Shadowboxing

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Shadowboxing is an exercise used in the training for combat sports, especially, as its name implies, in boxing. It is used mainly to prepare the muscles before the person training engages in stronger physical activity. In shadowboxing, only one person is required to participate; the participant throws punches at no one in particular. Muhammad Ali once performed a now famous shadowboxing routine next to Howard Cosell for ABC's Wide World of Sports television cameras.

Most boxing trainers prefer that their fighters do their shadow boxing before engaging in any other daily exercise routines. The main purpose of this exercise, apart from getting the muscles ready for other activity, is usually to maintain a fighter's rhythm and show the fighter how they would look at that stage of training against a certain opponent. This could be important as fighters envision themselves facing their immediate future opponents: it usually gives fighters an idea of what is, and what is not, to be fixed.

Fighters may want to do some shadowboxing of their own after their daily routines are over, either inside a boxing gym's ring, or wherever they please to at home without having to look directly at a mirror.

Shadowboxing is not, of course, limited to boxers. Many karate fighters for example, also use the exercise as part of their daily routines, and it was common to see Bruce Lee practicing his kicks in front of a mirror on his films. Shadow boxing with swords and other weapons, referred to as a floryshe, is a major training tool in the Association for Renaissance Martial Arts. It is also common to see drummers using this method to critique their playing style, look and expression.

Fighters of other martial arts also shadowbox as part of their daily training regime. Amateur wrestlers also practice many drills simulating specific wrestling moves without the aid of a partner.

[edit] Styles

The long method involves a shuffle of the feet that rocks the body back and forth. This is a style favored by fighters with long reach, who use more of jabs and straight shots. An example of this would be Muhammad Ali.

The short method sees the fighter move his head and body to the left and right, constantly slipping punches and moving in for closer body shots. Joe Frazier and "Iron" Mike Tyson the best examples of a fighter who uses this method.