Random clueless heavy-bag users...

[TBU720]

Every few weeks, I see a different guy decide to randomly put on some gloves and start to wail away at the heavy bag at the gym. Usually the attempt is a pretty pathetic one, and often involves some horrendous punching technique.

What I am wondering is...
a. Any of you fit that description?
b. How would you feel if someone offered you unsolicited advice for punching technique?

I have been training in martial arts since I was 8 years old, and am highly trained in many different styles from around the world, including boxing. I tend to shy away from giving people form critiques in the gym (because really, I don't think a lot of "bad form" has too much need to be corrected) but I am thinking that people who randomly decide to give the heavy bag a shot might enjoy learning a thing or two from a person with advanced training and competition experience.

FYI my intention is not to be an ******* who shows off how much he knows. I like teaching people new things, helping people, making new friends, and being friends with people who enjoy hitting things. Thoughts?

[darscogre]

Every few weeks, I see a different guy decide to randomly put on some gloves and start to wail away at the heavy bag at the gym. Usually the attempt is a pretty pathetic one, and often involves some horrendous punching technique.

What I am wondering is...
a. Any of you fit that description?
b. How would you feel if someone offered you unsolicited advice for punching technique?

I have been training in martial arts since I was 8 years old, and am highly trained in many different styles from around the world, including boxing. I tend to shy away from giving people form critiques in the gym (because really, I don't think a lot of "bad form" has too much need to be corrected) but I am thinking that people who randomly decide to give the heavy bag a shot might enjoy learning a thing or two from a person with advanced training and competition experience.

FYI my intention is not to be an ******* who shows off how much he knows. I like teaching people new things, helping people, making new friends, and being friends with people who enjoy hitting things. Thoughts?

I think it depends, case by case and also like you said, making sure not to come off like an a-hole. I know me personally i like to hit the heavy bag for cardio to mix it up from boring treadmill and I know that my form is certainly not that of a pro fighter by any means, but im not there to be a pro fighter im there to burn calories and enjoy my cardio. So i probably wouldnt want your advice. So like i said it can go both ways. Some may appreciate it.

[Brozef]

Every few weeks, I see a different guy decide to randomly put on some gloves and start to wail away at the heavy bag at the gym. Usually the attempt is a pretty pathetic one, and often involves some horrendous punching technique.

What I am wondering is...
a. Any of you fit that description?
b. How would you feel if someone offered you unsolicited advice for punching technique?

I have been training in martial arts since I was 8 years old, and am highly trained in many different styles from around the world, including boxing. I tend to shy away from giving people form critiques in the gym (because really, I don't think a lot of "bad form" has too much need to be corrected) but I am thinking that people who randomly decide to give the heavy bag a shot might enjoy learning a thing or two from a person with advanced training and competition experience.

FYI my intention is not to be an ******* who shows off how much he knows. I like teaching people new things, helping people, making new friends, and being friends with people who enjoy hitting things. Thoughts?

No. My advice is not to give advice to strangers unless you're asked directly.

Maybe show off your skill, and let him ask you for pointers.

[chazzy1864]

I'd say it would be a crap shoot. Personally, I probably wouldn't mind being offered unsolicited advice, in that regard. I don't know much about boxing and I am generally a curious person and like to learn. But there are others who might think they know enough and/or are just closed off to advice or they just absolutely have no care about the technique aspect (as above).

You'd probably be flipping a coin on how you're received.

[IDrinkBloodLOL]

Why the hell would you help strangers get more dangerous? Wasn't the whole point of learning martial arts to defend yourself against strangers and enemies? If so, why arm them?

[TBU720]

Why the hell would you help strangers get more dangerous? Wasn't the whole point of learning martial arts to defend yourself against strangers and enemies? If so, why arm them?

Not for me. I personally study martial arts for the sheer enjoyment of sparring/fighting. Self defense is a bonus but over my nearly 20 year career I've only ever had to defend myself twice from a physical altercation.


Thanks for the opinions guys. The "regular" gym is so confusing to me. If you go to a rock climbing gym, everyone is open to talking about climbing technique and advice. If you go to MMA/boxing gym, same thing. If you go to regular gym....nobody talks :-\ strange world.

[chazzy1864]

Not for me. I personally study martial arts for the sheer enjoyment of sparring/fighting. Self defense is a bonus but over my nearly 20 year career I've only ever had to defend myself twice from a physical altercation.

Don't mind him, he views the world as if it is the dark ages, where everyone is in competition with the next guy for the next scrap of food to eat.

Thanks for the opinions guys. The "regular" gym is so confusing to me. If you go to a rock climbing gym, everyone is open to talking about climbing technique and advice. If you go to MMA/boxing gym, same thing. If you go to regular gym....nobody talks :-\ strange world.

