Focus Mitts

I was in a sports store recently and saw a father and his young daughter having a fun boxing workout right there in the aisle. He had punch mitts on, she had gloves on, and he was calling the punches while she boxed away with a big smile. It reminded me what a great workout boxing is for kids and parents.

So why is boxing great for the family? How do we keep it safe? Here are some quick tips to get started at home.

Is Fitness-Boxing safe for kids?

When some parents hear the word Boxing they say: "No way is my kid is doing boxing." I remind them that before they conjure up images of little Johnny lying flat on the canvas, that we are talking about Fitness-Boxing. Little Johnny or Jenny is going to get fit, not hit. Fitness-Boxing is about punching pads, not people.

Why is Fitness-Boxing a great workout for kids?

Exercise has to be fun or kids won't stick with it. Fitness-Boxing is great for the simple reason that kids love it. Learning Fitness-Boxing will not only build their fitness, it will build their confidence and give kids a much-needed stress release. When I teach my adult Boxout classes, quite a few kids are there with their parents, and are so excited to get in the ring, glove up and go a round on the punch mitts with me.

Why is Fitness-Boxing a great workout to do together with my child?

The beauty of Fitness-Boxing is it is interactive. You stand face to face, toe to toe with your child. You are the "coach," and your child is the "boxer." You can hold the punch mitts and call the jab, uppercut, hook and then the combos. You are helping your child build fitness and self-discipline - and you are building your relationship too.

What equipment do I need?

There are many different ways to do Fitness-Boxing including punching bag, speedbag and punch mitts. The best option is punch mitts and boxing gloves. Punch mitts, also called focus mitts or focus pads, are mini targets you slip onto your hands. You can buy them online or from sports stores. They require more skill from the "coach," but are more fun and interactive for your boxer than the boxing bag. They are also mobile - you can take them to the park or on vacation.

So how do I teach my child?

While I may not be able to teach you how to be a boxing coach in one paragraph, I can tell you holding the punch mitts is a skill you can learn - and one I have taught to thousands of trainers and non-trainers.

The secret to teaching kids is to use cues - in other words quick, colorful and easy to remember tips. Like anything, start with the basics. I use the 3 'Fs' - Feel the Leather on the face (gets their hands up), Float Like a Butterfly (gets them on their toes) and Follow Through (gets them punching stronger).

Start with basic stance, then progress to the 4 single punches (jab, cross, hook, uppercut), then move on to combinations (combos). Here are 4 basic combos to get you started. These combos will work on punch mitts, punching bag or shadow boxing.

L,R (left jab, right cross)

L,L,R (double left jab, right cross)

L,R,L (left jab, right cross, left jab)

L,R,L,R (left jab, right cross, left jab, right cross)

May you, and your family, get Fighting Fit!

Try Boxout - a simple Fitness Boxing workout routine you can follow with your kids at home, in the park or anywhere. First, learn the moves on DVD, then switch to the 20 minute Mp3 workouts which call the combos and time the rounds for you. Try the free demo at http://JabtheFlab.com Free shipping worldwide, for a limited time.

The author of this article is Patrick Moore - black belt and founder of Fitness Boxing International. Patrick ran his first class in 1994 and loves helping people be the best they can be. Learn more at http://BoxingatHome.com

Amber Sporting Goods IAM Invincible Curved Focus Mitts $84 The best of the best Professional Air Focus Mitts. 3" of padding for better shock absorption. Constructed of the best durable leather available. Unique air pocket in the target air. Sweat resistant lining so the mitts stay dry and smell free. We dare you to find a better pair of air mitts.

Bad Boy MMA Curved Focus Mitts $39.95 The word is you can throw devastating combos capable of ripping the punching bag apart. We give you mad props for that, bro. However—in case some smart aleck hasn’t already told you—hitting a moving target is completely different. Shut those naysayers up and take your MMA skills to a whole new level with this pair of Bad Boy MMA curved focus mitts. Made of premium-grade synthetic leather and multilayer EVA foam, these mitts keep the wearer safe by safely absorbing punches, dispersing the impact and increasing protection. They also feature a smaller surface area than other gloves, helping you perfect your timing and improve your combos. Most importantly, the wearer won't feel like he or she has gone through a beating each time you train.

Amber Sporting Goods IPM Invincible Pro Classic Mitts $73.5 Invincible Pro Classic Mitts. The best of the best professional classic focus mitts. Constructed of the best durable leather Hook and loop closure Sweat-resistant lining so the mitts stay dry and smell-free.

Amber Sporting Goods AHJ-3065-B Canvas Focus Mitts $28.15 100% Top Grain Leather Construction. Full hand pocket. Shock absorbing foam. Wrist strap and adjustable buckle. One Size fits all. Great for your boxing kickboxing boxing aerobics MA needs.

Amber Sporting Goods AHJ3065B Canvas Focus Mitts $36.53 100 Top Grain Leather Construction. Full hand pocket. Shock absorbing foam. Wrist strap and adjustable buckle. One Size fits all. Great for your boxing kickboxing boxing aerobics MA needs.

Amber Sporting Goods UFMB Champ Curved Focus Mitts $37.7 PowerTek material construction for durability. Full hand pocket. Shock absorbing foam. Wrist wrap and adjustable buckle. Great for boxing kickboxing boxing aerobics or MMA needs.

Amber Sporting Goods AHRWRAP Invincible Air Focus Mitts $30.55 Great for personal use or the gym. Can attach to the wall. Keeps handwraps straight and wrinkle free. Extremely durable and long lasting. Dimensions: 3 H x 8 W x 8 D.

Deluxe Mouse Mitts $14.99 Deluxe Mouse Mitts

Everlast Classic Punch Mitts $83.99 Everlast Classic Punch Mitts

Everlast Professional Mantis Mitts $89.99 Everlast Professional Mantis Mitts

Animal Mitts $5.99 ANIMAL MITTS: White or Black Felt gloves. Great for cartoon or animal costumes.

Focus $10 Focus

In Focus $14.29 In Focus

Medline Hand Protector Mitts, Pair $30.19 Medline Hand Protector Mitts

Bag Mitts $4.79 Protect your hands when doing a punching bag workout with these bag mitts from York. They are well padded with shock absorbent foam and have an elasticated wrist. These flexible red and silver mitts come in one size.

Storm Mitts $35.99 HJC Storm Mitts Gain full hand protection without the individual fitted finger design of traditional gloves with the HJC Storm Mitts. These mittens bear all the same features as the Storm Gloves for your next snowmobile adventure. Features: Waterproof/Breathable Nylon Outer Soft Fleece Lining Sure Grip Chamude palm Extra Long Gauntlet Adjustable Wrist Closure

The Focus $6 The Focus - X5

Boys with Baseball Mitts Walking Together $19.99 Boys with Baseball Mitts Walking Together - Premium Poster

ScootR Logic Hand Mitts $16.95 ScootR Logic Hand Mitts Protect hands from the wind and cold Specially designed to fit most scooters Constructed of durable 600-denier waterproof polyester; insulated and lined Mitts can be installed and removed easily

This entry was posted on Monday, September 18th, 2006 at 4:05 pm and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.