7 Items Necessary For Your Home Boxing Gym

One​ ​of​ ​the​ ​great​ ​things​ ​about​ ​boxing​ ​is​ ​that​ ​there​ ​are​ ​not​ ​many barriers​ ​to​ ​participation.​ ​If​ ​you’ve​ ​got​ ​a​ ​pair​ ​of​ ​fists​ ​and​ ​some gloves,​ ​you’re​ ​on​ ​your​ ​way.

Of​ ​course,​ ​if​ ​you’re​ ​planning​ ​on​ ​squaring​ ​up​ ​against​ ​competition in​ ​the​ ​ring,​ ​you’ll​ ​need​ ​expert​ ​guidance​ ​at​ ​a​ ​boxing​ ​gym.​ ​In addition,​ ​having​ ​​ ​your​ ​own​ ​home​ ​boxing​ ​garage​ ​gym​ ​will​ ​allow you​ ​train​ ​at​ ​will​ ​in​ ​order​ ​to​ ​perfect​ ​the​ ​skills​ ​you​ ​learn​ ​at​ ​the professional​ ​gym.

In​ ​this​ ​article,​ ​we​ ​describe​ ​the​ ​7​ ​essentials​ ​you​ ​need​ ​to​ ​create​ ​​a kick-ass​ ​boxing​ ​gym​ ​​right​ ​in​ ​your​ ​basement​. 

Essential​ ​#1​:​ ​A​ ​Heavy​ ​Bag

The​ ​heavy​ ​bag​ ​is​ ​the​ ​mainstay​ ​of​ ​the​ ​boxing​ ​gym.​ ​It​ ​is​ ​a​ ​multi purpose​ ​training​ ​tool,​ ​allowing​ ​you​ ​to​ ​work​ ​at​ ​a​ ​range​ ​of​ ​distances and​ ​with​ ​different​ ​punching​ ​styles.​ ​A​ ​heavy​ ​punching​ ​bag​ ​is​ ​also the​ ​ultimate​ ​stress​ ​releaser​ ​at​ ​the​ ​end​ ​of​ ​a​ ​long​ ​day.

There​ ​are​ ​two​ ​mounting​ ​systems​ ​for​ ​heavy​ ​bags.​ ​It​ ​may​ ​use​ ​a wall​ ​mounted​ ​bracket​ ​or​ ​it​ ​may​ ​hang​ ​directly​ ​down​ ​from​ ​a​ ​cross beam​ ​or​ ​from​ ​a​ ​ring​ ​mounted​ ​into​ ​a​ ​ceiling​ ​beam.​ ​It​ ​is​ ​imperative that​ ​the​ ​mounting​ ​system​ ​be​ ​extremely​ ​robust.

You​ ​will​ ​want​ ​a​ ​bag​ ​with​ ​a​ ​strong​ ​leather​ ​hide.​ ​Most​ ​bags​ ​are filled​ ​with​ ​tightly​ ​packed​ ​pieces​ ​of​ ​cloth.​ ​You​ ​want​ ​enough​ ​give​ ​in the​ ​bag​ ​to​ ​provide​ ​some​ ​relief​ ​to​ ​your​ ​hands​ ​when​ ​doing​ ​an extended​ ​session.

Essential​ ​#2:​ ​Skipping​ ​Rope

The​ ​skipping​ ​rope​ ​has​ ​become​ ​recognized​ ​as​ ​the​ ​iconic​ ​piece​ ​of boxing​ ​equipment,​ ​and​ ​for​ ​good​ ​reason.​ ​As​ ​well​ ​as​ ​being​ ​a fantastic​ ​all​ ​body​ ​warm​ ​up,​ ​it​ ​is​ ​one​ ​of​ ​the​ ​best​ ​cardio​ ​exercises you​ ​can​ ​do.​ ​It​ ​also​ ​provides​ ​training​ ​in​ ​synchronizing​ ​the​ ​arms and​ ​legs​ ​and​ ​moving​ ​on​ ​the​ ​balls​ ​of​ ​your​ ​feet.

