​Chances are if you have been training in any form of combat sports you’ve shadow boxed.  Shadow boxing is beneficial when developing your punching skills and enhancing your boxing flow for Muay Thai, kickboxing, and especially boxing. Not only does it strengthen your punches, but it also provides a good cardio workout while improving your footwork. Adding weights to your routine increases the intensity and your skill level.
 
The most basic method of weighted shadow boxing is holding small, weighted dumbbells (5lbs or less) in each hand. There are also specific products you can purchase which are designed specifically for weighted shadow boxing. I tested two different weighted shadow boxing products to see which product was the best.
 
First, I tested the Egg Weights. https://amzn.to/3xbNSAH These are small weights that have a ring attachment that fits around your middle finger so you can hold them comfortably in the palms of your hands while shadow boxing. According to the egg weights website, the weights are the ONLY hand weights in the world that conform to your body’s natural motion. The egg weights were very comfortable to use. They fit so natural in your hands that you really don’t feel them since they aren’t bulky.
 
The next product I tested were the Title Boxing hand weights. https://amzn.to/2QCl2J4 These are shaped much differently. They are longer with a handle to place around your palm to grip while you punch. These are filled with sand to make up the weight and are still comfortable to grip while you are shadow boxing. The only issue is the sand moves around and eventually fills up the bottom and that makes it harder to grip while shadow boxing and it feels less natural.
 
Between the two, either product will get the job done, however I prefer the egg weights in my hands while shadow boxing. Egg weights feel the most natural and they are the easiest to use while I’m working on my boxing flow compared to the Title hand weights. Comparing the two by price alone, the Title Boxing is the most affordable, however the price gap isn’t that big. Egg weights have fun colors to choose from and a small carrying case to keep them together in your gym bag.

Check these out in action here! 
 
 

Like it or not, your kids will learn a lot about life just by watching you. The adage "Do as I say but not as I do" is not an effective parenting strategy, as your children will not only copy your behavior but also interpret it as what you really think and believe. Although it's impossible to get everything right all the time, there are a few areas that are particularly important to model well so that your kids will be more likely to make healthy decisions for themselves.
 
RMT Fitness brings you resources to help your children develop healthy habits.

​Nutrition experts encourage you to resist the temptation to make separate meals for your children. It's not a great idea for several reasons:
 
● It teaches them to be picky eaters.
● It makes "kid food" seem more appealing and important than "adult food."
● They control their menu.
● Many foods marketed to kids are highly processed and unhealthy.
 
If you and your kids eat the same foods together, make sure there's plenty of diversity in your meals. You may have heard the phrase "eat the rainbow." If you haven't, it refers to including plenty of colorful fruits and vegetables in your diet. There are all kinds of ways to make them appealing for both adults and kids, and most people will learn to enjoy eating fruits and vegetables if you serve them regularly enough while cutting back on sweets and processed foods. The other way to include diversity in your meals is to eat foods and use recipes from cultures that are different than your own. There are many great cookbooks available to get you started, and you can take your kids with you to ethnic markets to get interesting spices and ingredients for your meals. You can even sweeten the deal by allowing them to choose a new and interesting treat from another culture while you're at it.

​Even if your kids don't seem to have a natural love for learning, they can develop it from watching you make it a priority in your life. If you've been putting it off, now may be the time to go after an online bachelor's or master's degree in nursing, accounting, business, healthcare management, or whatever path you've been dreaming of pursuing. Taking the majority of your classes online allows you to keep working outside the home or care for your kid’s full time because of the flexible nature of online education. Besides the ways it'll benefit you, your children will learn from your example in making education a priority.

It can be hard to balance your job and family responsibilities along with taking time out for yourself. Teach your kids that fitness is not only important for good health; it's also self-care and recreational at the same time. Even if you have your own fitness routine, schedule at least one physically active family activity a month — more often if you can.
 
Some fun things you can do together are:
 

• Family hikes
• Martial arts classes via RMT Fitness
• Swimming classes
• Biking excursions
• Neighborhood walks

 
Although it can feel like a lot of pressure, don't get overwhelmed by trying to set a good example for your kids. Talk to them often about what's important to you and what you want them to learn and allow them to ask questions and chime in with their own thoughts. Keeping discussions open and flowing will not only improve your relationship with your kids but teach them the value of expressing their thoughts and ideas as well.
 
