Learn about the anatomy of punching bags

To exercise, many people use punching bags, but they really do not know what they are made of. However, these functional training elements are much more than bags and according to their filling, their function can vary. Throughout history its structure has changed to improve its use. 

It is well known that punching bags are available in different sizes, materials, and even colors. In addition, a punching bag has different fillings that fit certain sports purposes. For this reason, it is usually a constant that, depending on the use, the filling that is used changes, so that the implement acquires body and can be hit. 

Among the most common fillings, you can find punching bags with sand, water, textile material, fine sawdust and even seeds. Each of these elements have different densities and even the feel of the hit and the dissipation of the hit will feel different on contact. 

Some models come from the factory already filled. However, the best value for money punching bag will be one that incorporates a zipper to remove and add the padding, according to the user’s convenience. This possibility allows greater versatility, so that they are usually bags that have a high degree of popularity among the user community. 

It may now be an object for sports training that is regularly seen in gyms or sports training centers. However, it was not so a few years ago.

Boxing and its variants have been climbing positions within the preferences, going from being a discipline of the few, normally clandestine street fights, to being a sports training system. For this reason, boxing is practiced by men and women of all social classes. They all seek a common goal: improve muscle tone, reduce measurements and acquire strength, as well as dexterity and speed in coordinated movements.

A little history

Records indicate that boxing and its variants have been around for decades. However, the elements for his training, such as the pear and punching bag, are more modern. According to some research, the first patent for a punching bag was obtained by Simon D. Kehoe in the year 1982. This first punching bag had a simple structure, which was very similar to what is known today.

The main difference lies in the manufacturing materials. Formerly, they were made with genuine goat or kangaroo leather. As the years have passed, other materials have been incorporated, of which goat skin is still used in some parts of the structure, due to its quality and resistance.

By now you may be wondering how punching bags are made. The truth is that it will depend on the manufacturer. However, most companies follow a pattern that is to draw the lines on the leather, vinyl or any other material. These lines seek to create panels, which according to size can range from four to six. Subsequently, these panels are joined through a mechanism so that they adhere. In the best of cases, they will be sewn by hand using a robust rope or with strips of natural leather.

padding matters

In addition to the exterior, in the punching bag it is important to analyze the interior of the equipment. It is well known that there are manufacturers that present their models to the market without any padding, while other companies include it. For example, there are some filling options that range from water and sand, to other fillers such as corn grains, textile material or cereals. The amount of padding and the type vary according to use.

Each of the padding elements generates a different feeling of hitting the knuckles, which is generated through the different densities and hardnesses. For example, water is usually softer than sand, and when it is hit, there is an expansive sensation that shakes the bag, like a kind of surge, which does not occur in materials such as sand, grains or sawdust, which they are compact and hard. In the latter cases, the sensation of the blow is like stone. 

In general, the bags filled with water are used for post-injury training and so that the athlete has a sensation similar to hitting a body. In addition, it is recommended that if the bag will be used to train upper and lower muscles with punches and kicks, the correct thing would be to opt for fillings that are dense and consistent in the lower part. 

In general, the kicks tend to be concentrated in the lower part of the bag. As the legs are extremities with greater strength, the elements to hit can be resistant, with little chance of injury. Therefore, when the bag is filled, it is appropriate that the lower part is adjusted, since it will improve training, capacity and general performance during its use, giving the possibility of being used both to strike with the knuckles in the hands as with the legs through kicks. 

The vast majority of punching bags tend to be filled with sand or chips, materials that are usually used for the training modality. On the other hand, a punching bag has an interior that can be made up of two bags at the same time, an internal one filled with air and an external one filled with sand or chips. As for domestic punching bags, they are models used by athletes according to their needs. For this reason, most of them have an interior that is made up of scraps of cloth. These bags are suitable for shots, both hands and legs, with a low rebound level.