WO2006029447A1

WO2006029447A1 - Fitness and strike training aid

Info

Publication number: WO2006029447A1
Application number: PCT/AU2005/001382
Authority: WO
Inventors: Peter Donald Rolph
Original assignee: Peter Donald Rolph
Priority date: 2004-09-16
Filing date: 2005-09-09
Publication date: 2006-03-23

Abstract

A fitness and strike training aid wherein the invention resides in a training aid (8) including in combination a padded member (26) adapted to simply encase a wearer's hand, the padded member having a plurality of striking surfaces (20 22, 24) adapted to absorb blows directed at the padded member from any direction without the wearer having to rotat the wearer's wrist or forearm.

Description

FITNESS AND STRIKE TRAINING AID

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an apparatus for fitness training and in a particular but not limited to the application of a matched pair of special training aids for use with the sport of boxing or any martial arts.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention will be described in the context of its use as a boxing training aid however it will be understood that it is applicable to martial arts training and fitness training in general.

Boxing training often involves the boxer practicing punching at pads held by a trainer. Typical boxing pads often used in such training include a flat punching surface on one side. On the opposing side a number of finger sleeves are attached into which the training partner's fingers are inserted to hold the pad. In the alternative, there may be handgrips for holding the pad.

In use a trainer holds the pads for a boxer to punch at. Of course, the boxer may wish to practice a variety of punches such as jabs or uppercuts. In order to practice the various punches it is important that the trainer alters the orientation of pads correspondingly. For example, the trainer holds the pads so that their punching surfaces face towards the boxer. In this orientation the boxer is able to practice jabs. Alternatively, the trainer can hold the practice pads so that they face substantially towards the ground. In this orientation the boxer is able to practice uppercuts. A problem that occurs in training of the type described is that the change from one orientation of the pads to another must be carefully coordinated between the trainer and the boxer. For example, the trainer or the boxer must call out when a change of orientation is required to move from one type of punching to another. Often the flow of punching is interrupted by coordinating the changes of orientation which is undesirable. Uncoordinated changes may also result in the boxer missing the pads and striking the trainer with the possibility of severely injuring the trainer. The boxer can also be injured if the flat surface of the pads are not in the correct position with the possibility of twisting the boxer's wrists.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved training apparatus which addresses the above-described problem or to at least provide the public with a useful alternative choice.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In one aspect, the invention resides in a training aid including in combination, a padded member adapted to encase a wearers hand, the padded member having a plurality of striking surfaces adapted to absorb blows directed at the padded member from any direction without the wearer having to rotate the wearer's wrist or forearm to present a striking surface.

Preferably the training aid has planar striking surfaces. In the alternative, the striking surfaces may be curved or have a convex configuration. According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a training aid including in combination; padding shaped to define a cavity to receive a hand of a wearer; a casing around the padding formed with an aperture to receive the hand; wherein the padding and casing are formed to present a least two substantially planar striking surfaces.

Preferably the training aid further includes an inner lining disposed to cover the padding. In a preferred embodiment the inner lining is provided in the form of a mitt or a glove.

Preferably a portion of the inner lining extends from the aperture to protect the wrist and or forearm of the wearer and to provide a means to hold the padded member steady. A strap may be provided to secure the portion of the inner lining to the arm of a wearer in use. The training aid may have a representation of a portion of the human body formed on the casing. For example the casing may have an image of a face or an abdomen formed upon it.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a pair of training pads, each of the type described above, including a first pad formed with an image of an opponent's face upon it or in the shape of an opponent head and a second pad formed with an image of an opponents abdomen upon it or in the shape of an opponents abdomen.

In another aspect, the invention resides in a method of training using the training aid herein described including the steps of: a) wearing on one hand of a trainer, the training aid formed with the image of an opponent's face or in the shape of an opponents head, b) wearing on the other hand of the trainer, the training aid formed with the image of the opponent's abdomen or in the shape of an opponent's abdomen, c) positioning and moving the training aids to simulate an opponent for the trainee to strike head and body blows to the respective training aids without the trainer having to rotate the trainer's wrists or forearm to present a striking surface.

Further preferred features of the present invention will be described in the following detailed description which will refer to a number of figures as follows.

BRElF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 is a view of a training aid according to a first embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is a view of the front of the training aid of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a view of a side of the training aid of Figure 1. Figure 4 is a cross section through the training aid of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is an isometric view of the training aid of Figure 1. Figure 6 is a view of the upperside of a training aid according to a second embodiment of the invention.

Figure 7 is a view of the front of the training aid of Figure 6. Figure 8 is a view of a side of the training aid of Figure 6. Figure 9 is a cross section through the training aid of Figure 6.

