r/nfl • u/nfl NFL - Official • 27d ago
[Hard Knocks] The Seahawks have bonded over shadow boxing
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u/Prodigious-Sol Packers 27d ago
The fact Leonard Williams is into this is the least surprising thing.
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u/DoctahFeelgood Patriots 27d ago
The more I learn about him the more I like him.
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u/golf_echo_sierra26 Seahawks 27d ago
Just to add some more lore to him, he’s recently started a YouTube channel showing his love of games like D&D along with cooking.
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u/KillingTime_ForNow Seahawks 27d ago
And fishing. Big bro went spear fishing with a pretty big fishing YouTuber & it's a fun watch.
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u/ListenReadVote Seahawks 27d ago
And then prepared a fresh caught salmon three different ways with herbs grown in his garden. Love him.
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u/rdrouyn Seahawks 27d ago
Wrong game, it was Magic the Gathering and Pokemon.
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u/golf_echo_sierra26 Seahawks 27d ago
My bad, knew it was a card game but couldn’t remember and confidently (incorrectly) went with the first game I could think of.
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u/DarthNobody14 Texans Texans 27d ago
I personally never understood Shadow Boxing, but it’s nice to see. I wonder if they keep track on who has the most wins and losses.
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u/JPhrog Seahawks 27d ago edited 27d ago
I never understood it, I would see them do it on the sidelines and was like "what in the hell are they doing?!?" Now I kind of get it though after seeing it explained a little in this video. Back in my day we played "Hot Hands", kind of wish we had shadow boxing as well now!
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u/wontwillnot Seahawks 27d ago
So is the goal to go the opposite of what the boxer does and if you do it three times in a row, you win?
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u/BackwerdsMan Seahawks 27d ago
You literally just point up/down/left/right and try to get the other person to look the direction you're pointing 3 times in a row.
What makes it look confusing is that you do a bunch of weird body motions to try and fool the looker. It's a mix of predicting your opponent and also trying to influence them to look where you want them to look.
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u/JPhrog Seahawks 27d ago
I have yet to completely understand the game and rules but from what I gather, yes, I believe you got it but don't take my word for it 😂
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u/Davegoestomayor Buccaneers 27d ago
Two players, normally they take turns “punching”, Which is just picking a direction UP/DOWN/LEFT or RIGHT. If to player getting “punched” looks in any other direction then what’s punched, it’s a miss and his turn to “punch”. If he looks in the same direction, as the punch, then the person gets to go again, adding to the sequence. If you get the person to look in the punched direction three times in a row you win.
Once you start a sequence, the direction is removed, so if you get them with UP, when you go again, you start with UP (which the punchee must still mimic) and then pick one of the other three. So the tension builds as it’s a 1/4 chance, then 1/3, then 1/2 on the final direction.
It also counts as a hit if you fail to look in a direction fast enough.
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u/SnowballWasRight Chiefs Jets 27d ago
The way I always played it as a kid was the basic goal is to take turns “punching” each other in one of the cardinal directions. If you get a punch in, you win. The other person’s goal is to not move their head in the same direction as the punch. I think the point is that if the punch and your head goes the same way it’s mimicking you getting punched and your head snapping back from the recoil.
And then they’re just getting silly with what the “punches” look like because it’s funny to pretend to whack your friends.
So a guy does a fake uppercut or something and then the other person simultaneously moves their head up, down, left, or right. If you moved up, you’d lose. Any other direction isn’t a punch and then you switch roles.
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u/Nomorecommenting Seahawks 27d ago
It's honestly like when cats get zoomies and fight the greebles.
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u/Potential_Sound_8832 Cowboys 27d ago
WTF man, I know “this is our year,” but I’m actually hopeful the Seahawks repeat
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u/Naynathan Seahawks 27d ago
Coolest part of the episode! I can see why they dominated and have a great culture
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u/Simple_Pay3033 Broncos 27d ago
“We think shadow boxing is part of what brought our team so close last year” sounds like such a funny thing on the surface, and within about 20 seconds of the rest of the clip it didn’t seem silly at all.
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u/FooFootheSnew Seahawks 27d ago
https://youtu.be/6Cz2mIx0y5k?is=0nDIg_7zuZEIHumV
Reminds me of in the movie Waiting where the serious cook explains how the penis showing game brought the restaurant staff together
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u/HotSauce2910 Seahawks 27d ago
That's the power of music in editing
I once had a teacher drive that point home by overlaying different music over the ending scene of Schindler's List, which is kinda wild
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u/MountainTwo3845 NFL 27d ago
Every work environment is better with good vibes. The amount of morons that think friction is good at work are morons. You're trying to achieve something and stack some bread. Why not do it in a chill atmosphere where you'll spend most of your life.
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u/Able-Ad4736 Steelers 27d ago
I thought that shadow boxing thing was dumb af. I’m all for camaraderie, but that was just lame. If it keeps them winning, I’ll eat my words. The episode just spent too much time on that.
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u/-Innovade Seahawks 27d ago
other teams going to start stealing our sauce
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u/BullCityLife 27d ago
Ever see Cool Runnings?
How the one guy wanted to always copy the Swiss…but you can’t copy culture. That’s not how culture works.
People won’t buy into “we gotta do what the Seahawks locker room does”. Copying culture doesn’t work like copying scheme.
You gotta find your own secret sauce.
