Shadow boxing is an essential training method used in the field of combat. It involves a fighter or a boxer moving around and throwing punches in the air. This act might sound weird to you, especially if you’re a newbie but it’s actually the most preferred exercise for both boxers and fighters alike.
Mastering shadow boxing takes time and effort, but once you get the hang of it, you’ll be able to unleash your true potential. There’s so much for you to gain from shadow boxing, which is why it’s preferred by many athletes.
Just like any other exercise, there are some things you need to keep in mind in order to master shadow boxing and also enjoy its many benefits.
In this article, we’ll discuss everything you need to know about shadow boxing and hopefully, by the time you’re done reading, you’ll have all your questions answered.
Let’s jump right to it.
Benefits of Shadow Boxing
The main objective of shadow boxing is to help you improve your overall movement in the ring. This exercise is incredibly versatile and you can do it anywhere with a space big enough to move around. Plus it’s quite simple.
It allows you to envision yourself in a fight where you’re free from all distractions and focus only on your desired result. That’s very helpful because when you’re actually in a real fight, you’ll be calmer and more relaxed.
Professional boxers, fighters, and even amateurs do this exercise before a fight as it allows them to be in their right mindset.
Here are some of the incredible benefits of shadow boxing:
Improves Your Technique
Shadow boxing is an effective exercise to enhance your muscle memory as well as your technique.
When you’re sparring, you try to dodge your partner’s punches and implement the things you’ve learned at the same time, which can be quite overwhelming. During shadow boxing, you’re under no such pressure. Instead, it allows you to work on your dodges, movements, footwork, and punching techniques.
Once you improve your techniques and develop your muscle memory, you’ll be able to throw powerful punches more accurately and at the right moment. You won’t even think about it as it’ll come to you naturally.
Great Workout
When you’re shadow boxing, different parts of your body work in coordination, especially your arms, chest, shoulders, and leg muscles. This helps build lean muscles over time and for every 20-25 minute session, you can actually burn around 200 calories.
Shadow boxing can also work as a great aerobic and cardio workout.
Best Pre-fight Preparation
As mentioned earlier, shadow boxing allows you to visualize certain scenarios of you in a fight. It is a great way to prepare before a fight as it helps you come up with different strategies to beat your opponent.
The only downside here is that all your movements are pre-planned in your head and it’s obvious that a real fight is unpredictable. You can still work on your punches, movements, and dodge in order to improve your technique and form, which are both important factors to help you win a fight.
Addresses Your Mistakes
Unlike sparring, when you shadow box, you have the opportunity to concentrate on your punching techniques and footwork mistakes.
During shadow boxing, you can see yourself in the mirror and address your mistakes. You can see if you’re dodging efficiently or if your head movements are proper and work on improving those skills.
You may not always see your mistakes and sometimes you may not have a mirror around. In such cases, you can either record yourself, ask a training partner or hire a trainer if you have the opportunity.
Great for Warming Up and Cooling Down
In every sport, warming up is important before you start your training. No matter which training type you do, shadow boxing does similar movements and also builds the same muscle groups as any other training. Therefore, it’s best to warm up with shadow boxing before your training.
In the same way, you can perform light intensity shadow boxing to cool down after every training.
What If You Don’t Do Enough Shadow Boxing?
In every combat sport, shadow boxing is an essential training method. That’s why many professional athletes and fighting enthusiasts perform shadow boxing.
Those who don’t do it enough tend to face problems in a real fight. That’s because they don’t feel natural and relaxed during the fight. At least not as calm or relaxed as someone who has trained for hours visualizing and planning for a similar situation through shadow boxing.
Another downside if you skip shadow boxing is burning out quickly. This happens when you only train with punching bags where you stand close to the bag and throw powerful hits at it. Which is unlikely to happen in a real fight.
When you’re in the ring, it’s going to be a completely different setup, your opponent will move around and try to keep their distance from you. And since you’re not used to such movements, you’ll be exhausted quickly.
Also, when you train with heavy bags, you always hit your target, which means you won’t be training your recovery muscles. So when you try to throw a powerful punch during a real fight, your opponent will likely dodge it and when that happens, your hands will tire quickly.
Shadow boxing is all about learning and improving your boxing movements by performing repetitive movements and committing it into your muscle memory.
Because when you master shadow boxing, your movements will be natural which in turn will help you to become more efficient, balanced, and relaxed during a real match.
