hang it over celing fan blade near the motor so it wont fall off the blade
You can take a thunb tack with string and hang it from the celing or doorway or any place for that matter long as it gives you enough room to do a workout
I put on my 16 oz gloves or hold my 1lb handweights and start punching the trash bag. I can do hooks, uppercuts, jabs, striaght rights.
What's great with the bag only partly filled with air, the bag caves in, so it doesnt swing all over the place. I even put clothes pins on the bottom of the bag so it gives it even more stability. I even take a lengths of yarn and clamp on the botton of the trash bag so the ends touch the floor giving it some drag
Now remember this isnt, meant to be a replacement for the heavy bag so your not going to get that resistants when you hit a heavy bag
Thats why you use 16oz gloves or 1lb weights to build arm muscle
I did this so shadow boxing doesnt get boring. You have something to strike, you can bob and weave also.
.
To keep it fresh I imagine the bag is some demonic blob coming to attack me and my family and to repell it I have to punch to bag in submission while the others have time to escape
I also pretend Im a Spartan from 300 or Lord of the Rings and the orcs are coming. I pretend Im in a narrow cavern and its just big enough where they can only come through one at a time and the bag represents the enemy and Im preventing them for entering.
I also tie a string from one wall or object to another, shoulder height and work on my slip and jab ducking under the string
Also a homemade Maze bag for bob and weaving
If my descripton doesnt make snese I can post some pics of the set up
Now don't laugh at this. I sweated like a pig and got super lean doing this workout. Don't knock it until you try it
Delta
I sure wasn't going to build a structure or hang stuff from a tree limb.
Plus have the neighbors looking out their windows at me.
I also live in Michigan so you have cold weather for half the year.
Whats a person to do?!
I wanted something that was easy to put up, didn't require a builders permit, it was portable and you can take it down in seconds and store in your shirt pocket, junk drawer or if your a woman in your purse and didn't require a 2nd job to pay for it all.
.Shadow boxing is great, but i'm sorry, it gets boring pretty quickly punching in the air and not really punching anything.
Now don't laugh I got super lean doing this. Don't knock it until you try it. You sweat like a pig doing this after a few minutes.
Here is what worked for me,
You'll need:
1. Cheap or Expensive 16oz boxing gloves ,1lb hand weights or both
2. Card Clamp Badge Lanyard
3. Any type of string or yarn
4. Large trash bag (yes I said a trash bag)
5. Any type of small clamp , clamp style clothes pin, push pin or thumb tack
6 Imagination
What I did was take a large trash bag, open it up and swung it through the air to fill the bag with air. I quickly grabbed the closed the opening of the bag before all the air got out.
Now you don't want the bag filled tight with air. You just want it so the bag as some shape to it. Actually less air the better.
Take either the clamp badge laynard,string, yarn, clothes pin or small clamp and seal the opening of the bag so no air gets out.
Take your bag thats partly filled with air tie another string to the bag so you can hang it.
I take the laynard that I use the clamp to seal teh opening of the bag then and hang it over celing fan blade near the motor so it wont fall off the blade
You can take a thunb tack with string and hang it from the celing or doorway or any place for that matter long as it gives you enough room to do a workout
I put on my 16 oz gloves or hold my 1lb handweights and start punching the trash bag. I can do hooks, uppercuts, jabs, striaght rights.
What's great with the bag only partly filled with air, the bag caves in, so it doesnt swing all over the place. I even put clothes pins on the bottom of the bag so it gives it even more stability. I even take a lengths of yarn and clamp on the botton of the trash bag so the ends touch the floor giving it some drag
Now remember this isnt, meant to be a replacement for the heavy bag so your not going to get that resistants when you hit a heavy bag
Thats why you use 16oz gloves or 1lb weights to build arm muscle
I did this so shadow boxing doesnt get boring. You have something to strike, you can bob and weave also.
.
To keep it fresh I imagine the bag is some demonic blob coming to attack me and my family and to repell it I have to punch to bag in submission while the others have time to escape
I also pretend Im a Spartan from 300 or Lord of the Rings and the orcs are coming. I pretend Im in a narrow cavern and its just big enough where they can only come through one at a time and the bag represents the enemy and Im preventing them for entering.
I also tie a string from one wall or object to another, shoulder height and work on my slip and jab ducking under the string
Also a homemade Maze bag for bob and weaving
If my descripton doesnt make snese I can post some pics of the set up
Now don't laugh at this. I sweated like a pig and got super lean doing this workout. Don't knock it until you try it
Delta
Shadow Boxing is a great cardio workout - we do it at our boxing gym every session. however, it's on really worthwhile if you make sure you are moving like a boxer. Make sure you are nimble, staying on the balls of your feet, and with your back heel off the ground. Moving, slipping, ducking etc. all work different muscles so its a good way of getting a full body workout. Secondly, to take some wisdom from our trainer 'Shadow boxing is not a rest'. You need to punch with force in order to get the most out of it. Hope that helps