How to Make a Punching Bag for Kids
This is an easy and cheap alternative to those expensive sporting goods store punching bags. The end result will be full-sized, durable and great for the novice martial artist, aspiring boxer, or just to burn off some extra steam.
Things You'll Need
- Military-style duffel bag (about 3 feet long) with four top-closing flaps and hook that comes through the top exposed
- Old rags or clothes
- Cardboard (optional)
- Small or medium chain
- Heavy duty nylon cord (optional)
- Sandbag (optional)
- Box cutter razor (if needed)
- Duct tape (if needed)
Instructions
Stand the bag up vertically, and stuff it with old rags, clothes or towels. It is important that the filler be clean, as chemicals still in the fabric (especially if you use rags) can be a fire hazard. Secure the top by running the hook on one flap through the metal eyelets on the other three flaps so that the hook is exposed at the top. To give it that extra satisfying "crunch," slip in pieces of cardboard with the flat surfaces to the outside of the bag. Make sure at least a thin layer of filler fabric is between the cardboard and the canvas. Secure or remove extra straps, zippers or pockets from the outside of the bag to avoid hand injuries. This can be accomplished with a simple box cutter razor by pushing the blade under the canvas seam guards and cutting the threads, being careful not to slice into the bag itself. Another option is to cover seam guards with duct tape by wrapping the tape around the bag horizontally. Wrap a link of chain around an exposed beam or girder, and feed it through the hook at the top of the bag. The chain length can be adjusted to whatever height you desire. The weight of the bag should keep it from swinging around too dramatically during use, but if needed, secure the bottom by simply tying a piece of heavy duty nylon cord snugly around the bottom of the bag and tie the other end without any slack to a sandbag.