Your Guide to Shadow Box Properly
In order to achieve your desired results and enjoy the benefits of shadow boxing, there are some things you need to keep in mind.
Here’s a list of things you must remember so that you can make the best out of shadow boxing:
Set a Goal
That’s the most important thing to do before you start shadow boxing. Always set a goal of what you want to achieve in each shadow boxing session.
It could be anything you want to improve; your footwork, movements, punching techniques or speed. Another goal could be warming up or cooling down after you are done with it so that you can relax your muscles.
You can also use shadow boxing to prepare yourself before a fight by visualizing yourself in similar situations and plan strategies to win the fight.
As it’s clear, there are numerous goals for you to pick before starting your shadow boxing session. Think of what you really want to achieve and start working on it.
Start With Jab
If you’re a newbie and you’re not familiar with all the basic punches such as the cross, jab, uppercut, and hook, try to focus only on one type of punch initially.
The best punch to start with would be the jab. It’s actually the fastest and most effective punch. Set a goal to complete a number of jabs and keep training until you get there.
Here’s what you can do: start with 40-50 jabs, rest for a minute and then throw 40-50 crosses followed by left hooks and right hooks and then end with uppercuts.
Also, try to envision yourself in a real fight and move around while you throw punches. Keep it realistic, remember that your opponents will never stay in one place and take your punches.
Learn 3-4 Combos
Once you’re familiar with the basic punches, try to upgrade your punches by adding different combos. This can be a bit complex but you can teach yourself to learn.
You can follow these combinations:
- jab(1)-cross(2)
- double jab(1,1)-cross(2)
- jab(1)-cross(2)-lead hook(3)
Try to throw each combination 50 times and rest for a minute in between. Also, remember to move around while doing it. Since jabs are the most effective and fastest punches, always start your combos with it when you’re shadow boxing.
Close the Distance
As mentioned earlier, you’re not going to just stand still and throw punches at your opponent during a real fight. It’s obvious that your opponent will move around and try to dodge your punches by keeping a distance from you.
If you don’t want to miss your punches, you must close the gap between you and your opponent.
When you’re shadow boxing, don’t just throw combos in one place. Try to Imagine that your opponent is in front of you, move a step forward to get closer and then throw your combos.
3-Minute Rounds
When you’re on a combo or one punch drills, you can always set a number of punches you want to accomplish. For example, jabs(50)-cross(60). But for more complex exercises you’ll need a timer.
If you’re a newbie, do shadow boxing exercises with 5-7 set of combos for 3-minutes, while resting for a minute in between.
This is a very effective way to prepare for a real fight as boxing rounds last for 3 minutes with the usual one-minute rest in between.
Learn the Proper Way to Exit
Your opponent will try to hit you back once you throw your punch at him. Your goal is to throw punches without getting hit.
Here is how to hit your target and get back to a safe position.
First, you hop back right after you land your combo with your hands up to defend yourself.
After you hit your target, you can also move your back foot and place your front foot to your left. Also, remember to always look forward and never show him your back. You can even duck your head and try to dodge his punch.
You can do the same thing but this time by moving to your right.
Get Feedback
This is very important because you need to know if you’re doing it right. Getting feedback will help you address your mistakes and work on improving them.
Unlike sparring, shadow boxing gives you have the opportunity to concentrate on your punching techniques and footwork mistakes.
You can see yourself in the mirror and address the mistakes. Check if you’re dodging efficiently or if your head movements are proper and work on improving those skills.
If you have the opportunity, having a trainer will be really helpful for you. As someone who’s experienced, he can catch your mistakes in your movements and give you his suggestions to improve.
Also, if you’re shadow boxing alone, you can even record yourself. This is another great way to check for any flaws in your form, punching techniques, or movements. Recording yourself will help you realize what you need to work on.
Here’s a great video from Nate Bower on shadow boxing, some great drills – enjoy.
Conclusion
Shadow boxing is truly an essential training tool in the field of combat. Not only does it help you prepare, but it also improves your overall mindset.
The incredible benefits you can get from shadow boxing can’t be obtained from any other form of training.
Once you master it, you’ll be able to improve your punching techniques, footwork, rhythm, endurance, speed, strength, and movements.
In order to do that, you must be willing to dedicate and make it a part of your daily routine.