Skipping​ ​is​ ​a​ ​low​ ​impact​ ​plyometric​ ​activity.​ ​This​ ​makes​ ​it​ ​a​ ​safe alternative​ ​for​ ​those​ ​who​ ​have​ ​suffered​ ​Achilles​ ​tendon​ ​issues from​ ​running​ ​or​ ​knee​ ​complaints​ ​from​ ​cycling.​ ​With​ ​skipping,​ ​you can​ ​get​ ​in​ ​a​ ​killer​ ​workout​ ​with​ ​minimum​ ​stress​ ​on​ ​the​ ​body.

Skipping​ ​is​ ​amazingly​ ​time​ ​efficient.​ ​After​ ​all,​ ​which​ ​would​ ​you rather​ ​do​ ​–​ ​run​ ​8​ ​miles​ ​in​ ​an​ ​hour​ ​or​ ​skip​ ​for​ ​10​ ​minutes?​ ​Skipping will​ ​reap​ ​the​ ​same​ ​benefits,​ ​while​ ​handing​ ​you​ ​back​ ​50​ ​minutes​ ​to spend​ ​on​ ​whatever​ ​you​ ​wish.   Look​ ​for​ ​a​ ​leather​ ​rope​ ​with​ ​wooden​ ​or​ ​steel​ ​handles.​ ​Leather​ ​is hard​ ​wearing​ ​rope​ ​that​ ​provides​ ​the​ ​resistance​ ​to​ ​allow​ ​you​ ​to​ ​get a​ ​challenging​ ​speed​ ​going.​ ​Check​ ​out​ ​this​ ​jump​ ​rope​ ​buying​ ​guide over​ ​at​ ​​GarageGymBuilder​.

Essential​ ​#3:​​ ​​Maize​ ​Bag

A​ ​Maize​ ​Bag​ ​is​ ​a​ ​small​ ​pear​ ​shaped​ ​bag​ ​made​ ​of​ ​leather.​ ​It​ ​is filled​ ​with​ ​maize,​ ​which​ ​provides​ ​a​ ​unique​ ​response​ ​to​ ​every punch.​ ​The​ ​maize​ ​bag​ ​absorbs​ ​your​ ​punches​ ​far​ ​more​ ​effectively than​ ​a​ ​heavy​ ​bag.​ ​It​ ​is​ ​especially​ ​beneficial​ ​for​ ​close​ ​in​ ​fighting. This​ ​bag​ ​is​ ​surprisingly​ ​heavy​ ​and​ ​will​ ​require​ ​a​ ​chain​ ​for​ ​hanging.

Essential​ ​#4:​​ ​​Mirror

There’s​ ​a​ ​reason​ ​that​ ​gyms​ ​are​ ​filled​ ​with​ ​mirrors,​ ​and​ ​it​ ​has nothing​ ​to​ ​do​ ​with​ ​vanity.​ ​They​ ​are​ ​there​ ​to​ ​allow​ ​the​ ​trainer​ ​to check​ ​his​ ​exercise​ ​form.​ ​As​ ​a​ ​boxer,​ ​your​ ​form​ ​is​ ​critical.

You’ve​ ​probably​ ​heard​ ​of​ ​the​ ​saying​ ​that​ ​practice​ ​makes​ ​perfect. Well,​ ​it’s​ ​not​ ​quite​ ​true.​ ​Perfect​ ​practice​ ​makes​ ​perfect.​ ​Imperfect practice​ ​merely​ ​develops​ ​bad​ ​habits​ ​that​ ​can​ ​be​ ​near​ ​impossible to​ ​get​ ​out​ ​of.​ ​To​ ​make​ ​sure​ ​that​ ​you​ ​are​ ​not​ ​practicing​ ​imperfectly, you​ ​need​ ​to​ ​be​ ​looking​ ​into​ ​the​ ​mirror​ ​when​ ​you​ ​train.

