Post surgery video

[Tim]

The old timers here may recall I had shoulder surgery back in June

http://www.speedbagforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=588&highlight=surgery

It's just about 5 months after and I'm nearly fully recovered. I'm happy to say the surgery eliminated 98% of the shoulder pain (bone spur and torn labrum) I was having. Full recovery is supposed to be another month out, so hopefully the pain will be 100% gone.

Here's some video. Nothing new technique wise

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44hUdxzIqGY

It's nice to be able to put up a big bag (10x7) and rip into it ... that caused too much pain pre-surgery. I still have a ways to go to get full strength back. I'm working on new moves too, stuff Alan taught me back in May and things I've been seeing Skunk do. Also hitting to music (or attempting to), but none of that is ready for public consumption yet... stay tuned.

You may also notice I've been doing some tweaking on my platform and found that the optimal vibration damper is an 80 Lb Everlast heavy bag. The Ringside SBPLAT-3 Heavy Duty Platform gets two thumbs up from me. It's rock solid, well built, and cheap. Great piece of equipment as long as you don't need adustaability. Don't try stacking that much weight on a lesser platform...

I will be adding an adjustable height platform in the near future so the kids/wife/family/neighbors/friends can hit.

[Speedbag]

Looks very good. Solid board and great combo's.

Welcome back under the board....

[metaldad]

Congrats on the recovery Tim!! Looking good on the bag and that board is so nicely priced but dammit the good deals always happen when my money has to go elsewhere!! Oh well, I'll just improvise!! 80# heavy bag huh? I have a duffel bag I could fill.riht now it has two snadbags in it.Not sure about the weight.I'm also using cinch straps and continue to look for ways to lessen the vibration. Since I have that Century stand, this will remain a challenge.

[atgatt]

Tim, you look great on the bag!

So happy to hear about a good shoulder recovery.

I've been so tempted to get Alan's DVD but I'm afraid. Long story short, I hit the speed bag a LOT until a motorcycle accident 18 years ago that had the worst part being my right shoulder. It was a long, painful trip to get it decent. The thought of getting a bag again had my interest but I feared I pull my shoulder, so I stuck with weights for 18 years.

My daughter bought a bag setup for me as a gift since I talked about it at a store once with my wife. So I was forced to at least try it. As it turned out, I'm addicted to it again. The shoulder can do a lot but it is the first to make me stop hitting.

Seems like the shoulder does not like side hitting but that's when I was practicing hard hooks. So the question is, did you notice any moves that were harder on your shoulder than others?

Plus, I try to keep things fighting oriented and I'm basically happy with that. Not bored at all with it. Besides looking fancy (please take that in a good way, not show off way), what do you see in practicing Alan's moves vs just the basic hits? The challenge, a better workout, etc.

[Speedbag]

....Seems like the shoulder does not like side hitting but that's when I was practicing hard hooks. So the question is, did you notice any moves that were harder on your shoulder than others?

I have to agree with you, the shoulder doesn't like side hitting. My own recovery from surgery finds the side punches the most challenging, particular hard, fast Side Single Punching (SSP) combinations. Having demonstrated that move to my orthopedic specialists in person and on video, The state it causes a wounded joint, Particular mine (with deep joint cartilage problems), because the elbow is up with the arm almost fully extended, putting most of the arm weight and leverage force of the arm weight and movement directly into the glenoid surface and cartilage lining of the shoulder socket. As I change directions quickly, particularly passing through the bag with SSP, there is a point in the movement that really stresses the deep shoulder. Of course, a healthy shoulder with full cartilage covering or no internal tears, won't feel that. I don't feel it much now either IF I keep my elbow down, which is hard to do at the speeds I want to go and is problematic for many of the linking combo's I like to do.

Other problematic moves for the shoulders are often the elbow strikes, which have the most shoulder movement, - particularly the downward strikes. virtually all fist punches have the shoulder as a secondary movement structure, meaning the deltoids and shoulder ligaments etc. mostly stabilize the arm and shoulder joint, as the primary movers, the biceps and triceps, move the fists back and forth. The Elbow Strikes shift that primary movement function to the shoulder, forcing it to move in a greater range, and perhaps a painful result. This is not felt by a healthy shoulder, but an older or wounded one might not like these movements.

