When did you start speed bagging, and why?

[biguglybear]

Hey everybody out there. I thought it would be interesting to find out from you all when you started speed bagging, and why? I always thought speed bagging was a cool looking, and fun excercise, but only now have gotten the opportunity to do it. I'm finding there is a ton of work, and dedication required to master the bag. Like anything it life, though, the more challenging the endeavor, the more rewarding the success. Thanks!

[paranday]

I first got a pair of Everlast bags back in the 90s. Always wanted a speed bag. They always looked cool. Built a homemade platform for my bags that attached to the floor joists in the basement. Quickly found I could only bag when nobody was home -- it really made a horrible racket up above. Learned to hit a basic rhythm but the bags fell into dis-use due to the above constraints.

Fast forward:

Somehow last year I found the speed bag bible through interlibrary loan, paged through the book and figured -- I gotta do that! Got a decent platform, bought the book and videos, and got righteously addicted. It's one of those addictions in life that is good for you. Plus where else are you going to meet the likes of the people who hang out at this forum?

As the philosopher SSP has said, "If you're baggin', you ain't laggin'!!!!"

[Biff]

Hey everybody out there. I thought it would be interesting to find out from you all when you started speed bagging, and why? I always thought speed bagging was a cool looking, and fun excercise, but only now have gotten the opportunity to do it. I'm finding there is a ton of work, and dedication required to master the bag. Like anything it life, though, the more challenging the endeavor, the more rewarding the success. Thanks!

BUB, I started just over 2 years ago. I bought my setup with the intention of using it for the typical 1-2-3 speed bag workout to supplement my fitness routine. After a few weeks of punching, it was becoming monotonous so I searched for info on speed bag workouts, I found Alan's site - speedbagcentral.com, and then this site.

I was amazed at what people were doing with the speed bag, and after practicing for weeks, I bought Alan's SBB and DVDs. Like so many others on the forum, I was addicted.

And you're right, it does take time and dedication to master the art. I'm still on the journey, and enjoying it.

I see you're from VA. Not too far from NJ. Have you considered attending Speed BAG 2010?

[metaldad]

In 1986 I was in the Illionois National Guard stationed at Ft Sam Houston Tx. for Army Medic Training School. There was a speed bag in the gym and I started learning the basics. After training was over I returned home and got away from it altogether. Years later (2003) I finally got myself a freestanding platform and got into it again. Four years later I stumbled across Alan Kahn and the SBB and joined the forum. I've always wanted to improve my hand eye and endurance. I've had Martial Arts lessons from differenrt sources and wanted to supplement what I was learning. What I have gained is new and hopefully lasting friendships through this forum!

[fingers]

I have used the heavy bag on and of for many years..even went to a boxing gym in my twenties for a while did the usual brawling in the army (cant call it boxing) and have lifted weights for 30 years but i only got into the speedbag about 2 years ago to supplement my weight training!! but i got hooked and boughtTHE bible and found this and Alan's sites and have not looked back, i have met many people i would consider friends on this forum and i hope to meet one day.....my next step is to try the ball-hook swivel.

[ukspeedbag]

Just over 2 year for me too. I bought a cheap set-up and bag, biggest mistake was the bag cheap Ebay rubbish. I searched YouTube and found the Skunk and AK. After a chat with the Skunk, I purchased my first real speed bag, the Title Classic. That was it, I was addicted! then I found the forum and Speedbagcentral.com. I'm still learning and I've still got alot to learn. There's no doubt that speed bagging is the best hobby I've had, the forum has had a massive input to my addiction, great people who one day I would like to meet in the flesh.

[sparrky37]

Great topic!

I actually was hangin with one of my good friends from high school 13 years ago now at his house. He had bought the black starter set from everlast and off we went. I couldn't throw a punch to save my life. within a year we were upgraded to a better bag, along with HB, Double end, Jump Rope, Head Gear and Gloves. We would watch vintage ALI stuff and imulate him and Frazier, Foreman. Old School stuff. Then we would beat the crap out of each other. For about 3 years that went on.

Then got away from it on and off since 2000. Only to walk up to a bag hit for a few minutes to see if I still had it, and walk away for a while.

This Dec/Jan I had an idea to hit to music and was tryn pretty hard on my own,and decided to search around online. Needless to sday it didn't take long to find Alan and the forum and here I am. Haven't stopped since. Hopefully I will be as good as some of the punchdrummers on the forum.

