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Throwing punches or practicing a sequence of movements repeatedly while maintaining the fighting stance can help the fighter perfect his moves. This definitely improves one’s punching speed and is also a great warm-up session for intense boxing-specific workouts. Being a competitive sport, boxers need to create opportunities and land punches that can overpower the opponent. Not only should the boxer have the ability to focus and observe his opponent’s body language, he/she should also be able to make the right decisions at the right time. This can come from practice. The imagery or guided visualization during shadow boxing helps the boxer rehearse his strategic moves. To be able to win, one must first think like a winner. Visualizing yourself in the ring and defeating your opponent during these sessions is definitely the best form of motivation.

Shadow Boxing Techniques

To practice shadow boxing exercises, the fighter needs to face a light-colored wall. There is a light source behind the boxer that projects his/her shadow on the wall. The boxer then practices his/her moves and footwork by treating the shadow as his/her opponent or sparring partner. There are two methods that boxers use in the shadow boxing sessions. These are referred to as the short method and the long method. In the long method of shadow boxing, boxers practice straight punches or jabs as they shuffle their feet back and forth. On the other hand, boxers move their body from left to right while practicing short punches or close body shots while practicing the short method. There are a variety of punching techniques that boxers usually use. These include left jab, left straight, right straight, left hook, right hook, uppercut, liver shot, and other shots to the body. Combination drills where you practice a specific combination of some of these punches in a rhythm can certainly help in honing one’s boxing skills. Here are some of the common combinations one could try:
•Left Straight, Right Straight: Here you visualize throwing a punch to the left side of your opponent’s head, followed by another punch to the right side.
•Left Hook, Right Hook, Left Hook: For the Left Hook, bring your left hand near your chin and bend your hand at an angle of 90 degrees while punching your opponent’s face with your fist. Follow the same action with the right hand and repeat the action with your left hand again.
One can also graduate from the simple shadow boxing exercises to an intense form of workout. Take for instance, the 10×10 shadow boxing circuit wherein boxers can practice a 10-punch combination ten times within a minute. Besides developing speed and accuracy, one also needs to develop punching power. Once one has perfected these moves, one can attempt them while fighting one’s sparring partner. Read the rest of this entry »

Tip #1: Invest in your safety by choosing a good skydiving school. Do your research in advance, by learning what safety procedures and certifications are to be followed. Dig deep into the school’s safety record and reputation. The United States Parachute Association (USPA) is a necessary certification, look for a school whose instructors are certified by this standard. Talk to trainers personally, meet ex-students of a school prior to joining up and try to attend a demo class, so you get a feel of how things are handled in the institute.

Tip #2: Read the fine print. Skydiving does have its restrictions and dangers. The age limit is 18 years and above, weight limit is 220 lbs (men) and 200 lbs (women). Plus, you need to be healthy enough to jump. Heart problems, low or high blood pressure, motion sickness, nervous breakdowns etc. with such health issues, skydiving is not the sport for you. You will need to fill out a medical form, citing your medical history. Be truthful with such forms, the school is just looking out for your safety. If needed, seek a doctor’s approval for skydiving.

Tip #3: Pay attention during the training procedures. See what your instructor is doing and try to copy him/her as closely as possible. Do not hesitate to ask questions, clarify your doubts and make sure you have understood everything clearly. Take notes if you want. Do not dream during training and take the procedures seriously.

Tip #4: For a first time experience, even with training and instructions, skydiving can be very daunting. So choose the right method of jumping. You can jump solo or skyjump in tandem, where an instructor shares your parachute harness and controls its deployment. He/she will also instruct you on the correct procedure and you learn more and gain confidence. Sometimes you are given a choice, some schools will allow only tandem jumping for first timers.

Tip #5: Learn basic signs and gestures to communicate during your free fall. You cannot speak clearly due to the force of the wind and most probably, no one will be able to hear you either! So use sign language to communicate. Read the rest of this entry »