punch bags ???

donna_glasgow
donna_glasgow Posts: 869 Member
edited January 24 in Fitness and Exercise
My oldest boy (16) is a computer head, exercise is little to nothing, I would point out thou that he is in shape and lucky to have a good build and slim so as his abs are on show .... I have been trying to get him into some form of exercise or another for quite a while now as his naturally fit build won't last forever if he sits in front of a computer 24/7 ...

He recently expressed an interest in punch bags, now the issue is our house is small, so a full punch bag is out of the question. Does anyone know of a good door mounted punch/boxing or speed bag that I could buy for him that would give him the chance to exercise from home?

Going to a gym is out of the question at this stage as he suffers from aspergers (a mild form of autism) .. Thanks in advance for any help :)

Replies

  • stephx4
    stephx4 Posts: 810 Member
    How about a speed ball?!?
  • billsica
    billsica Posts: 4,741 Member
    I think you should find the right gym with the right trainer personally. someone who can handle aspergers. I'm sure he could deal fine in that setting. . or would like to think so.

    That being said, do you have a tree?

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    *edit. what about the martial arts? I of course don't know his condition at all, but martial arts are very very into ceremony and repeat procedure. They would also have punch bags and other things like that.
  • JenMc14
    JenMc14 Posts: 2,389 Member
    Does he have any boxing/fighting experience? I know next to nothing about it, my husband was a boxer. We have a heavy bag and a speed bag, and he's spent time with our oldest daughter going over how to hit., so I know form and proper punching technique is important, and if he doesn't properly learn that, he could possibly injure his hand(s).

    I'm not sure where ours is from, but it's freestanding and takes up room, but not a ton. Would he be able to take at least a few private lessons?
  • Drunken_WarHero
    Drunken_WarHero Posts: 306 Member
    Reflex bags are small and ideal for beginners, and cheap too.
    I put a couple pix in my profile - check them out.
  • donna_glasgow
    donna_glasgow Posts: 869 Member
    How about a speed ball?!?

    Yeah thought about a speed ball but can't find any that look secure in the doorway, do you know of any?

    I think you should find the right gym with the right trainer personally. someone who can handle aspergers. I'm sure he could deal fine in that setting. . or would like to think so.

    That being said, do you have a tree?

    *edit. what about the martial arts? I of course don't know his condition at all, but martial arts are very very into ceremony and repeat procedure. They would also have punch bags and other things like that.

    No we don't have a tree, and the reason I said no gym is because due to my sons condition he has real difficulty communicating with people and social situations would put him off ... doing this from home would (hopefully) give him the confidence to start a class of some sort in the future, even going out of the door is a major trauma for him :( ... baby steps :)
  • LishieFruit89
    LishieFruit89 Posts: 1,956 Member
    I wouldn't do a door mount, I can just picture it falling off and hitting him.

    There are wave masters that are like a heavy bag in shape. But instead of hanging, it's got a base. So when it's not in use, he can move it to a corner.

    I don't know the price of them though.

    Make sure he watches correct form videos because it's so easy to tear up your knuckles - even doing it right it happens. And wrist injuries as well.

    I take krav maga so we've used pads and wave masters. Plus at my gym I have access to a heavy bag. Tore up my knuckles on the heavy bag actually lol
  • donna_glasgow
    donna_glasgow Posts: 869 Member
    Does he have any boxing/fighting experience? I know next to nothing about it, my husband was a boxer. We have a heavy bag and a speed bag, and he's spent time with our oldest daughter going over how to hit., so I know form and proper punching technique is important, and if he doesn't properly learn that, he could possibly injure his hand(s).

    I'm not sure where ours is from, but it's freestanding and takes up room, but not a ton. Would he be able to take at least a few private lessons?


    He has done a few classes with his school, I think this is where the interest has started from :) I've saw the free standing they looked huge, Im looking to put this in his bedroom (which is a converted loft space) so not much space.
    Reflex bags are small and ideal for beginners, and cheap too.
    I put a couple pix in my profile - check them out.

