Reflexes - Eye Hand Coordination

[Bruce]

I've probably been speed bagging for close to a month a half now (roughly 30 minutes daily) and although I'm nowhere near the level of most of you, I'm surprised what an improvement it's made with my eye-hand coordination in such a small period of time. On that topic, I was wondering if any of you have heard of speed bags being used as a training tool, outside the realm of boxing, in other sports that require good eye-hand coordination? Or even, perhaps, in a rehabilitative capacity?

[RenoRattler]

I know that Alan has some very good insight on the rehabilitative capacity of the Speed Bag.

I know that my hand eye coordination has been sharpened immensely. I have always had decent reflexes, the Speed Bag has helped me out though.

[Jordan]

Check out speedbagcentral.com I'm pretty sure Alan has quite a bit of material on that subject

[HarleyDean]

Reflexes

Bruce,
My wife has MS and her coordination is definitely what it should be, but that being said she is having a ball with the speedbag and she is getting along quite well with it. Believe it or not it is something we do together and having a lot of fun boosting each other on to get better.

[Biff]

Bruce,
My wife has MS and her coordination is definitely what it should be, but that being said she is having a ball with the speedbag and she is getting along quite well with it. Believe it or not it is something we do together and having a lot of fun boosting each other on to get better.

The power of the speed bag at work yet again.

[atgatt]

HarleyDean, best wishes to your lovely wife. I'll keep her in my prayers.

That's great that you hit together and encourage each other. All I get from my wife when I hit the bags is, "That thing sure is loud. I could hear it all the way from outside when I'm out." Just no respect.

[Tim]

Bruce,
My wife has MS and her coordination is definitely what it should be, but that being said she is having a ball with the speedbag and she is getting along quite well with it. Believe it or not it is something we do together and having a lot of fun boosting each other on to get better.

Glad to hear it's helping.

[Bruce]

Bruce,
My wife has MS and her coordination is definitely what it should be, but that being said she is having a ball with the speedbag and she is getting along quite well with it. Believe it or not it is something we do together and having a lot of fun boosting each other on to get better.

That's good stuff... Wonder if I can convince my wife to give it a go... Of course, once she tries it, she may end up like me and not want to stop. Perhaps I should rethink this...

[Bruce]

Check out speedbagcentral.com I'm pretty sure Alan has quite a bit of material on that subject

Thanks for the tip... I had a chance to check it out, and you were right- lots of great information there. Also picked up Alan's 2 hour instructional video, and have been working through the first half. I can't recommend the material enough, it's been invaluable for a speed bag novice like myself.

[Speedbag]

I've probably been speed bagging for close to a month a half now (roughly 30 minutes daily) and although I'm nowhere near the level of most of you, I'm surprised what an improvement it's made with my eye-hand coordination in such a small period of time. On that topic, I was wondering if any of you have heard of speed bags being used as a training tool, outside the realm of boxing, in other sports that require good eye-hand coordination? Or even, perhaps, in a rehabilitative capacity?

Hi Bruce.

I know that the speed bag has been used by several "non-combat" athletes and coaches. Several College Volleyball teams use speed bag training, as well as the para-olympic athletes I've met. That would help develop shoulder and arm stamina, holding hands up, etc. From a pure rehabilitation point of view I think (me and a few others opinion, not proven in reliable research YET) that the (1) continous repetitive motion of punching and (2) the repetitive and rhythmic sound of the bag are very helpful for a number of neurological movement disorders such as MS, parkinsons disease, cerebral palsy and others. That is because these disorders show a positive movement reponse to Rhythmic Auditory Cueing, or Externally presented auditory rhythmic patterns. Although not using a speed bag, there is a host of research that has been done, and being developed, using this system. (links below).

The human brain "entrains" or syncs to repetitive sound, light and movement. We will unconsciously sync to external cues. The concept of Rhythmic entrainment to an external beat pattern is used a lot with children in music therapy. Hyperactive children will "slow down" and perhaps relax a bit to slow beat rhythms or musical exercises. Therapists working with high strung, anxious, figity patients will consciously breath very slowly and use slow hand movements and speech patterns for the person to unconsciously sync to, thereby relaxing. That has been known for years. Many cultures used (and still use) slow repetitive drumming to induce trance. The distance runners pace and movement syncs to the repetitive and even slapping of the feet on the ground, and their repetitive rhythm of breathing. The distance runner can hear this and enter a "zone" of sorts.

