Shadow Boxing Workout Tips [How to Shadow Box]

Learning how to shadow box is a great exercise that will strengthen your muscles and get you ready for any physical activity you are planning for the day. Shadow boxing is also good for people wanting to train in not only boxing but MMA as well.

Shadow boxing will help you adjust your body movements to be a better puncher, increase your hand speed, and improve your fitness and balance. This article will teach you fundamental shadow boxing workouts and drills to get you started and help you become a better puncher.

What is Shadow Boxing?

Shadow boxing is a full-body routine that lets you work on your foot movement, punching technique, and head movement while not sparring against another person. Shadow boxing does not require a partner or equipment; you are literally practicing your technique against thin air.

Shadow Boxing Benefits

As mentioned previously, shadowboxing is a good way to work on different aspects of your boxing or fighting technique. As a fighter, you know the basics of punching, but with shadow boxing, you can pinpoint your movements and make them much faster and more accurate. Other benefits include:

• Simplicity: You don’t need a partner, and you don’t need any equipment. It’s just you against yourself.
• Natural: Practicing techniques on your own is a natural part of any fighting or martial art. It helps you understand your own body without having to worry about anyone else.
• Low Impact: Because you are not getting resistance from focus mitts or standup punching bags, you are not putting a lot of strain on your body. The only resistance is the air around you.
• Great Warmup and Cooldown: Shadow boxing is a great way to get your muscles warmed up and increase your heart rate before starting a more physical exercise routine. It is also a good way to come down after a strenuous workout.
• Focused on Technique: It will help you better understand how to throw effective punches and how to move your feet during a combo or when you are trying to work on your defenses.
• Improve Coordination & Rhythm: Moving your feet properly is one of the hardest things to do while throwing good combos. Removing all distractions lets you focus purely on the rhythm of your punches.

Gear Needed

Ideally, you don’t need any gear at all. You can shadow box anywhere there is space. But if you want to add a little more to your workout, there are a few things you can get to enhance your routine.

• Footwear: Learning how to move in a proper pair of boxing shoes will help your coordination and rhythm, especially if you are getting ready for an upcoming bout
• Open Area with a Mirror: You will need a lot of room to move, and a large mirror will help you keep track of exactly what you are doing with your body.
• Cones: Small traffic cones or football drill cones will help you work on your foot positioning. These are usually available in a sporting goods store.
• Heavy Bag: A heavy bag is used in shadow boxing not so much to work on your punching speed and power, but to stand in as a person so you can work on your positioning and head movement.  The bag can be hung from the ceiling or from a bag stand.
• Slip Rope or Bag: A slip rope or speed bag is used to help you work on your head movement and can make drills much more challenging.
• Partner or Coach: While you can shadow box alone, having someone to critique you can help you improve at a much faster rate.

How to Shadow Box

There are several different ways to begin shadow boxing. The key is to visualize your opponent and practice as if you were in a fight with them.

1. Begin with Your Goal

Why are you shadow boxing, to begin with? Are you trying to get a solid warm-up or cool down session? Are you working on your jab or overhand? Have you scouted your opponent and know that they are susceptible to uppercuts off of a jab combo? Before you throw the first punch, you should have a specific purpose for the session in mind.

2. Choose a Workout

• Footwork Drill: Set up your cones and work on keeping your feet spread while throwing short combos. Watch this video to give you a better idea.
• Cardio Drill: Stamina is the key to a fight. Getting gassed before the end of the first round is a good way to get knocked out. So if you want to improve your cardio, try something like this.
• Defensive Drills: Fighting is not just about throwing punches. You can incorporate dodging and ducking into your shadow boxing using a Slip Rope. It’ll help you keep your head moving.
• Punch Technique: Maybe your left hook is a little weak, or you are not putting enough of your torso into a punch. Create a drill that works on each type of punch you want to throw.
• Weights: Using weights as a newbie is not recommended. They can injure your wrists if your technique is wrong, and if you don’t have the stamina, you will add a lot of stress to your arms in general. Shadow boxing is about working on form and technique. Use lifting and bag punching to work on power, instead.

3. Execute the Drill

Once you have chosen a drill, it’s time to execute. Work it until you can’t work it anymore. Perform every movement, every head bob, and every foot shuffle with purpose. The key to a good shadow boxing workout is to focus on the movements and not wasting any time.

4. Utilize Feedback

If you are working with a coach or a partner, get some feedback. If you are alone, this is where a mirror comes into play, but also feel free to record yourself and critique your form and movements. Maybe you are wasting energy on your punches by throwing too much from the shoulder. Good feedback will help you eliminate issues and bad habits.

Shadow Boxing Tips

• Stay Moving: Keep your chin tucked, keep your hands up. Even though you are just visualizing an opponent, keep your eyes on them.
• Breathing: Because you aren’t actually being punched, this is a good time to work on your breathing. Keeping your oxygen flowing helps you not get gassed.
• Defense: The punches may not actually be coming at you, but move like they are anyway. Throwing 15 combos and not working on your ducking or head movement is not giving you a complete experience.
• Visualize and Simulate: Fight complete rounds and don’t stop until the bell sounds. This will help you build stamina for the actual fight. Always keep your opponent in front of you in your mind.
• Focus on Technique: Take a good look at the animated diagram below. This is the proper form for throwing the jab while shadow boxing.

Common Mistakes

• Ignoring Technique: Just flailing your arms will not make you a better puncher. Shadow boxing is specifically for working on form and without someone punching you back, you have plenty of time to think about it.
• Looking Down: You wouldn’t look down in a fight, so you don’t want to look down while shadow boxing.
• Punching Down: Build up some shoulder muscles by punching up, especially if your opponent is taller than you.
• Lack of Head Movement: Moving your head off your body’s centerline when throwing a punch is good for your defense.
• Poor Footwork: You should be using your feet, and pushing off your rear leg to transfer your weight forward on your punches. This transfer of weight generates tremendous punching power.
• Overextending Punches: You can add some “snap” to your jabs, by turning your hand and forearm inward, and your elbow ends pointing upward. This is OK occasionally, but doing this repeatedly can cause joint strain and lead to elbow pain.

Photo Credit: Flickr/Nate Bolt via CC