Figure 10 is an isometric view of the training aid of Figure 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Figures 1 to 5 are various views of a boxing pad or training aid 8 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. With reference to Figure 4, which is a cross section through boxing pad 8, the pad includes an inner lining in the form of a mitt 10 that lines a cavity formed into padding 12. The mitt is made of leather, vinyl or other durable material. The padding may be foam or other material suitable to absorb blows and kicks. Padding 12 is in turn surrounded by an outer casing 14. Casing 14 is made of leather, vinyl or other suitable material sufficiently durable to withstand sustained blows and kicks. A sleeve portion 16 of the mitt extends for about 2.5cm out through an aperture formed in casing 14. Mitt 10 attached to casing 14 where it passes through the aperture by conventional sewing methods. A Velcro® strap 18 is attached to sleeve portion 16. In the embodiment described an opponent's face is marked upon the front of pad 8 as shown in Figure 2 and 5.

Preferably, the sleeve portion 16 is offset at an angle, for example, at 45° from the front of the pad or main striking surface.

In use a trainer inserts his hand into mitt 10 and secures it in place by means of strap 18. Pad 8 is then held steady at the head-height of an imaginary opponent. It will be noted that pad 8 presents at least three substantially planar striking surfaces, 20, 22, and 24 that are at right-angles to each other as shown in Figure 5. Consequently, in use a boxer might throw a jab or lunge punch to surface 20 and immediately follow it up, for example, a roundhouse punch to surface 22 without the need for the trainer wearing pad 8 to change the pad's orientation. It is intended that pad 8 be used in conjunction with a second pad 26 shown in Figures 9 and 10 and formed in the shape of an abdomen. A cross section of the abdomen-shaped pad is shown in Figure 9. The construction of pad 26 corresponds to that of the first pad of Figures 1 to 5 and so identical indicia are used to refer to corresponding structures in Figures 6-10. It will be noted that the curved front portion and sides of pad 26 provides ample striking surfaces to receive blows in the directions indicated by arrows 28, 30. Furthermore blows and kicks such as uppercuts may be directed to the underside or pad 26 as indicated by arrow 32. In use a trainer wears head pad 8 on one hand and abdomen pad 26 of the other. The head pad is held at the head-height of an imaginary opponent and the abdomen pad at a corresponding lower level. A boxer is able to practice punching to the head and abdomen pads. Jabs, hooks, uppercuts and roundhouse blows and kicks may all be applied to the various striking surfaces of each of the two pads without the trainer having to continually re-orientate them as was the case with the prior art pads hereinbefore described. Consequently, the trainer is able to move the aids about, to mimic a real opponent, whilst the trainee is able to practice landing a sequence of different blows without interruption.

VARIATIONS

It will of course be realised that while the foregoing has been given by way of illustrative example of this invention, all such and other modifications and variations thereto as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of this invention as is herein set forth. Throughout the description and claims this specification the word "comprise" and variations of that word such as "comprises" and "comprising", are not intended to exclude other additives, components, integers or steps

The embodiments of the invention described herein are provide for purposes of explicating the principles thereof, and are not to be considered as limiting or restricting the invention since many modifications may be made by the exercise of skill in the art without departing from the scope of the invention described herein.

Claims

1. A fitness and strike training aid including in combination, a padded member adapted to encase a wearers hand, the padded member having a plurality of striking surfaces adapted to absorb blows directed at the padded member from any direction without the wearer having to rotate the wearer's wrist or forearm to present a striking surface.

2. A fitness and strike training aid as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the aid has planar striking surfaces.

3. A fitness and strike training aid as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the striking surfaces are curved or have a convex configuration.

4. A fitness and strike training aid including in combination, padding shaped to define a cavity to receive a hand of a wearer; a casing around the padding formed with an aperture to receive the hand; wherein the padding and casing are formed to present a least two substantially planar striking surfaces.

5. A fitness and strike training aid as claimed in claim 4, wherein the training aid further includes an inner lining disposed to cover the padding.

6. A fitness and strike training aid as claimed in claim 4, wherein the inner lining is provided in the form of a mitt or a glove.

7. A fitness and strike training aid as claimed in claim 5, wherein a portion of the inner lining extends from the aperture to protect the wrist and or forearm of the wearer and to provide a means to hold the padded member steady.

8. A fitness and strike training aid as claimed in claim 7, wherein a strap may be provided to secure the portion of the inner lining to an arm of a wearer of the training aid in use.

9. A fitness and strike training aid as claimed in any one of the above claims, wherein the training aid has a representation of a portion of the human body formed on the casing.

10. A fitness and strike training aid wherein there is provided a pair of training aids, including a first aid formed with an image of an opponent's face upon it or in the shape of an opponent head and a second aid formed with an image of an opponents abdomen upon it or in the shape of an opponents abdomen.

11. A method of training using the training aid herein described including the steps of: a) wearing on one hand of a wearer, the training aid formed with the image of an opponent's face or in the shape of an opponents head, b) wearing on the other hand of the wearer, the training aid formed with the image of the opponent's abdomen or in the shape of an opponent's abdomen, c) positioning and moving the training aids to simulate an opponent for a trainee to strike head and body blows to the respective training aids without the wearer having to rotate the wearer's wrists or forearm to present a striking surface.