3 Reasons Why Mitt Work is Unbelievably Invigorating
The focus mitts are the ultimate training tool when it comes to boxing for fitness. Working on the mitts is one of the best ways to develop your fighting reflexes, punching technique, defense technique, and fighting strategy. When you’re working with your trainer or partner on the mitts your intensity level goes up. It’s the closest thing to live boxing. All of this from a fitness standpoint adds up to one of the highest intensity, enjoyable, body/mind workouts you can do.
100% Engagement
When you’re boxing for fitness and you get your first taste of the focus mitts it’s an experience you’ll never forget. The first thing you notice is your intensity level. Something turns on when there’s another person standing in front of you asking you to hit them. You’re only punching the mitts on your partner’s hands, but you’re throwing full punches. Your trainer will be calling out different combinations you’ve been working on and you’ll have to respond in real time and deliver. Depending on your level your trainer might start swinging the mitts at your head. They will call it out so you’re ready, but being swung at adds another level of intensity to the equation. After an intense mitt work session, you feel fantastic from a physical and mental standpoint. Your body will be pumped full of the feel-good endorphins that your brain releases during intense exercise, and you’ll have confidence reflecting on what you did well and new purpose thinking about how you’re going to get even better.
The Closest thing to Sparing
Boxing for fitness gives you all the tools you need to step into the ring. But, many people never do, and that’s fine. It’s certainly not for everyone. If you don’t want to put on the headgear, gloves and spar, hitting the mitts is the next best thing. When you do mitt work you can do it in the ring to get the feel of what it’s like to move in the ring. You can work on your distance and footwork. You’ll be hitting combinations and ducking swings. Mitt work is the stepping stone to actual sparing minus the possibility of taking a real punch. If you’ve thought about boxing and want to feel what it’s like minus taking a liver shot, you’re going to love working the mitts.
The Ultimate Test
If you’ve been training with boxing for fitness for some time you’re going to have an arsenal of new skills. New skills are awesome, but what’s the point if you never have an opportunity to use them? Mitt work is the ultimate test that reveals where you are in your boxing skill set. It’s one thing to hit the bag, jump rope, practice your footwork – and a completely new experience putting it all together and engaging with another person. The bag is predictable. Your opponent is not. When you train on the mitts you have to react in real time in a dynamic way. The mitts will expose all of your weak points and give you something to work on.
Boxing for fitness is the best way to get in physical shape, sharpen yourself mentally, and the focus mitts is a mirror for all the work you’ve put in. If you already haven’t hit the mitts, ask your trainer for an introduction. Once you try, you’ll never go back to training without them.