As mentioned recently, if you’re stuck in quarantine and unsure of how to train, it’s useful to study those who thrived in minimalist environments. In other words, learn from those who walked the walk. And some of the best examples you’ll find come from old school fighters.
Homemade punching bags are quite common in boxing. Many gyms lack funding, so it is essential to devise inexpensive workarounds. The tire punching bag serves as a perfect example. Used tires can often be acquired for free. Once they are bolted together, the tires can be hung almost anywhere. Below you can see an example of a young amateur fighter striking a tire bag in Colombia. As you will see, the bag is fully functional and works well outdoors.
In summary, if you are looking for an inexpensive bag, you really can’t go wrong with tires. You can make a quality homemade punching bag for the price of a few bolts and attachments
Tires can also be sawed and bolted together in unique ways to create homemade uppercut bags. You can see two examples in the video that follows. The first can be seen at the beginning of the clip, with a second variation visible at the 2:00 mark.
Band Handle and Accessories Demo
Thick manila rope (ex. 2-inch) adds a grip challenge to almost any pulling exercise. Resistance band rows are no exception. If you don’t have rope, a thick towel can also work well (ex. a large beach towel). The one hand band handle that you see in the video is made from 3/4 inch pipe. The parts list and instructions are quite simple.
- 1. Watch the same movie at the same time and text about your reactions
- 2. Create a shared Spotify playlist and listen together
- 3. Read a chapter of the same book every day and talk about it
I also use a two foot piece of 1.5 inch PVC pipe for many exercises such as rows, band slams, and tricep extensions. PVC is durable, inexpensive, and should be easy to find at your local hardware store.