There is no secret, at least to the bagging community, that the speed bag can create hypnotically repetitive rhythmic sounds, and to keep it going the arms and hands movements must sync to that beat speed. We call it "timing" to keep it going, (because WE are making the sounds repeat). Personally I believe any disorder of movement that causes loss of smooth and coordinated movement of the arms and hands will find the speed bag to be helpful, at least while it is being used, to coordinate movements to keep it going. The unique factor of the externally produced sound (auditory cue) of the bag beat will help create the rhythmic entrainment of the movements. Of course this will happen at very slow speeds but the focus here would be control, some movement exercise and the self worth emotional reponse of succeeding in the activity. On the bag, one could use the triplet rhythm (normally hitting with 3 rebounds inbetween), a 5 beat pattern (5 rebounds, hitting from the same side), Hook punching (4 rebounds inbetween) and Fist Rolling. All can easily produce a constant repeating rhythmic beat. And, of course, it could be a fun, safe and useful activity for the home. Personally I think it would be a perfect addition to the home rehabilitation regime for many disorders, including stroke.

A few Links:

Rhythmic Auditory motor entrainment of hemiparetic arm ... (* ..Rhythmic auditory stimulation (RAS) has emerged as efficacious in improving and normalizing limb movements in neurologically impaired populations.)

Repetitive Bilateral Arm training with rhythmic auditory cuing...

Repetitive Bilateral arm training and motor cortex activation...

Rhythmic Auditory Stimulation in gait training for Parkinsons

Effects of Visual and Auditory cuing on parkinsons

Rhythmic Entrainment Institute

Effects of Rhythmic Auditory Stimulation (RAS) on gait in people with Cerebral Ataxia (* music therapy abstracts)

Exceptional explanation of all of this...
Rhythmic Auditory Stimulation

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation interrupts phase synchronization during rhythmic motor entrainment (* Rhythmic stimuli delivered through the auditory system can facilitate improved motor control following a motor impairment. The synchronization of movement to rhythmic auditory cues is characterized by quick, stable coupling of motor responses to rhythmic auditory cues)

Hope this helps and all my best wishes to your wife.

[Jonny]

I've probably been speed bagging for close to a month a half now (roughly 30 minutes daily) and although I'm nowhere near the level of most of you, I'm surprised what an improvement it's made with my eye-hand coordination in such a small period of time. On that topic, I was wondering if any of you have heard of speed bags being used as a training tool, outside the realm of boxing, in other sports that require good eye-hand coordination? Or even, perhaps, in a rehabilitative capacity?

Besides the rehabilitative benefits discussed above, I find that as a musician my rhythm and playing is sharper after doing some speed bag work. I play music that is rhythmically challenging and often spontaneous - so I also find my reaction time to changes is faster. I read Alan's book years ago, and the counting of beats, the cadence of the rebounds always made me think this was a symbiotic relationship. I grew up with a speed bag as a child, but I think I picked it back up so easily because I've been playing music.

And I'm happy to be part of the forum! Inaugural member post.

[Tim]

And I'm happy to be part of the forum! Inaugural member post.

Welcome!

[spinsmashpop]

Besides the rehabilitative benefits discussed above, I find that as a musician my rhythm and playing is sharper after doing some speed bag work. I play music that is rhythmically challenging and often spontaneous - so I also find my reaction time to changes is faster. I read Alan's book years ago, and the counting of beats, the cadence of the rebounds always made me think this was a symbiotic relationship. I grew up with a speed bag as a child, but I think I picked it back up so easily because I've been playing music.

And I'm happy to be part of the forum! Inaugural member post.

Welcome Jonny! Yes! After starting speed bagging last year for a couple-3 weeks, I got on the drums and felt a little more properly balanced! I've been playing for 30 years so to feel that was pretty remarkable! But if you think about it, how can you not feel more well balanced? As long as you are not favoring one side too much, the bag has to be punched evenly and rebounds have to be thought ahead to move to next punch and/or create combos. This is not unlike the art of learning an instrument.... and it more like drums (or at least the top half of a kit) then one may think. It is like rudiments on a drum pad....all have to be precise and sticked properly and evenly and rebounds have to be in time, etc....
And therein lies the art of punch drumming.....so punch to the beat as if you were clapping your hands, and let the rebounds fill the space... you're punch drumming!
BAG ON!