Mirrors​ ​are​ ​especially​ ​important​ ​when​ ​you’re​ ​doing​ ​shadow boxing.​ ​In​ ​fact,​ ​the​ ​mirror​ ​will​ ​actually​ ​provide​ ​you​ ​with​ ​your opponent.​ ​You​ ​will​ ​need​ ​a​ ​mirror​ ​that​ ​allows​ ​you​ ​to​ ​see​ ​your whole​ ​body.​ ​Finding​ ​a​ ​good​ ​mirror​ ​for​ ​your​ ​home​ ​gym​ ​is​ ​a​ ​bit difficult​ ​as​ ​there​ ​are​ ​lots​ ​of​ ​options,​ ​I​ ​suggest​ ​checking​ ​out​ ​​this home​ ​gym​ ​mirror​ ​buying​ ​guide​ ​before​ ​making​ ​any​ ​commitments.

Essential​ ​#5:​ ​Focus​ ​Mits

Focus​ ​mits​ ​are​ ​worn​ ​by​ ​a​ ​training​ ​partner​ ​who​ ​takes​ ​control​ ​of​ ​the positioning​ ​of​ ​your​ ​punching​ ​target,​ ​forcing​ ​you​ ​to​ ​react​ ​and respond.​ ​This​ ​makes​ ​focus​ ​mit​ ​training​ ​the​ ​closest​ ​thing​ ​you​ ​can get​ ​to​ ​actual​ ​sparring.​ ​Some​ ​pads​ ​on​ ​the​ ​market​ ​provide​ ​​ ​pad length​ ​that​ ​extends​ ​down​ ​to​ ​provide​ ​protection​ ​to​ ​the​ ​wrists.

Essential​ ​#6:​ ​A​ ​Timing​ ​Device

The​ ​best​ ​type​ ​of​ ​boxing​ ​training​ ​simulates​ ​the​ ​in-the-ring experience.​ ​Rather​ ​than​ ​just​ ​pounding​ ​away​ ​at​ ​the​ ​heavy​ ​bag until​ ​you​ ​get​ ​bored,​ ​you​ ​should​ ​follow​ ​a​ ​set​ ​structure.​ ​Logically, this​ ​should​ ​follow​ ​a​ ​3-minutes​ ​on​ ​/​ ​one​ ​minute-off​ ​pattern.​ ​Not only​ ​will​ ​this​ ​prepare​ ​you​ ​for​ ​your​ ​next​ ​fight,​ ​it​ ​will​ ​also​ ​provide​ ​you with​ ​a​ ​fantastic​ ​cardio​ ​workout.

You​ ​will​ ​want​ ​a​ ​timer​ ​that​ ​is​ ​easily​ ​visible​ ​from​ ​your​ ​training location.​ ​An​ ​analogue​ ​clock​ ​with​ ​a​ ​second​ ​hand​ ​will​ ​do​ ​the​ ​job nicely.​ ​Of​ ​course,​ ​​if​ ​you​ ​want​ ​to​ ​get​ ​fancy​​ ​you​ ​can​ ​purchase​ ​a more​ ​authentic​ ​gym​ ​timer.

Essential​ ​#7:​ ​Exercise​ ​Mat

You​ ​will​ ​want​ ​to​ ​be​ ​spending​ ​quite​ ​a​ ​lot​ ​of​ ​time​ ​on​ ​the​ ​floor​ ​of​ ​your home​ ​boxing​ ​gym​ ​training​ ​your​ ​core.​ ​This​ ​will​ ​require​ ​a​ ​well padded​ ​exercise​ ​mat.​ ​You’ll​ ​want​ ​a​ ​general​ ​purpose​ ​exercise​ ​mat that​ ​you​ ​can​ ​roll​ ​up​ ​when​ ​not​ ​in​ ​use.​ ​It​ ​should​ ​also​ ​be​ ​easily washable