Maxx MMA has come out with an intriguing new bag that lets you hang it both vertically as a traditional heavy bag/punching bag, and also lets you hang it horizontally as an uppercut bag! In this article I would like to share some training and our early experiences training on this cutting edge bag design. 

The great thing about an Uppercut Bag is the fresh variety of training opportunities that having the horizontal bag provides. 90% or more of most combat athletes spend their time striking a vertically hung bag by throwing straight and hooking punches. The vertical punches that are thrown at a typical heavy bag either have a very linear pressure into the bag, (just like a jab or cross) or glance off the bag giving an inferior feedback. When you strike an Uppercut bag, you get the proper feel and resistance that requires you to lift with your legs, and drive the punch upwards from the floor towards the ceiling at an angle congruent with your target. The solid feel of a properly thrown uppercut will run through your whole body from fist to foot. This same effect occurs when throwing any vertical strike like upward elbows, and upward knees. The goal here is to train the proper strike on equipment that lets you execute correctly. If you want to hit with effective force, you need to hit a target that will approximate the angle and resistance that you may find in actual competition.

Here is a list of techniques and combinations that are useful to train on the Maxx MMA Fitness and Training Heavy Bag when it is used as an Uppercut Bag:

Single Technique Ideas

• Straight Jab
• Straight Cross
• Left and Right Hooks (from facing the end of the bag)
• Lead Uppercut
• Rear Uppercut
• Dirty Boxing Close Uppercut with Cover (stand leaning against the bag)
• Forward Elbow
• Forward Elbow
• Vertical/Up Elbow
• Downward Elbow
• High Knee from the clinch (holding bag)
• Jumping High Knee
• Skip Jumping High Knee

Combination ideas

• Jab, Cross, Lead Uppercut, (+ Rear Uppercut)
• Jab, Rear Uppercut (+ Lead Uppercut)
• 3 Uppercuts alternating sides L+R
• Lead Forward Elbow, Rear Down Elbow, Lead Vertical Elbow
• Lead High Knee, Rear Down Elbow, Lead Up Elbow
• 5 Shoe Shine Uppercuts, Left Hook, Right Cross (all done facing the end of the bag)

These are just a few ideas on what one can do on an uppercut bag. Use your imagination and consider what works well and has sound form and mechanics. Uppercut bag training is a very important part of our Muay Thai and Mixed Martial Arts training, I hope you find it beneficial too. The Water / Air core of the Maxx MMA Fitness and Training Heavy Bag has a great feel that lets your punches land solidly without being too stiff or hard. Feel free to share your ideas, thoughts and questions in the comments section, and feel free to contact us below.

About the author

Ray White's Midwest Martial Arts teaches Muay Thai and Mixed Martial Arts to students, amateur and professional fighters from Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan. He can be reached at the SMB Academy in Battle Creek Michigan, on Youtube at 

www.youtube.com/raywhitemn , at www.facebook.com/RayWhiteMMA , and at www.mmacoachescorner.com .

During the devolpment and initial review of the new Maxx MMA Fitness and Training Heavy Bag, we were immediately impressed with the shear variety and multitude of drills that athletes can train on this bag. This months articles are written to help illustrate and provide examples on how you can get the most out your training on the F&T Heavy Bag.  

The first way to train on the F&T Heavy Bag is like a normal punching bag. The bag is very well suited for this and we hung ours up with approximately 40 lbs. Or 88 kg water in it. It's size lets you strike an area roughly from the head to the waist of an opponent. This is more than enough for a boxer's workout, and suitable for North American Kick Boxing where kicks to the legs are forbidden. If you are a full rules Muay Thai or MMA fan, you can still use this bag but you will want to practice you leg kicks on some other piece of equipment. 

This bag is packed with features including a bottom anchor loop, so that you can tether the bag to the floor, or not depending on your preference. If tethered it will not swing very far. Untethered it can have a nice swing because of its lighter weight. Most the time I prefer a bag with some swing, because I thing Heavy Bag training seldom utilizes enough footwork. But with this bag moving around, it becomes a game of cat and mouse, where you are circling and slipping and constantly timing the bag.  

No matter whether you practice tethered or swinging, you will want to focus on good posture and stance while you drill. And you will want to strike with good technique and form. While working on different combinations, here are a few footwork drills you can try. 

Follow/Retreat: 

One drill I like is to follow the bag in and out as it swings. As It moves away from me I follow, and as it comes towards me I retreat. You can use a various footwork like “step and slide” or a “push step” or a “pendulum” step to make your footwork even more polished. 

Clock work or 90* drill:

The idea here is to move 90* to the left or right while circling your opponent. When the bag comes towards you, you want to step with your outside foot and let you other foot follow. As your foot lands you want to pivot so that you can face your opponent and attack him where he is weaker, which is to his sides. 

To get you started here is an example of some of the drills we practice to build coordination:  

Boxing Series

• Jab (once, twice or three times)
• Cross (once, twice or three times)
• Hook (once, twice or three times)
• Jab, Cross
• Double Jab, Cross
• Cross, Hook
• Jab, Cross, Hook 
• Cross, Hook, Cross
• Hook, Cross, Hook
• 4 Count series
• Jab, Cross, Hook, Cross
• Jab, Cross, Uppercut, Cross
• Jab, Cross, Body Hook, Cross

Kick Boxing Series

• Rear round kick to ribs
• Rear round kick to head
• Switch kick to ribs
• Switch kick to head
• Lead jab or hook, rear round kick 
• Rear Cross, front switch kick
• Rear round kick, left hook
• Switch kick, to rear cross 

These are just a few to get you started. If you would like to see more please let us know in the comment section, or reach me at my blog at www.mmacoachescorner.com or on our you tube channel www.youtube.com/raywhitemma