Reason #1)  Pure joy

As much as I love lifting weights, training on the Thai bag is right there neck and neck.  I throw a good music playlist on along with a round timer and just absolutely go to war on the thing.  For me, “going light” on the bag seems to be impossible despite vowing on many occasions prior to a bag workout that I was just going to go easy because I probably should’ve been resting that day.  You can unleash violently but it’s also fun to drill new strikes, footwork, and other techniques and I even like to move and strike in rhythm with the music at times, like a cobra dancing and biting.  If you love the feeling of putting in some pure and simple, steady hard work when you train and the feeling of accomplishment at the end of that kind of workout, you’ll love the Thai bag.

Reason #2)  Develops neglected aspects of fitness

Flexibility, core strength, coordination, body hardening, conditioning and explosiveness; the Thai bag will bring them all up dramatically.  Furthermore, with consistent long term practice incorporating good technique, you can definitely become very capable in a self-defense situation and being “hard to kill” is part of fitness.  Yes, I get it- the bag doesn’t hit back, but it’s a staple in training for every type of professional fighting for a reason and it is something far better than nothing in this regard.  Find a sparring partner if you want to get some live action, but the bag is always there day or night.

Getting started:

1)  Get a Thai bag.  This is the one I currently use and it’s been great (Click to view on Amazon):

2)  Get a mount.  This company makes the best I’ve found:

PROmountings products on Amazon with different styles available to suit your needs

3)  Get long hand wraps and quality gloves:

Click here for 180 inch 4 star and up wraps on Amazon

Click here for 4 star and up gloves on Amazon

4)  Get a round timer.  This is the app I currently use:

http://www.intervaltimer.com/

5)  A good goal to work up to is (5) five minute rounds with 1 minute rest between rounds.  Start how you need to, which could be as simple as 5 one minute rounds with 1 minute rest if your conditioning is beginner level.

6)  Treat the bag like a live opponent!  You should always be either moving your feet, moving your body and head, throwing strikes and combinations, keeping up defense or any of these in combination simultaneously.  Don’t just stand there flat footed throwing one-off power punches.

7)  Consistently train all your weapons; fists, elbows, knees, shins, and feet.  Throw them all!