RMT Fitness offers classes in Muay Thai, Kickboxing, Strength Training, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Contact us today to learn how you can sign up for a free class!
​

​Elite Sports is a brand you may have come across frequently if you have searched for fitness gear on Amazon. Primarily if you are searching products in the combat sports or martial arts category. What probably makes them stand out the most when searching is the product's affordability. I know that’s what immediately caught my attention.
​

• ​Boxing Mitts https://amzn.to/3wDJomf
• Thai Kicking Pads https://amzn.to/2Reano5

I’ve used many brands of boxing mitts and Thai pads over the past 12 years of my martial arts journey. I’ve come to find some reasonably priced products that are of good quality and long lasting. There are also products that I’ve spent a bit more money on and I was very disappointed since they didn’t last.
 
When it comes to combat sports training or martial arts, affordability is usually a consumers first choice, yet you do not want to sacrifice quality.  Quality is very important when your intention is to strike surfaces hard and often. Durability is a must when you are rough on equipment which is a necessity in martial arts training. This is why I decided to try Elite Sports’ Boxing Mitts and Thai Pads to see how they performed for the money.

​In regard to the design, they are clean and minimal. They aren’t overly produced as far as too much padding or any extras that may be unnecessary. The visual design is simplistic and subtle which I like. The boxing mitts and Thai pads are sleek and simple.

Build quality rating is typical compared to average mitts. The mitts do not have the appearance as cheaply made, but not an over exuberance of quality with regard to materials and padding. The straps are bit thin, at first, I was worried they might rip, but they have not after using them for a few weeks and probably will last a while with regular use. The foam inside isn’t made of poor quality, more expensive brands will use “EVA foam”, however Elite has added foam for additional shock absorption, according to their website.  It feels like a brick of foam in the Thai pads, but upon impact it is nice and does not feel like there is cause for concern. The pads feel comfortable to strike.
 
Due to the simple construction and materials of both the Elite Sports boxing mitts and Thai pads they are extremely light. I really enjoyed this while working with my faster students. One thing I really liked were the handles on the Thai kicking pads. They were strong and firm. Oddly enough it’s my favorite part of the pads besides the weight of them. I own a few pairs of expensive Hayabusa Thai pads which have amazing striking padding, but Hayabusa has the most absolute worst handles I’ve ever felt on Thai pads and I truly dislike them.

​It is hard to say at this time, however I will continue to use the pads & mitts with my students in my Martial Arts gym and I will update this post if I have any negative issues.  I have been using them for a couple weeks, but I use them throughout all of my Muay Thai classes several times a day all week long and so far, so good

​Lastly, let’s discuss price. This is where the Elite product stand out. Next to a couple other brands on the market, they could be considered the most affordable with regard to these two types of items. Generally, I’ve paid within the range of $40 - $150 for boxing mitts and the Elite brand is less than any of those. For Thai pads, I’ve purchased in the range of $80 - $300 for various brands and Elite is less than those as well.

​ If you are a beginner, utilizing striking for fitness, or are a trainer using these for your beginner clients then these products are a good buy because they are very affordable and functional. It’s all you need when starting out. As a striking coach and instructor, I do have more expensive brands that cost much more and are built heavier and thicker with leather and so on, but that is because I have advanced strikers and fighters that I train, I need to protect myself and them.
 
 
I hope this was helpful and if you are starting out or looking to train at home with some friends or clients and do not want to spend too much money on equipment, I highly recommend the Elite boxing mitts and Muay Thai kicking pads.

https://www.elitesports.com/
https://www.borntough.com/ 
https://www.elitesports.com/collections/muay-thai-pads
https://www.elitesports.com/products/elite-sports-black-black-muay-thai-kick-pad
https://www.elitesports.com/collections/muay-thai-mitts
https://www.elitesports.com/products/elite-sports-essential-curved-black-silver-muay-thai-punching-mitts
 

Martial Athlete's have plenty of essential equipment they need during their training sessions.

You might need to carry anything from Thai Pads & boxing mitts to shinguards & headgear. 

How do you know a gym bag will be sufficient to carry your equipment and will it withstand being transported to and from the studio?

I am excited to test and review this gym bag from Born Tough. 

I will test the bag and let you know if it is a quality and useful bag for your fitness equipment. 

Take a look at Born Tough's clothing and accessories by visiting their site www.borntough.com/

What would you like to see reviewed?

https://www.borntough.com/
https://www.elitesports.com/ 
https://www.borntough.com/collections/gym-workout-bags
https://www.borntough.com/products/born-tough-crucial-duffel-bag-black