.... Besides looking fancy (please take that in a good way, not show off way), what do you see in practicing Alan's moves vs just the basic hits? The challenge, a better workout, etc.

Yes, and more combination possibilities and well as rhythmic variety. I guess the skills and combinations are more challenging, particularly if you are still learning them and like adding the variety to your movements. Think of the bag for a moment as your car, or vehicle. You can drive it very nicely to work and back, or you can take it on a challenging mountain drive with great turns and the opportunity to "air it out", doing things you wouldn't do or couldn't on your drive to work and back. But it's the same vehicle, only driven in a different way. Personally I like my truck for both, but all things considered, my choice is that really cool mountain drive.

But there is nothing wrong with avoiding that road and sticking to the more basic vehicle driving. Either way can get you where you want it go.

[atgatt]

Alan,

I would swear you're a doctor too if I didn't know better. Great answer and details.

After reading it, I think I'll stick with the ol' boxer workouts on the bag. Do "sprints" with the typical front hand side hand 3 count, and then go to left- right; left-right-left combos ducking the bag with the head in between them stuff; and then go back to sprints between it all.

Still, I watch in awe seeing the videos of you, Skunk and Tim. That is purely a wonderful skill and art form, not to mention fun.

God bless you all for your wonderful support and promotion of this sport.

So glad you have this forum with all its great people.

[Tim]

Tim, you look great on the bag!

Thanks!

Seems like the shoulder does not like side hitting but that's when I was practicing hard hooks. So the question is, did you notice any moves that were harder on your shoulder than others?

I'm not a fan of downward elbows, they don't feel right. Beyond that my biggest problems has always been using big (10x7) and comparatively heavy bags (typical 10x7 bag is 8 oz, compare to an 8x5 can be as little as 5-6 oz) and trying to keep them going too fast. Everytime I've hurt either shoulder I was hitting a big bag and trying to keep it going a million miles an hour. My left shoulder had the bone spur but I've hurt my right a few times in this way... normally I lay off for a week or two and all is well again.

My advice would be to stick with smaller bags (9x6 or smaller) and slowly work your way up in duration and speed. I also believe in "quitting while you are ahead". As soon as my hits get sloppy or I feel I'm past the peak of performance, I hang it up for the day. Most of the times I hurt my shoulders, I was about 10 minutes past where I should have quit for the day...

I also do lots of rotator cuff work for preventative maintenance. I use leg weights (which you can increment at 8 oz a time) by holding them in my and hand and worked up from 1/2lb to 5.5 lb over the past 2 months. Most doctors will tell you to use dumbbells, but the secret to all weight training is micro-loads (i.e. little increases in weight) and progressive training.

Besides looking fancy (please take that in a good way, not show off way), what do you see in practicing Alan's moves vs just the basic hits? The challenge, a better workout, etc.

We get this question all time time I really like speed bag for speed bag's sake. I find it fun and rewarding and it's the challenge of learning new moves and perfecting them. It takes discipline and coordination and there's no shortcuts. I also like the fact that's it's a niche sport. If you learn just a few moves you're way ahead of the general population. Done right it also offers a moderate cardio workout (Try hitting to any moderate paced music, I guarantee you'll be breathing heavy). I'm not a boxer or martial artist and never intend to get in the ring. But I can't walk past a hanging speed bag without hitting it.

I usually recommend that people ask themselves: what are their goals? What are they trying to achieve? My goal is to be good at the speed bag ... yours may be general fitness or maybe to improve your boxing. I certainly don't think it's necessary to master the 4 way elbow strike and other advanced techniques if you're goal is improved boxing!

[speedbag4life]

Besides looking fancy (please take that in a good way, not show off way), what do you see in practicing Alan's moves vs just the basic hits? The challenge, a better workout, etc.

To everything that Alan and Tim said, add the physical thrill of creating RHYTHM, with endless possibilities. It's an addictive high, somewhere between playing jazz drums, being a Blue Man, and pounding out tribal-sounding beats on a bongo. It's quite a rush, atgatt, for those that love it.