Need advice on a heavy bag, please

[opr1945112 22]

I have seen replacement heavy bag covers. Just slip over bag. Perhaps one that is smoother/softer cover.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/987250916/bundle-punching-bag-cover-and-chain?ls=s&ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=punching+bag+cover+outdoor+waterproof&ref=sr_gallery-1-4&sr_prefetch=0&pf_from=market&content_source=3ec6d955-8960-4323-8598-942fda2daf50%253ALTce0d57536a572daabfa6510705b548ca610a81b0&organic_search_click=1&logging_key=3ec6d955-8960-4323-8598-942fda2daf50%3ALTce0d57536a572daabfa6510705b548ca610a81b0

Perhaps make one. check local fabric store.

Also have you look in kids bags. Many sporting goods stores have them in stock.

 

[isshinryuronin4 4]

So during my hand conditioning I realized that the callous has 2 main types. The one that is close to the bone and one that floats above the bone (imagine a callous on top of a blister).

When I condition my knuckles, I always check to make sure that the Callous is not floating. This type of formation pads your knuckles but does not protect against ripping the skin. In this situation the callous strikes the bag but the fist stills moves.

I guess a better visual is like your fist sliding around in your glove causing the same outcome that you tried to prevent on the bag. Now think of your skin like a glove and the callous the padding and your skin still gets damaged not because of the impact but because of the sliding.

The light knuckle tapping that I use to condition my hands prevents that "floating callus"

Some of you might have seen photos of boxers where the callus rips of the skin. That's the bad callus that you don't want. The one that is closer to bone doesn't move around when the hand is opened flat.

This is probably a better read of what I tried to explain
Ai Written:
There are two different tissue states that fighters, climbers, rowers, and runners all experience:

Ai Response:

A. Pressure‑induced hyperkeratosis​

This is the medical term for the “anchored, close‑to‑the‑bone” callus.

It forms when:

• the skin is repeatedly compressed
• the epidermis thickens
• the deeper layers stay bonded
• the tissue becomes dense and protective

This is the good callus.

B. Shear‑induced epidermal separation​

This is the medical term for the “floating callus” you described.

It forms when:

• the skin layers separate due to friction
• a blister or micro‑blister forms
• the outer layer hardens over the separated tissue
• the callus is not anchored and can slide

This is the dangerous one that tears.

My question to Ai: What's the relation to impact and friction?

1. Impact and friction create ​

This is the core truth:

Impact → Compression → Bonded callus​

Friction → Shear → Floating callus​

They are not the same stimulus, and the skin does not adapt the same way.

Let’s break them down.

2. IMPACT = Compression = “Bonded” callus (protective)​

Impact creates vertical force into the knuckle.

This causes:

• the epidermis to thicken downward
• the dermis and epidermis to stay tightly bonded
• collagen to align and stiffen
• the tissue to compact

Medical term: pressure‑induced hyperkeratosis

This is your:

• “close to the bone” callus
• “anchored” callus
• “true conditioning” callus

It protects you because all layers move together on impact.

There is no sliding, so no tearing.

3. FRICTION = Shear = “Floating” callus (dangerous)​

Friction creates horizontal force across the skin.

This causes:

• the epidermis to slide over the dermis
• micro‑separation between layers
• fluid or damaged tissue to form between layers
• the top layer to harden over a weak base

Medical term: shear‑induced epidermal separation (or blister‑derived hyperkeratosis)

This is your:

• “floating callus”
• “callus on top of a blister”
• “unstable pad”

It tears because the top layer stops but the deeper layers keep moving.

Exactly like your glove analogy.

4. The relationship between impact and friction is this:​

Impact builds callus.​

Friction undermines it.​

Impact = compression = bondingFriction = shear = separation

They are opposite forces acting on the same tissue.

This is why:

• you can have strong knuckles but still rip skin
• you can have thick calluses that fail under shear
• you can condition bone but still damage the epidermis

Impact strengthens. -
Friction destabilizes.

5. Why fighters get confused​

Because both impact and friction can produce thickened skin, but:

• one is anchored
• one is floating

Thickness ≠ stability.

My Question to Ai: So, impact would be striking directly into a heavy bag and friction would be striking across the bag?

Ai Response:

Yes — that’s exactly the right way to think about it, and you’re not misunderstanding anything.Let me give you the clean, mechanically accurate breakdown using your example.

1. Impact = straight‑in strike = compression​

When you hit a heavy bag directly into it, with the force going into the bag, the skin experiences:

• vertical force
• compression
• no sliding
• no shear

This produces the bonded, protective callus (pressure‑induced hyperkeratosis).

All the skin layers move together on impact.

This is the good kind.

2. Friction = glancing strike = sliding across the bag​

When your fist slides across the bag — even slightly — the skin experiences:

• horizontal force
• shear
• micro‑movement between layers
• epidermal separation

This produces the floating callus (shear‑induced epidermal separation / blister‑derived callus).

The top layer stops.The deeper layers keep moving.That’s what causes tearing.

This is the dangerous kind.

That's a lot of words. Just punch the damn makiwara!

 

[Flying Crane]

I use my water punching bag outdoor and hang it on a tree branch. If you only fill up water halfway, you can hang it higher and not hit on the top part of the bag.

Have you considered the wavemaster used indoor?

View attachment 34035

No, I do not like free standing bags at all.

 

[Xue Sheng107 25]

No, I do not like free standing bags at all.

My Wing Chun shifu uses those, but he has filled the bottoms up with stone and need a hand truck to move them, if they are not heavy enough they get knocked over. But for his purpopses, they work great due to limit space, he can move them off to the side, out os the way. His are the only ones I have used, But ultimately it i up to your personal preference.

 

[JowGaWolf2]

That's a lot of words. Just punch the damn makiwara!

That's why teacher say things like "Punch through" "Stab the bag with the punch" and then the students be like "WTF is he talking about"

The martial arts teachers agree with you. lol

 

[Fungus104 2]

Has anyone ever tried a non-perpendicular, say 45 degrees punch/stab at the Makiwara? How does your knuckles feel?

In an upward **** tsuki, I feel that I am stabbing the lower ribs at upward angle, its supposed to hook my knyckles, I dont stab the "bulk of the body". Bag or makiwara has no ribs. With a bag like his, it would be much better, but i hav don such.

 

[JowGaWolf2]

Has anyone ever tried a non-perpendicular, say 45 degrees punch/stab at the Makiwara? How does your knuckles feel?

I only punch things that give like a bag vs give away like the Makiwara board. A bag will collapse around the point of impact. The Makiwara board moves away from the point of impact.

If pads instead of rope are used and the punch is downward, then that may be okay to do. I would think the risk would be like someone rolling their face away from a punch in order to reduce the direct impact of a punch.

In Jow Ga we punch where the Chin hinges. If the person tries to roll with the punch, the strike will hit the back of the head instead of the Jaw. Which is why punches are targeted there in the first place. It is understood that most people turn away from a punch to protect their face, which gives us a better target, the back of the head.