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I'm thrilled to resume a relationship with Alan that began in 1973 at Memphis State University. As I recall there were four of us who were already fairly accomplished at hitting the speed bag in the tradiional and quite pedestrian manner: Alan, Bob & Al Levine and myself. Doc Shroeder introduced us to a whole new way of bagging, emphasizing hitting from all sides and trying to create new sounds. We would encounter each other several times a week in the weight room where two platforms were mounted. Independently we would follow Doc's suggestion and try to invent new sounds by hitting the bag in all kinds of weird ways and then share the results with each other.
After Memphis I went on to other things but remained fit, intermittently bagging through the years. Alan, on he other hand has taken this beyond anything we ever imagined. In '73, it seemed that speed bagging was a dying skill. Now, thanks to Alan, it is a world-wide movement.
A few observations from a guy getting seriously interested in bagging for the first time in 35 years:
- the Everlast 4200 kangaroo bag from 1973 is still in fine shape. Over the years I would occasionally put leather dressing on it that, but that's all
- the Everlast XS "6x4" I just recieved is: - actually 8x5, easier on my aging shoulders, not misshapen, and the leather seems fine although I did put some dressing on before using.
- Swivels- my old Everlast ball and hook seems to be more annoyingly noisy when using the smaller bag. The ball is just a little large for the plastic swivel. The Watkins ball fits fine, but the hook is too long. The hook from the Everlast is a too wide to insert in the Watkins ball, and the one from the plastic model is too thin- the set screw in the Watkins ball does not go in far enough to hold it in. So, for now I have the Watkins ball in the plastic base with the too long hook. Customer "service" at Boxing Gear is almost comically offensive and rude. But I'm assured that shorter hooks are on the way (probably while the curmudgeon on the other end of the phone was giving me the finger.
- Getting old kind of sucks, but once you learn fancy bagging it comes back-- although it'll take more than 2 weeks to get anywhere close to being sharp and precise. Trying to master Alan's punch druming is going to take a lot longer.
Jim Caher
After Memphis I went on to other things but remained fit, intermittently bagging through the years. Alan, on he other hand has taken this beyond anything we ever imagined. In '73, it seemed that speed bagging was a dying skill. Now, thanks to Alan, it is a world-wide movement.
A few observations from a guy getting seriously interested in bagging for the first time in 35 years:
- the Everlast 4200 kangaroo bag from 1973 is still in fine shape. Over the years I would occasionally put leather dressing on it that, but that's all
- the Everlast XS "6x4" I just recieved is: - actually 8x5, easier on my aging shoulders, not misshapen, and the leather seems fine although I did put some dressing on before using.
- Swivels- my old Everlast ball and hook seems to be more annoyingly noisy when using the smaller bag. The ball is just a little large for the plastic swivel. The Watkins ball fits fine, but the hook is too long. The hook from the Everlast is a too wide to insert in the Watkins ball, and the one from the plastic model is too thin- the set screw in the Watkins ball does not go in far enough to hold it in. So, for now I have the Watkins ball in the plastic base with the too long hook. Customer "service" at Boxing Gear is almost comically offensive and rude. But I'm assured that shorter hooks are on the way (probably while the curmudgeon on the other end of the phone was giving me the finger.
- Getting old kind of sucks, but once you learn fancy bagging it comes back-- although it'll take more than 2 weeks to get anywhere close to being sharp and precise. Trying to master Alan's punch druming is going to take a lot longer.
Jim Caher
Well, that was like coming in with a big bang! Great to hear that your one of the original baggers inspired by Doc Shroeder. Cool story and welcome back to the speed bag world.
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