It is its own beast. I'm a non-talker. I put my headphones in and just want to do my lift. I don't go to the gym to socialize. I want to go in, do my 45-90 minutes of exercise and leave. It is different for other people who enjoy spending 3-4 hours at the gym, taking their time going through a workout and catching up with friends, etc. I gravitate towards the guys who keep to themselves and just lift. We'll nod a hello or briefly have a chat during rest periods but then say, "Alright, gotta get back to this, have a good one!"

Different strokes for different folks I guess.

[Jasonk282]

Not for me. I personally study martial arts for the sheer enjoyment of sparring/fighting. Self defense is a bonus but over my nearly 20 year career I've only ever had to defend myself twice from a physical altercation.


Thanks for the opinions guys. The "regular" gym is so confusing to me. If you go to a rock climbing gym, everyone is open to talking about climbing technique and advice. If you go to MMA/boxing gym, same thing. If you go to regular gym....nobody talks :-\ strange world.

Those gyms are highly specialized. That's the difference.

While taking MCMAP courses and achieving my green belt we'd talk and educated each other all day every day. Back in the fleet or with your unit afterwards it's the same everyone outside daily pt does their own thing for training, if any.

[mferrandi]

OP saw a real powerful dude literally punching the punching bag away with brutal power and got scared chitless

[IDrinkBloodLOL]

Don't mind him, he views the world as if it is the dark ages, where everyone is in competition with the next guy for the next scrap of food to eat.

The fact that I believe that plus the fact that I am correct are ironically why I am absolutely ecstatic that almost nobody else thinks so.

[taxgeek]

a. Any of you fit that description?
b. How would you feel if someone offered you unsolicited advice for punching technique?

a. yes.
b. I would be ok with it. It's not the same as weight training where you can make a reasonable judgment of someone's knowledge based of first impression/looks. I realize I know nothing about punching techniques and I would listen to someone who approached me. Whereas with lifting, unsolicited advice is usually coming from someone who doesn't have an awesome enough body to command respect of their words (even if they're 100% correct) or doesn't have enough knowledge of the other person's program or goals. With punching, if I'm doing it wrong, it doesn't matter if I'm bulking/cutting/doing cardio/whatever.

[chazzy1864]

The fact that I believe that plus the fact that I am correct are ironically why I am absolutely ecstatic that almost nobody else thinks so.

I'll turn to you for guidance when the apocalypse happens. Until then....

[grouchyjarhead]

I never offer advice to people I don't know unless asked. They're not hurting anyone.

[oldballs]

OP,

I have been skiing since I was 5, riding dirt bike since 13, a dad when 22 and home owner since 24. Ask me anything.

[hanger1989]

Most people just hit the bag as a cardio exercise and to show off, they aren't trying to be a pro fighter, so I don't really think you need to be advising people how to punch. If it was a boxing gym, and someone was punching with bad form, then yeah by all means offer him advise, but down a regular gym I don't think it needs to be offered.

Most guys that punch the bag in the gym just look like thugs who think there badass for punching a bag in the gym, so I'd just leave them and there ego to it.

Punching and fighting is quite an egotistical thing anyway for most blokes, so if you go over and insult there punching form, I doubt they'll be able to take any constructive criticism on the chin.

[Jasonk282]

Don't mind him, he views the world as if it is the dark ages, where everyone is in competition with the next guy for the next scrap of food to eat..

Aside from being actual literal, that's pretty much how our society has acted for thousands of years. They no longer literally compete for food, BUT look in your work place. People will toss you under the bus in a heart beat it it meant a pat on teh back or promotion for them.

That's the one thing that I like about the closeness with tight military units, we're not gonna talk chit or stab or buddies in teh back since they have to watch our 6 in a fire fight. If we got issues with one another it's hashed out real fast, then will buy each other a beer...the same is true with working up on the iron erecting buildings. Dangerous/life threating jobs demand 100% trust in the man to your left and right...sadly that trait is lost to the rest of society and they'll do you like Julius Caeser for a extra $0.25 on their paycheck.

[Epilerik]

I just like to hit it occasionally one good time as I walk by it, but I never seriously use one.

[THElabCHIMP]

Yeh man, I mean, most people who use the bags in run of the mill gyms aren't training for combat, otherwise they'd be at a specialist gym. Some may be. But most of them are doing it for the cardio, or to impress the ladies over on the treadmill.

if I was whaling away at a bag, and somebody offered me some technique advice, which would improve my safety and the efficiency/ output of my training, yes I'd defiantly appreciate it.

If it was some neckbeard getting butthurt because I was hitting harder than him, then no.

If it was somebody who just wanted to show me how much harder they can hit than I can, no. I'd head butt him square in the nose. This is street rules bitch. We don't wait for no bell.

[BrandG]

Unless they're doing it so wrong that they're going to break their wrist or knuckle or whatever, I wouldn't say anything. If it's obvious that they're gonna snap something up, THEN give some tips

[DCSpartan]

Go up to him, tell him striking is overrated, take him down with a double leg take down and get him to tap when you arm bar him from the mount.

Or, unless he is obviously hurting himself or damaging equipment, to each their own.