When the bag hits back
Today I went to the gym again for the second time since I signed up. I’d like to go regularly, say 3 times a week but I haven’t had the time.
Something that slipped my mind hit me today, literally. It feels really good when you are punching and kicking the bag, but when the bag hits back you start to see things as they are and not as you imagine it to be. There is a saying in fighting circles that “the bag don’t hit back.” Meaning no matter how hard you train by yourself, it doesn’t mean anything until you get in the ring. The only way to become a better fighter is to fight. In trying to improve ourselves and prepare to win we often forget that winning requires fighting.
What I’m bad at now is that I don’t like getting hit. Of course no one likes getting hit but to win fights you need to accept that you will get hit. And when you get hit you have to keep your cool and keep trying. Hitting the bag alone doesn’t teach you those skills. This is the school of hard knocks.
February 19th, 2006 at 4:34 am
That was deep bro, and just the type of thing I needed to hear/read. You’ve given me a pick-me-up after a shitty night. Keep it up.
Peace
February 19th, 2006 at 11:28 pm
No doubt, Rich Franklin (of UFC) gave an interview in Men’s Fitness i think last issue explaining ‘the bag don’t hit back’ thing and defending his “pretty” (MF interviewer wordage). Besides, there will always be two sides, being offense and defense. If you only train on the bags and with shadows your defense game will be real weak.
Goodluck man.