Puff The Magic Wagon!

iTrader: (2)

Thinking about getting one of these to help with my karate - seem to spend a lot of time punching and kicking things & I'm cr@p at it.

Any recomendations and/or things to look out for. Budget small lol

Thanks

Puff

stilover

I have a `Slam Man` but most of it is made of hard plastic (cushioned material at pnuching zones only) so probably ain't much use for Karate.

I know you can get other types of `Slam Man` styles, which are soft all over. I didn't go for a standard punchbag, as they swing about, and if you can't hang it off a beam in the Garage, then the metal framework is too obstructive.

Problem with the `Slam Man` types, is that you have to fill them with 12-15 stone of either water or sand. If inside then obviously sand. I nearly put my back out humping the bags of sand from the builders merchant, to the car, then up the flights of stairs to my flat, then standing bent over waiting for 6 bags of sand to empty into the Slam Man.

Steve Whitehorn

iTrader: (13)

I find that I isolate what I am training.

1. Speed - So hand weights, speed ball
2.Technique - Movement memory - repetative movement
3. Power -The bag

Then I aim to put all three together

So for me a bag should not be to heavy as I dont want to be hitting something so hard that it has no give. But not too light that it is swinging everwhere.
But something in the middle weight where it is telling me that I am getting a good hard punch in or not. So what weight? well its down to your personal preferance to try out and get a feel for. For me its a mid weight bag.

I aslo use sandbags tied to a solid wall. And only have the hand ties on. It is good for conditioning your arms and fists and again realy gives you feedback for if you are geting a proper hard punch in - and obviously helps really develop a hard punch. But watch the joints

Personaly for kicking I like the the big oblong pad that someone holds for you. But also use the bag.

Hope this helps a little
Cheers
Steve

GazTheHat

I ended up getting a 5ft heavy bag from eBay.

They have some good deals for a bag, chains, mitts/gloves and hanging bracket for about £40.

Bash0rz

use a tree or summat

van dam styleee

Steve Fort

If you'll be training on your own, you really need as heavy a bag as possible (or bottom anchored bag). Dunno about all this girly kicking, but when boxing a heavier bag saves having to rely on someone to hold it for you.

moses

hi mate u can get a nice bag for 30 quid or so

if u can get that stuffed man thing, wae a head and body, its nice punching the lights oot of that

Steve Fort

Tie a Chav to a tree! When you've finished your work out, you can charge other people for a go!

Steve Fort

I meant as a punch bag, not for buggery!

Minitrue

A cheap canvas bag will suffice, remove the wadding and replace it with corn. You can usually get away without a ground anchor too.

MoT

GazTheHat

Did i read that right, corn?

TonyG

I used to use an old army surplus kitbag, filled with loads of old clothes/sheets. Might have to refill it as I've just (after a 10 year break) started training again.

billythekid

IMVHO I would go for 2 bags, one mid weight bag with no ground anchor for punching and general speed work, knees, elbows etc and then a heavy bag with ground anchor for kicking. You can have them mounted at the same point or if you are flash and have a lot of space then 2 seperate areas would be cool.

Some kicks might well break the ground anchor if you have a cheapo one so make sure you get one that can either be replaced or is very strong.

PS I know nothing about Karate so might be best asking your Sensei as you dont want to draw yourself into bad habits that will come out on the mat.

ian_sadler

Just use Gossy

Puff The Magic Wagon!

iTrader: (2)

I have been tempted

NeilT

Puff

If you've only just started Karate, I'd avoid a punch bag as it may get you into bad habits and poor stances which you'll then spend time trying to correct during the Karate.


You'd probably be better off with a sparring partner and sparring pads (i.e. small rectangular pads that are hand held) your partner should be able to then tell you where you're going wrong/help you improve, together with extra classes (if they're available)

Karate takes years to get even close to being right

All IMHO of course

Neil

Chip Sengravy

Yes, unless you're a veggielesbian, then use quorn

Minitrue

Yes corn. A tip from brendan Ingle.

MoT

Steve Whitehorn

iTrader: (13)

Yep thats exactly what I have got in mine

2000TLondon

It depends on if you want it fixed / hanging from a joist or "portable"

I have a moveable frame with a speedball and a heavy bag hanging by a chain, held to the ground by weights which can be moved.

I much prefer a hanging bag to a slam man or floor standing bag and find them much, much better all round.

Main tip is don't go for a bag that is too heavy, I've done that before and had to buy a lighter one!!!