dedicated to the discussion of the chinese internal martial arts of xingyiquan, baguazhang, taijiquan, related arts, and anything else best discussed over a bottle of rum
What's the one or two exercises that you are doing the most consistently these days, and really enjoying? What are the benefits you feel you are getting from them. (not asking about full routines, just the one or two things that are making the most impact on you at the moment.)
Heavy bag, speed bag, double ended bag, and slip bag to a 3 minute timer. 12 rounds. alternate to different bags.- non parter. partner: focus mitts (punching and elbows) and thai pads (adding kicks and knees), 3 minute rounds.
Heavy bag for me. Main reason is I can cover a fair bit with it; power, combinations, speed and flow (in striking combinations), technique(s), footwork (combined with striking), fitness and endurance levels. I can even throw in some evasive head and body movements and defensive actions - like shadowboxing. Seems to me like a lot of bang for my buck!
I also have a second one on the floor, that I could pick up for weight training or practice ground and pound and some ground (top position) flow work. I can also lean it against the corner of the wall and practice low kicks on it.
Last edited by cloudz on Thu Feb 12, 2015 10:38 am, edited 3 times in total.
Right now I do one of these per week, except the carenza (solo "shadowboxing" with a stick or staff) which I do at least twice a week and the meditation, which I try to do every morning. I do other things as well, but these are my most consistent, most foundational.
Here they are:
1) Boxing - Great aerobic and anaerobic workout; keeps my attributes alive. 2) Stick and staff carenza - Good for mobility; keeps my stick and staff movements real. 3) 500 Kettlebell swings/ 50 50lb Goblet Squats - Great for strength. 4) Paving stone Chin Na - Keeps my grip strong 5) Zen meditation - 10 to 20 minutes per day. Awareness and perspective.
Looking forward to hearing about what others are doing!
The ground and the playground are my equipment. The one arm one leg push up is king.
Last edited by Taste of Death on Thu Feb 12, 2015 5:49 pm, edited 1 time in total.
"It was already late. Night stood murkily over people, and no one else pronounced words; all that could be heard was a dog barking in some alien village---just as in olden times, as if it existed in a constant eternity." Andrey Platonov
Lately after about 1 month of use I blew up the external air bag (it has an inner air tube, a large water bag surrounding it, and another air bag surround the water bag - all of these wrapped by leather). So I filled the gap with even more water, and now the bag is actually heavier and better. I cannot stress how superior this bag is to anything else I have tried. I really feels like a fat man's belly, and the resistance is the same as well (when the pressure is high). It's neither too soft nor too hard on the hands (though beginners will have to use gloves or the protective pillow that comes with it). The water swooshing sounds give one great feedback to the power behind techniques, and also to the precision of different types of jin.
Since I managed to destroy some of its function within a single month (though this actually made it better), I am not sure how long this will last. The external leather at least should hold for many years, as it is identical to that of regular high-quality bags.
Last edited by jonathan.bluestein on Fri Feb 13, 2015 4:37 am, edited 2 times in total.