From: garry@alice.att.com (garry hodgson)
Newsgroups: rec.martial-arts
Subject: Re: heavy bags
Keywords: heavy bags
Date: 14 Dec 92 22:09:09 GMT
Article-I.D.: alice.24410
Reply-To: garry@alice.UUCP ()
Distribution: rec
Organization: AT&T, Bell Labs

In article <8956@unix386.Convergent.COM> jeff@unix386.Convergent.COM (Jeff Beckmann) writes:
  I need some advice about heavy bags.  I want to hang one in my garage.

  2) Canvas v.s. the plastic/vinyl bag.  What are the tradeoffs?  They
     seem to be about the same price.  Which one will last longer?

I've seen a number of canvas bags die horrible deaths.  They tend go
all at once, usually after they develop a weak or worn spot and 
someone hits them in it.  Also, weapons, particularly octagonal
nunchaku, seem to tear them pretty easily.  (Of course, knives and
swords do a pretty good job, too :-)  The vinyl ones seem tougher.
Mine has a 6 inch gash near the bottom, thanks to the moving company
about a year ago, and it is still going strong.

  3) Where do I hang it?  Should it be right against a wall, a foot or
     so away, or hanging free?
     ... 
     I'm thinking of having two hanging
     mounts: one for solo work and one for working with a friend.

This may be a good idea, get the best of both worlds.

     I have never
     used a free hanging bag, so I don't know how much of a problem the
     swinging is (and having to stop after every hit to steady the bag).

The swinging isn't a problem, it's a blessing!
You don't stop it after every hit, you work on it moving.  If you move
into it so that gravity makes it want to swing back into you, you can
work continuous combinations on it.  You also can move all around, hitting
it with different techniques from many angles.  A moving target is better
training.  More fun, too.

Also, certain training methods require it to be able to swing.
For example, good ways to develop timing. distance, and speed on the
much-maligned spinning back kick (please no spinning technique flames):

	start bag swinging from side to side.  get in fighting stance.
	time kick to hit the bag dead on when it is vertical.  you
	should get a good solid hit.  if you mis-time it, you will
	know it, as your kick will glance off to one side or another,
	or miss altogether.  be careful of hyperextension.

	same thing, but swing the bag away from/toward you.  again,
	you want to hit is solidly when it is vertical, and stop it cold,
	preferably doubling it up at the point of impact (shock value).
	an 80 pound bag swung hard has a lot of momentum.  when you get
	this down pat, either spinning or lead leg, you have a very
	handy defensive technique.

	ultimately, work this idea with the bag swinging wildly in
	all directions, i.e. don't stop it between kicks.  this will
	improve your ability to use the kick in more situations.

	if you have a partner, and you've mastered the timing of a
	swinging bag, have them hold it and give it a shove.  this
	gives you less time to react, and to track its movement.

Of course, you can apply the same idea to other techniques.  A
swinging bag allows a wide range of training techniques that you
can't do with a stationary one.  You can build power and speed 
on a stationary target, but distance and timing only come from motion.

  4) Weight and size.  I want to use the bag for kick and punch work.
     This includes knee and elbow.  I'm thinking of about 80 pounds,

80 pounds is a good size.  I've found that anything smaller is useless
for kicks, and not much better for hands.

By the way, the swinging bag training stuff seems to work better if
you have a higher ceiling, as the longer chain allows a fuller swing,
more momentum.  If your basement has low celings, like mine does, it's
a little harder to get maximum benefit.  And practicing your flying kicks
can be downright painful.

-- 
Garry Hodgson			A slow winter day
AT&T Bell Labs			A night like forever
garry@alice.att.com		Sink like a stone
att!alice!garry			Float like a feather