Everything clicked for me this past weekend

[Chris M]

I was working on the speed bag just as I normally have for quite some time and it seemed like I could do no wrong. Something clicked, I don't know what, and I realized that I was linking with ease.

I've been able to do all the techniques in the speed bag bible for quite some time, but I've been frustrated with linking them seamlessly and effortlessly. I don't know how to describe it, but it just came to me all of a sudden and I'm linking fluidly from one technique to another. My speed even increased dramatically! Before Saturday afternoon, I usually had to wait for a rebound or two OR go back to the home rhythym before linking to my next technique. Not any more!

This all happened on Saturday and when I worked out again yesterday afternoon when all the weekend chores were done, I again worked out longer and with more intensity than I have for a long time.

After having such successful workouts, I decided to watch DVD 2 and 3 of Alan's series. The instructions make so much more sense now that I can pull them off! This weekend marked a great improvement in my speed bagging!

I don't know what it was, but it's really cool and satisfying when stuff comes together like this.

Just hang in there, if you're like me, it sometimes takes longer than sooner before you get to the level you want. I didn't think I'd ever be able to do what Alan does, but now I can see the light at the end of the tunnel and I really don't think it's going to be that long before I can get my speed up to Alan's level.

[Teetu]

As a beginner I find your words to be encouraging because I get frustrated a lot!

[Speedbag]

It clicks!

I was working on the speed bag just as I normally have for quite some time and it seemed like I could do no wrong. Something clicked, I don't know what, and I realized that I was linking with ease.

I've been able to do all the techniques in the speed bag bible for quite some time, but I've been frustrated with linking them seamlessly and effortlessly. I don't know how to describe it, but it just came to me all of a sudden and I'm linking fluidly from one technique to another. My speed even increased dramatically! Before Saturday afternoon, I usually had to wait for a rebound or two OR go back to the home rhythym before linking to my next technique. Not any more!

This all happened on Saturday and when I worked out again yesterday afternoon when all the weekend chores were done, I again worked out longer and with more intensity than I have for a long time.

After having such successful workouts, I decided to watch DVD 2 and 3 of Alan's series. The instructions make so much more sense now that I can pull them off! This weekend marked a great improvement in my speed bagging!

I don't know what it was, but it's really cool and satisfying when stuff comes together like this...

What you are describing is that "Eureka" moment when suddenly it works and all makes sense. On days like that, take advantage and push the envelope. Learning to easily link the fist(s) through opens hundreds of possibilities. And now you know they come at you pretty fast.

The twenty four individual techniques are all fairly easily by themselves. The true art is in the mixing. When all sides of the bag are your playground - it all starts to make sense.

Welcome, grasshopper. You've just entered the temple.

the advanced combinations await you....

[Chris M]

What you are describing is that "Eureka" moment when suddenly it works and all makes sense. On days like that, take advantage and push the envelope. Learning to easily link the fist(s) through opens hundreds of possibilities. And now you know they come at you pretty fast.

The twenty four individual techniques are all fairly easily by themselves. The true art is in the mixing. When all sides of the bag are your playground - it all starts to make sense.

Welcome, grasshopper. You've just entered the temple.

the advanced combinations await you....

Thank you Master, I am not nearly ready to try to grab the pebbles from your hand or walk the rice paper, but I have entered the temple to begin my journey.

[Speedbag]

Eureka moments

Thank you Master, I am not nearly ready to try to grab the pebbles from your hand or walk the rice paper, but I have entered the temple to begin my journey.

You will now travel much faster on your journey. Many more Eureka moments await, but the more you know, the more you can know. I have stood by the side of a few when one of those moments happen. It is amazing to watch. The look of amazement when suddenly it works and the person realizes they did it - and can do it whenever they want to. Usually they are amazed at how small the movement was and how relaxed they were when it happened.

I have had many of them also. Many of them came while writing the Speed Bag Bible, for I learned a great deal about the bag when writing it. Several Techniques and many of the advanced combinations came to me in rushes of insight or from reproducing a mistake, only to find it wasn't a mistake. It was an angle change in the rebound that made it work. It was a way to break the "rules of rhythm" #1 and 2, creating rule #3.

One of my most memorable was when hitting to music, I realized that there were two possible methods, and the bag rhythms and speed of punching could be adapted to ANY song. At first I always used constant linking and hitting in what I normally call the "syncopated rhythms", and that some songs just didn't have a good beat to punch with. Then I found that by altering punching speed and combinations, I could do what I later called "straight time punching". With these two methods, (straight time and syncopated), I could manipulate the bag rhythm to work with all music, and most of the time you can jump from one to the other within the song. That is was a great moment for me. One of many under the board.

Just a word of warning: There will also be days when you think it has all gone away, and you believe the bag is simply laughing at you. On those days, I find it best to blame the swivel. It's easier than saying "I really suck at this...."