Boxing training techniques: Shadow Boxing
Shadow Boxing is an age old tried and tested method for training boxers and other fighters before they step into a ring to fight. It basically means that a fighter is fighting against his or her own shadow. It is done in order to develop muscle strength in a boxer and prepare a boxer’s footwork and movement before a fight. It is an essential part of boxing training these days but it does have its critics. Over the years it has found its place among other boxing training methods such as skipping and bag work. Despite its critics, this training method will continue to thrive and be used by all forms of fighters for many years to come.
A form of shadow boxing originated in the Ming Dynasty in Ancient China. Around 400 years ago, people in China developed a form of martial arts called Taji Quan, which relied on slow rhythmic movements and no opponent. This method was supposed to be used for self defence only and not as a form of attack. It followed on the principle that a person would stand in front of his own shadow and practice moves. This moved on over the years and shadow boxing is still used in martial arts today as a form of training method. Besides boxing, it is also used in karate and kung fu among others. When fighting came to Europe and America from China, people found that Taji Quan could be adapted as a training method for boxing. It helped to work the muscles of the arms, back, shoulders and legs of boxers while also helping them to work on their footwork and conditioning skills.
Boxing is all about rhythm and footwork. A lot of people think that boxing only relies on hitting the opponent as hard as possible but it is a sport which works on a person moving out of the way of punches just as much as landing them. The mental aspect of boxing should not be overlooked either and with shadow boxing a fighter is able to picture themselves in a fight and see how they would react to different things and how they would behave in the ring. Different sports besides boxing also employ the use of shadow boxing showing its diversity as a training method. The technique is used in karate with many fighters using it before a fight. Fighters even use shadow boxing when practicing with swords and other weapons. This method of using weapons is called floryshe and is a major training part of many sword based martial arts today. Amateur wrestlers also use the method to practice their drills and moves without the use of a sparring partner.
In boxing there are two types of shadow boxing that are used in training. There is the long method which is favoured by fighters with a long reach. It involves the boxer moving their body and feet back and forth in a rocking method and using jabs and punches in combinations. One boxer who preferred this method was Muhammad Ali. The other method is called the short method and this involves a boxer moving his or her head and body side to side and throwing punches and body jabs in the process. This method was favoured by the crazy but brilliant Mike Tyson. Many boxers these days choose one of the two methods as part of their training regime.
In the past shadow boxing was exactly that, boxers fighting against their own shadows. Now boxers usually practice their punches and movement in front of a mirror and this has found some serious critics who oppose its use. The people against boxing in front of a mirror say that a fighter when looking at themselves fighting will develop bad habits and will be surprised when their opponent in the ring does something unexpected. Shadow boxing without mirrors is the preferred method because a fighter does not exactly see where the punches are going and so there is a sense of the unexpected about it all.
Shadow boxing will continue to be a part of boxing training for many years to come. Maybe a new type of shadow boxing will be invented that takes it into the realm of virtual reality. A boxer could find themselves shadow sparring against a simulated virtual reality fighter. But that is all in the future, in the present boxing against your own shadow is still very popular.
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