I boxed in high school, and was pretty good at it. But I got kicked out because I lacked perhaps the most important skill - self control. If my opponent punched me in the head (headgear to be honest) I’d get pissed. Can’t do that. 
Anyway, I didn’t understand the need for shadow boxing. Sparring, heavy bag and speed bag, even jumprope. But dancing around while feinting punches at imaginary opponents honestly never made sense. Sparring (tapping, not punching) was good, and really built skill. “Practice”, said the coach. I should practice throwing sissy punches and making those funny phhhttt noises with my mouth? He made me do it anyway. :rolleyes:
I fixed him, I pinned him in front of about 40 guys in a match in PE class. 
He called me a “wet dishrag” in front of the same class.
So, you wanna be pugilists out there, why shadow box?
BTW; I’m 64 yrs now, and fat. So you can’t hit me.
Peace,
mangeorge
YouTube video:
Did you hear that? that funny sound he made? 
Anyway, I get the mirror thing, and your coach or another boxer watching and talking you through.
I mean the while running, or on the gym floor by yourself, that kind of thing.
I had already had some one on one instruction, long before, in the 5th and 6th grade.
We didn’t do that “Rocky” stuff. We sparred, and worked the bags. We did run.
I dated a boxer two BF’s ago.
Wait, I thought you said boxing, not MMA…
Boxing is a sport. With rules. You were a hot head who apparently didn’t understand that. Shadow boxing builds skill, speed and timing. All of the boxers who succeed in the sport practice it, there must be something to it, no?
“I was so bad ass - take my word for it, now get off my lawn”
Peace,
Jain
Shadowboxing is all about maintaining proper stance and balance at all times. A common mistake is throwing a punch too far and hard which results getting yourself out of balance and losing your footing. Your opponent then will beat you to a pulp.
Another common mistake is keeping your hands down after throwing a punch or not bringing them back up quickly enough which is also a recipe for disaster.
With shadowboxing you are repeating those moves over and over again so eventually your hands and feet start moving naturally on their own accord, without having to think about it. Also making “funny noises with your mouth”. You need to exhale sharply so then you inhale. Else you’ll forget to breathe and faint out.
I agree, all these look retarded to a casual observer but there’s no doubt that shadowboxing works. Even the pros are doing it.
Sometimes long held givens turn out to be pure bunk. Ask this guy and his converts.
And I ain’t no hothead. Wanna step outside?
Fffft fffft ffft. ffft fffft.
True. For example, James has made the point that trends toward one-handed catching in the 60s and 70s, decried by traditionalists because it “wasn’t the right way” to catch the ball, actually led to better fielding and quicker reactions. Vic Power was James’ prime example. Power was labeled a hot dog for his one-handed catches, but he was the best first baseman in the league doing it, and eventually it caught on.
That being said, if you can find me a set of successful young fighters (either boxing or MMA) who say shadow-boxing is irrelevant, then you’re on the road to making your case. Otherwise, not so much.
Making funny sounds while striking is taught in multiple disciplines of self-defense. Here’s another quote.:
True, but that would be akin to proving a negative. You’d have to find a few very promising fighters who are willing to give up that part of shadow boxing (no mirror, no coaching, etc which one does unwatched and unsupervised. I don’t know of a serious boxer, or his manager, who would accept that risk. Plus, he wouldn’t be likely to gain anything by doing so.
I know that. I was taugt the same thing (in the 5th grade), whether sparring, bagging, or in an actual fight.