    I'll have a look for reflex bags by the looks of the pics they are free standing?
  • contingencyplan
    contingencyplan Posts: 3,639 Member
    There are standup punching bags. They aren't as good but they get the job done. They aren't heavy bags either, more like speed bags. If your son has aspergers have him look into suspension training and kettlebell training. Many of the exercises you do with those implements stimulate the same neurological sensory drive he has that pushes him to stim. This is an area where I can help you out a lot with, so feel free to add me if you like.

    Also, because your son struggles with coordination and balance, an activity such as using the reflex bag mentioned below me, or jump rope, will help out a lot.
  • Drunken_WarHero
    Drunken_WarHero Posts: 306 Member
    Again, reflex bag.
    Smaller than a HB.
    Lighter than a HB.
    Cheaper than a HB.
    Easier on hands than a HB.
    Easy to secure, too; the base is hollow and filled with either water or sand.
    Ideal for beginners because it trains movement and motion rather than just encouraging the fighter to stand in place and pound a bag.
    Starting with a HB is asking for wrist injuries.

    Wraps would be a great investment, too!
  • donna_glasgow
    donna_glasgow Posts: 869 Member
    I wouldn't do a door mount, I can just picture it falling off and hitting him.

    There are wave masters that are like a heavy bag in shape. But instead of hanging, it's got a base. So when it's not in use, he can move it to a corner.

    I don't know the price of them though.

    Make sure he watches correct form videos because it's so easy to tear up your knuckles - even doing it right it happens. And wrist injuries as well.

    I take krav maga so we've used pads and wave masters. Plus at my gym I have access to a heavy bag. Tore up my knuckles on the heavy bag actually lol

    Yeah I thought about the fall off disaster but I'd be prepared to have a permanent fixture in the door way we have a chin up bar to be fixed already :) One that can obviously be removed when not in use but screwed in when being used :)
    There are standup punching bags. They aren't as good but they get the job done. They aren't heavy bags either, more like speed bags. If your son has aspergers have him look into suspension training and kettlebell training. Many of the exercises you do with those implements stimulate the same neurological sensory drive he has that pushes him to stim. This is an area where I can help you out a lot with, so feel free to add me if you like.

    Thanks Ill add you as a friend :)

    Again, reflex bag.
    Smaller than a HB.
    Lighter than a HB.
    Cheaper than a HB.
    Easier on hands than a HB.
    Easy to secure, too; the base is hollow and filled with either water or sand.
    Ideal for beginners because it trains movement and motion rather than just encouraging the fighter to stand in place and pound a bag.
    Starting with a HB is asking for wrist injuries.

    Wraps would be a great investment, too!

    Thanks Ill look into dimensions for this hopefully Ill be able to fit this in his room
  • LishieFruit89
    LishieFruit89 Posts: 1,956 Member
    snip

    Yeah I thought about the fall off disaster but I'd be prepared to have a permanent fixture in the door way we have a chin up bar to be fixed already :) One that can obviously be removed when not in use but screwed in when being used :)
    snip

    Thanks Ill add you as a friend :)

    snip

    Thanks Ill look into dimensions for this hopefully Ill be able to fit this in his room

    If you're taking it up and down, it's not going to stay safe for long.
    If you're going to screw it into the wall/ceiling/door, leave it there.

    You'll cause stress to the wood when you keep attaching/detaching it and it'll eventually give way.
  • donna_glasgow
    donna_glasgow Posts: 869 Member

    If you're taking it up and down, it's not going to stay safe for long.
    If you're going to screw it into the wall/ceiling/door, leave it there.

    You'll cause stress to the wood when you keep attaching/detaching it and it'll eventually give way.

    I was thinking more along the lines of having the fixtures permanent but removing the actual punch ball, same as the chin up bar we have.... the fixtures are permanent but the bar can be stored for later use
  • LishieFruit89
    LishieFruit89 Posts: 1,956 Member

    If you're taking it up and down, it's not going to stay safe for long.
    If you're going to screw it into the wall/ceiling/door, leave it there.

    You'll cause stress to the wood when you keep attaching/detaching it and it'll eventually give way.

    I was thinking more along the lines of having the fixtures permanent but removing the actual punch ball, same as the chin up bar we have.... the fixtures are permanent but the bar can be stored for later use

    Makes more sense.
    Idk if it can be done though, I've never looked at those bags. So I hope someone else can tell you if it's possible
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