Written by Conlon Boxing

Punch Bags
Punching bags are often filled with grains, sand, rags, or other material and are usually hung from the ceiling or affixed to a stand. Other bags have an internal bladder to allow them to be filled with air or water. The design of a punching bag allows it to take repeated and constant physical abuse without breaking. The bag must also absorb the impact of blows, without causing harm to the user.

There are different types of punching bags, with different names based on their size, use and mounting method. Almost all punching bags are covered with leather or synthetic materials such as vinyl which resist abrasion and mildew.

Pads
A focus Pad or Mitt is a padded target attached to a glove and usually used in training boxers and other combat athletes. The person holding the focus Pad will typically call out combinations and feed the puncher good counter-force while maneuvering and working specific skills. Focus Pad are often used as an augment to sparring, with more explicit focus on the puncher than the feeder, especially to develop good punch combinations and defensive maneuvers such as slipping, bobbing and weaving. When wearing focus pads it is important not merely to hold them but to actively feed them into the punches, to balance their force and prevent injury to both parties.