Shadowboxing for Muay Thai Fighters (...to be updated)

Shadowboxing...An often overlooked and underrated tool.

A few of the benefits of shadow boxing are listed below:

• Center of balance
• Reflexes
• Technique/form
• Concentration/focus
• Speed
• Economy of motion
• Relaxation
• Flexibility

Shadowboxing is also the time to formulate fight tactics and strategies. It can can be done anywhere. Do it in front of the mirrors, in the showers, in your room, while you are walking, while you are running - be creative. It's just too easy and important to overlook.

Tips for Effective Shadowboxing

• punch at eye level
• use your hips and legs to generate power
• always be aware of your center of balance, remain in fighting stance and always be grounded
• keep your mind relaxed by feeling rather than thinking
  
• repetition is the mother of all skill; chose a technique you would like to master and practice it until it becomes second nature
  
• strive to improve your technique and form every time you throw a move; use a mirror to help you with this
• be mindful of your breathing. Exhaling as you extract. Inhaling as you retract.
  
• stay grounded and leveled
• both feet should never leave the ground at once
• be conscience of what, why and, how you are throwing your techniques

It is very easy to skip the shadowboxing component of training. I can understand that shadowboxing can get quite boring and repetitive. The way I deal with this is I try to spice it up by using rubber bands, small dumbbells, ankle weights, and playing with the temple and rhythm. I find music really helps me get into the mood as well.

Expect an instructional clip on shadowboxing in the near future. For now, enjoy this clip of Chris "Woodcutter" Greig.