Thanks again for the topic

[Mrs Mitts]

I started doing a boxercise class a couple of years ago for fitness and soon fell in love with many aspects of boxing training – padwork, skipping, punchbag, circuits. There are a few speedball platforms at the gym but never saw anyone really using them. While browsing Youtube for heavy bag workout ideas, I came across ‘how to speed bag’ videos and of course Speedbag Skunk. I thought it looked fantastically skilful and very cool and knew I had to give it a try.

Got a cheap platform secondhand last summer and have been trying to learn from youtube clips since then. Just recently discovered Speedbagcentral and this forum which is totally excellent. Now I feel I have more of a plan – like learning how to identify different techniques and how to improve skills. There’s plenty of friendly advice here.

Hey, it’s very interesting to hear people’s different stories!

[atgatt]

In the late 1960s and early 70s going to high school, my friends and I followed heavy-weight boxing and would bet on the winners (I thought I was rich after Frazier beat Ali). So watching them train on TV sparked an interest in the bag. One crazy “friend” of mine needed money for a date and he had an old speedbag setup with the steel ring rather than wood platform. I weighed about 135 lbs and he bet I couldn’t curl 100 lbs 10 times in a row by going slowly up and down. I won the bet, my Dad helped me secure the platform to our basement wall, and I have the fondest memories of hitting to all kinds of rock music. To this day when I hear certain songs that I hit to way back then, I picture myself in that basement.

After a LONG hitting pause from a motorcycle accident, my daughter bought me an Everlast basic platform set about 4 years ago as a gift because I talked about how I loved hitting years ago but was afraid of hurting my rebuilt right shoulder. After that, I was addicted again.

[Tim]

I worked out at Calta's boxing gym in Brandon FL back in 1998. I enjoyed several aspects of the training, but liked the speed bag the most. When I went back to grad school, that cut my boxing career short, I could no longer do the many hours of workout per week. At the time, I only did what I now know to be the Front Circle Punch.

Fast forward to 2003 , I was done with grad school and wanted to get back into a boxing style workout. I bought some stuff from Ringside including a cheapo platform, chain link swivel, and a bag, but most importantly, the speed bag bible.

I learned a few of the moves including straight punch, F-roll, elbows, but then moved to Orlando and into a town house. Couldn't hang the platform. Once I moved back into a house, i put a freestanding platform in the garage and got back into it. About 6 months later, speedbagforum.com was born.

[spinsmashpop]

As the philosopher SSP has said, "If you're baggin', you ain't laggin'!!!!"

Haha! I said that? Wait, am I SSP? Yes, I am. OK then....Cool!
I don't remember!

Anyhow.... rather than rewrite what I've already written over a year ago, I figured I give y'all the links to some similar posts I put up. Click below to see how some other folk came to be hardcore baggers.

I always wanted to. After 8 years of the bag and board mocking me in the corner of the garage, and youtube-ing "speed bag" seeing Alan and Skunk freak me out, I was hooked! But it all started with Rocky, the look of the bag and the sound of it. Total controlled chaos!
BAG ON!

Some more real heavy philosophical words to live by.....
~"If ya ain't under the board, you're probably really .... bored!"~

http://www.speedbagforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1279

http://www.speedbagforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1323

[biguglybear]

I see you're from VA. Not too far from NJ. Have you considered attending Speed BAG 2010?

I was thinking about if, Biff, I have to see what's going on then. But I'd like to go if I can!

[biguglybear]

I finally got myself a freestanding platform and got into it again.

Ahh, those blasted freestanding platforms! I had one, too. To much time and energy stablizing it.

[biguglybear]

Quickly found I could only bag when nobody was home -- it really made a horrible racket up above.

Yeah, I used to worry my neighbor would be bothered by the racket I was creating when hitting the bag. I live in a small cottage so the noise outside is noticeable. Lately I've been getting into so much, that I don't care. Well, he's my landlord too, but I'll cross that river when I come to it!

[biguglybear]

I have used the heavy bag on and of for many years..even went to a boxing gym in my twenties for a while did the usual brawling in the army (cant call it boxing) and have lifted weights for 30 years but i only got into the speedbag about 2 years ago to supplement my weight training!!

Ah, the Army--miss those days!