We’re always thinking outside of the box around here — trying to bring you new and exciting ways to train.
But sometimes the oldest tricks in the book — ones that work like magic — go forgotten and unused.
Lately we’ve been absorbed in something really FUN that we want to share with you. It’s working like crazy for fat loss and cardio. But more importantly it’s exciting and enticing. And it’s been around for generations.
Tell me this doesn’t look like more fun than your local neighborhood aerobics class!
Just WATCHING that is motivating and makes me want to go out and train like that. It’s just plain COOL…
But beyond the cool factor, training this way gives you:
- Incredible conditioning
- Accelerated fat loss
- Speed & enhanced reaction time
- Timing and coordination
- Fundamental self defense skills
- I think I already mentioned this one, but it’s frackin’ cool (and fun)
Ryan and I have been learning this stuff ourselves and it’s loads of fun. Our buddy Brandon has been getting us into it. He’s showing us the program he uses for conditioning his fighters and for whipping ALL of his clients into lean, mean fightin’ machines…
Did we mention that this totally kicks your ASS and gets you into shape like nobody’s business!
But the coolest thing is… Ryan is down in LA right now with Brandon. So we asked Brandon if he’d take Ryan through a few moves for you guys to learn. Not only did he say yes, but he’s going to show us some stuff you can start doing RIGHT AWAY without equipment. All you need is a partner to work with.
So keep your eye on the blog. This is probably THE funnest way to get a serious cardio or fat loss workout that we’ve EVER tried.
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{ 14 comments… read them below or add one }
I train people like this in my boxing/kickboxing classes. It’s one of my top favorite ways to train. The trainer in the video is reaching for his students punches too much. You need to make your students extend their strikes by rotating their hips. That’s not going to happen if the target is withing a foot of their faces. And I see a lot of movements that aren’t going to help in a ring. Part of training with focus mitts is using strategy to train for proper muscle memory. Other than that, looks good!
I agree with Benji. Other than a rhythm exercise, this one seems like a waste of time. I mean, you’ve got a world class champion doing it (although he’s afraid of fighting a certain Filipino), but it just goes to show you a lot even pros do things that make you scratch your head. Maybe it’s at the very end of a hard-hitting bag workout and sparring and hitting power mits? That would make a little more sense. Ultimately hard to judge without seeing everything….
Benji, How many “greatest of all times” have you produced? These two are both masters. Their virtuosity is unquestionable.
There are many ways to train with focus mits. Pros must utilize every possible situation on the ring. Here Floyd Jr is being drilled inreaction and timing. Note how relaxed he apears. That is exactly what the trainer is loking for in this session (along with warming him up). Fighters have to be relaxed so that they may controll their breathing while under extreme duress. When training novices with the mits, only the strict fundamentals of punch extension, distancing and technique are applied in order to develope muscle memory, balance and conditioning. I am 100% sure that young Floyd gets plenty of power punch training on the pads in sessions where the trainer is also wearing a body guard. Keep in mind also that what is trained in a pros camp is not always shown to the press. Sometimes a good pads demo (especially during a pre fight promo) is a good way to show the feathers… Ease up on the trainer Benji..
This is AWESOME!! I just brought the Everlast Mitt Con System today for my daughter. The video is great and very Inspirational. I can’t wait to see the next video, thanks BodyweightCoach I appreciate and keep em coming!!
Punchbag training combined with kettlebell training did give my clients the highest fatburn.
It’s easy to do, but what you are showing would be a little more intensive because they move a bit more chasing or ducking the pads.
I’ll give it a try and one of my collegues already has a cool name for it : PT Pads.
Keep on kickin’
Rob Floris
Love the discussion fella’s, but let’s keep it civil. I edited out one rather “uncharitable” remark.
