Balloon training is a cheap and effective training to help boxers and kickboxers improve focus, control, reaction time, speed, footwork and helps the fighter vary his technique.

Balloon training is very simple. You can use one or more balloons. A single or several fighters can practice simultaneously.

The object of balloon training is to punch or kick the balloon with as perfect technique as possible. The trainer tosses the balloon in the air, the fighter use his footwork to approach the balloon; he punches or kicks the balloon using good technique. He focuses on it and tries to use another technique that will keep the balloon from hitting the ground.

If the fighter punches the balloon too hard, it will fly across the room at a high rate of speed. The fighter will have to close in on it with technique. He cannot sprint or run to it. He has to use shuffle steps and similar techniques to close in on the balloon.

The training is good for the kickboxer because it forces him to use more than one technique. The balloons awkward fight will force the kickboxer to vary his technique too. It is the trainers responsibility to monitor the techniques used by the fighter, making sure that the selection varies.

If more than one fighter is balloon training, the fighters will have to stand within an assigned area of the floor. They must stay in their area, which can be marked, if desired. The trainer can launch more than one balloon depending on the number of fighters.

For training against multiple opponents, the trainer can launch 2 or more balloons and the fighter has to use his techniques to keep the balloons in the air. In this training, the balloons can be launched one at a time in different directions and the fighter can move in those areas but the trainer has to keep in mind that the fighter has to use techniques that will take out the opponent with minimal amount of strikes.

When practicing try to start off with 2 minute rounds with 30 second to one minute rest breaks in between rounds depending on the condition of the fighter.

As the fighter practices, you will see improved, speed, focus coordination and concentration.