Boxing Training with Hand Weights

Hand weights are a great way to train for boxing, as they add both resistance and simulate the extra weight of having gloves on. Many professionals use this same method on a regular basis to prepare for upcoming fights. The use of hand weights in boxing training is considered a staple workout in many gyms.

Shadow Boxing

A regular routine in daily training, shadow boxing is a fantastic way to improve coordination and work on combinations and general skills. The addition of weights can help boxers improve speed and stamina. Holding a small weight in each hand, the fighter will go through a series of boxing moves; the added weight provides resistance and causes fatigue much like in a real match.

The additional fatigue which a fighter will experience using weight causes the heart and respiratory functions to work harder then in a normal shadow boxing workout, thus better preparing a boxer for a real fight inside the ring.

Weights

Starting with a very small weight and working up over an extended period of time will yield the best results. Small hand held dumbells are the preffered style of weight to use for this exercise. A one pound weight is just enough to make a difference when a boxer is first using this method. Moving up to 2 pounds in each hand will take some time and should not be attempted until one pound weights are not providing enough resistance.

Once a boxer can execute combinations and movements at the same level of expertise as without the weights, it is time to add an extra pound.