Shadow Boxing/Sparring
Does anyone ever train shadow boxing. In that practising your techniques, counters with imagining a sparring partner, similar to what boxers do? Any input or comments? North, since we have wing chun in common, I'd like your feedback, but I am interested in input from all styles. Thanks.

Pak Sau, How are you?? I like your topic. Personally I like the area of shadow boxing. However ( and this is just my opinion) I give the term a very broad spectrum. Any time you train on your own without a partner is IMHO , shadow boxing. I Believe katas to be a form of shadow boxing, I beleive practicing techniques to shadow boxing, I beleive cardio kickboxing is a form of shadow boxing. Shadow boxing is a good way to practice and perfect form, speed , combinations, and such. Shadow boxing, in any form, can be done slow, it can be done fast. You can disect yourself, without having to worry about hindering someone elses training. You can disect your punch, your block, your footwork, the shifting of your weight, the transition of your stances, the angles from which you launch your attack and the angles at which they reach their intended target. Shadow boxing is a very valuable and integral part of my training that is for sure. sifu shawn

Thanks Sifu Shawn, I appreciate the input. When training my forms, I too use them like shadow boxing. I'm having a little trouble trying to "freestyle" shadow box in two areas, one could be my imagination could be lacking, the second area is that I find myself pausing or stopping after a few shadow attacks and counters. With the forms it is not a problem because it is always rehearsed and you know what comes next, I want to be able to have a free flowing mind. I am seeing better results in opponent sparring since I have started shadow boxing but I need to do it more often.