How To Use The Heavy Bag The Right Way!

Practicing with the heavy bag is the most underrated exercise in any martial art. Even in Muay Thai, where many practitioners practice on the heavy bag a lot, most still don’t pay enough attention to it. Sure, many spend lots of time hitting the heavy bag, but they only do so out of necessity and, as a result, their skills and technique rarely improve.When it comes to using the heavy bag, it’s important to consider that it’s not just what it is – A HEAVY BAG. The heavy bag is a viable substitute for having a sparring partner. Yes, it’s not as mobile as a real person, but it can take much more hits as well.

That said, here are a few ways to help you use the Heavy bag to help you improve on your Muay Thai!

  1. Mix Up The Combos – Muay Thai, as a combat sport, uses almost every bit of the body as a weapon and as a shield. That said, don’t be afraid to add mixed combos to your heavy bag routine.

For example, you may want to add punches, kicks, knees and elbows to your combos. At the same time, think of the bag as a real person and try to hit it from different angles and using different stances. This way, you diversity your strikes and make a habit out of using mixed combos, which will reflect on how you fight in matches.

  1. Repetition and Muscle Memory – Speaking of mixed combos, hitting the heavy bag is one of the best ways to help you master your striking weapons. As you become more comfortable with your combinations, you’ll find yourself improving your speed, power, balance, footwork and muscular endurance. Pretty soon much of your strikes and combinations will become second nature.
  2. Intensity – Think of the heavy bag as a real opponent and as a real opponent, you don’t want to let up on it. By putting as much intensity as possible in your training, the heavy bag will help you improve your stamina and make sure that you throw as heavy of a punch as possible in the beginning up until the end.
  3. Work on Your Weaknesses – It’s easy to think that the main reason to use the heavy bag is to practice strong punches and kicks. But no, that’s not it. You must remember to focus on all your strikes and not just a few. Make sure that your combos are a mix of power, speed, balance and footwork, which will help you a lot when sparring or when you’re in a real match.
  4. Embrace the Heavy Bag – Thinking about it, sparring with a motionless bag that weighs a ton or so may seem boring. The truth, however, is that it’s your biggest ally when it comes to improving both your strengths and weaknesses. So, make a habit out of using the heavy bag as much as possible.

If you want to improve as a Muay Thai fighter, you’ll have to remember that the heavy bag is your best friend. Sparring aside, time with the heavy bag is the best way to help improve all the necessary factors that help you become a better fighter.


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