As I understand it (I’m not an expert), Mayweather is one of the “masters” of this style of training and has made it famous. Technique and training methods, in any sport, become very individualized at that level and often go far beyond conventional means of analysis. Besides, the video is to get your juices flowin’ to train, not for technical dissection…
Cheers,
Adam
Boxing is incredibly challenging and gets you super fit and strong in no time. When I trained regularly my arms were the best they had ever been.
“Reaching” for the punch is not reaching … it’s actually providing resistance. Instead of the puncher knocking the pads away when he strikes them, he impacts against a resistance which adds extra impact and stimulus to all structures involved in the punching action … all the way down to the feet . . . It’s like adding some heavy bag “feedback” into the flow of the fast/timing/reaction work. What they’re doing is “way kool.”
Love it. I have focus mits and rarely use them because I have no one to use them with. I have access to a heavy bag, no speed bag and of course jump rope so I can’t wait to see what you guys have to share. I love short, fun, high intensity training like this. Thanks for sharing. JP
I have to agree with Benji. Unless they are concentrated on nothing but timing. But that would be wasteful to me. It would not take too much time to get the vascular system, as well as pulmonary going in this kind of training. I agree that you have to include punching from the hips, That is where your muscle memory is learned as well as the power in a punch. I wish I had someone to train with me so I could make this part of my training.
Good film, motivational. Interesting comments. I kickboxed and boxed for many years and still enjoy the benefits of the training. The film is for the public, it isnt particularly hard from the intensity point of veiw, but shows flow and handspeed, combined with head movement.Focus pads, like any piece of equipment can be used in various ways and for different reasons.You can use tthem for all out intensity, reactions, drills, movement or power. The difficulty is getting a good pad man to put you through your paces.
If you only have a bag, use it the way you would spar/fight. Hit at distance while moving, get in the trenches, with your head on the bag working inside. Split rounds up, 30secs inside, 30 seconds moving, a whole round inside. Imagine shots coming back at you and roll, salute or parry those imaginery shots. As you perform combinations, hit diffrent power shots through the combination, move off or roll a diffrent way each time, to simulate real life.
Just a few thoughts, its how you think about it and apply yourself that makes the difference.
Mitch
I like what Brandon is doing at 360 gym, what i notice too though is his asian martial art influence, look forward to a series!
Well, here’s the story…
Mayweather IS one of the best on the mitts. His method Has produced excellent fighters both amateur and pro. I use the term ” his method” here because like every coach he has a unique flair.
The diference in styles falls into a couple of categories:
1. Performance Mittwork: this is where the trainer puts their fighter through the paces using the mitts to develop specific attributes. When youvsee a trainer doing simple punches or combos for the purpose of working timing, targeting, power
, speed or endurance – that’s performance mittwork.
2. Technical Mittwork: this is a bit different amd what you see in the clip. In technical mittwork the coach is putting together sections. Combos, defensive moves and chaining them together in predetermined succsession. While this method still builds attributes, it also develops reactions and trains the fighter to fight in their rythm. Better reaction can be trained using this method.
3. Comprehensive Mittwork: this is done by using both above methods in tandem, adding in more movement and tactics as well as allowing for spontanious action as well.
The latter is the method that I employ with my athletes but it takes a little time and a lot of practice on the part of both the holder and the puncher.
You can check some of this out on our YouTube channel if you’re interested.
( search 690gym on YouTube)
However, none of that is really important here. What were talking about here is using a fighters tools to get in fighting shape. To create a fun set of tools that results in an ass kicking workout.
There are a bunch of different cardio kickboxing and cardio boxing classes out there. Most taught by people who have never laced up a pair of gloves and who don’t know the first thing about boxing. The goal in my classes is to bring REAL boxing skills into the fitness realm. Even if people just want the fitness angle and just want to get in better shape – why not do it while learning good mechanics. Any car can get you from point A to point B , but a Benz is a Benz and a POS is a POS. You can get where you’re going faster, more efficiently and with style or you can clunk through in the hoopdi- it’s entirely up to you.