Expert: Lian Shoemake - 2/13/2005

Question
Hi,

I'm a 27 yr old female--and I'm not sure what possessed me, but I went out and bought a freestanding punching bag and a pair of gloves.  I figured it would be nice to get some tension out while being physically active.  But now I'm not quite sure what to do with it.  Are there any basic moves I should know?  And anything that I shouldn't do?

Answer
Hi Jamie,


Thanks for the question.
I'm not sure if you bought a heavy bag or a speed bag, but either way, there are lots of resources available to guide you on how to reach your goals with the bag.
I'd recommend that you go to a boxing equipment site such as www.ringside.com and explore their collection of training equipment videos, some of which address specific pieces of equipment.

In the meantime, if it is a heavy bag, just be careful not to punch straight into the bag too hard if you're not sure how to make a proper fist or throw punches correctly. It's possible you could hurt your hands, elbows or shoulders if you use a heavy bag incorrectly.

Otherwise, look around for a training video, and enjoy your new bag!

Thanks again for writing, Jamie :)

Regards,
Lian