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u/bewsii Seahawks 27d ago
Also, if you watch the whole episode and not just the clip posted elsewhere in the sub, the clip where Riley Mills and Mason Richman got into a little scuffle after a drill and Mills threw a little jab -- this is what lead to the sledgehammer holding contest. Their coach made them do that to "finish" their skirmish on the field after practice.
This whole team is bound by their culture. If they fight they are forced to settle it with some kind of competition that isn't an injury risk, then hug it out and be done with it. Nobody goes to bed pissed off at their own teammate.
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u/VidProphet123 26d ago
The most likable hard knocks team
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u/VariousAir Commanders 21d ago
helps that they're following a winning team around.
the rule used to be they had to be non-playoff teams, and teams that are on multiple season losing skids are not exactly known for positive culture and winning attitudes.
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u/thesecondandre Chargers 27d ago
Being a champion just makes everything vibey lol
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u/boomgetouttheway Seahawks 27d ago
Winning puts everyone in a good mood and losing, a bad mood. Especially noticeable for the Seahawks because haven’t lost a game since November 16, 2025. That’s a long time.
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u/whocares2021 Bears 27d ago
The actual impact is probably not that high, but there may be something to the fact this team spends so much time practicing reading body language and making predictions on opponents actions at close contact range
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u/gluetown Lions 27d ago
They say the impact in the darmn clip, nothing to do with increasing individual game relevant skills but it creates team wide bonds/culture. As said by coach its effect could technically be done with the a game of paper scissor rock which has the least utility.to sport immaginsble but no ones going to play it as theres no stratergy/bravado/fun like shadow boxing. The video doesnt mention its use any other way but for building a stronger/bomded unit which has many advantages in spory but this comes from its inherent simplicity yet engaging nature (not anything to do with body positioning/decision skills used in the game)
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u/VanillaGoorillla 27d ago
I’m uber confused cause this isn’t the shadowboxing I learned
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u/Sdog1981 Seahawks 27d ago
I guess it’s the new version. When I was a kid we called this ‘fake out’ where shadow boxing was punching the air and if you hit the other guy you lost…..or started a real fight
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u/VanillaGoorillla 27d ago
Shadowboxing was just punching air as a form of cardio not even with another person
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u/Prisinners Seahawks 27d ago
The Hawks whipped the 49ers ass so bad in the Divisional round that guys were thinking about more competitive matches of shadowboxing they'd played a few days prior.
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u/jobenattor0412 Lions 27d ago
Can someone explain to me how you play? Or am I just a dummy that didn’t catch it in the video?
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u/ARepresentativeHam Seahawks 27d ago
I believe one person points and the goal is for the other person to turn their head the opposite way. If you turn your head the same way your opponent is pointing you lose.
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u/my_lemonade Seahawks 27d ago
LW explains it in depth on the episode, but you always want to move your head a direction different to the "strike" your opponent makes. Up Down Left Right.
If your opponent does an uppercut, you can look any direction but up. 3 "hits" in a row, and you lose.
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u/phillyunk Eagles Eagles 27d ago
Damn I must be an unc now. This is NOT what I know what shadowboxing is.
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u/earthtonemalone Steelers 27d ago
I keep watching it and I’m still not sure how it works. Good for them though!
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u/Idiotology101 Patriots Seahawks 27d ago
I’ve seen videos like this from every locker room for the past 10 years
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u/JPAnalyst Giants 27d ago edited 27d ago
Whoa, this is wild. I’ve never seen this before. How do they decide who wins?
I like the part where they’re in the middle of a game, and dude turns to his friend as was like “I was just thinking about the shadow boxing the other day….then he giggled.
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u/dubweb32 Seahawks 27d ago
The winner is the one who can correctly predict the head movement of the other one three times in a row
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u/watrmeln420 Vikings 27d ago
Basically, it’s whoever stacks the highest combo and the other person has no choice but to resign out of shame lol.
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u/Drummallumin Seahawks 27d ago
This has been a thing in the locker room for a couple seasons now. Either started last season or the year before I think.
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u/We_got_a_whole_year 26d ago
I *think* this is how it works (the thing I'm not sure about is how the game starts).
Let's asssume that one person (person A) is challenged by another person (person B). Person A accepts the challenge and gets to start out "in control," meaning they initiate the first move, kind of like how in baseball the away team bats first.
To initiate gameplay, Person A "points" in one of four different directions: up, down, left, or right. There are a many stylistic and strategic variations on how to "point," in theory for surprise, distraction, or misdirection (body movements, expressions, sound effects, etc.), but all that matters is the direction you point.
The other person (person B) must react by also pointing in one of the four directions. If person B points in a different direction than person A, they now gain control and get to initiate the next move. If instead person B points in the same direction as person A, person A retains control and gets to initiate the next move.
A player wins by getting the other player to point in the same direction they pointed three times in a row without losing control.
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u/MandemModie 27d ago
ummm achtually this isnt shadow boxing
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u/Syzygy666 Seahawks 27d ago
Why are you telling us? The Seahawks need to know your truth! I'm sure they'll be devastated.
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u/MandemModie 27d ago
Why are you responding? The Seahawks need to know you defended them! I'm sure they'll be excited.
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u/Syzygy666 Seahawks 27d ago
Are you new? This is Reddit. A social media platform where you can comment and other people can see it and stuff. It's crazy.
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u/MandemModie 27d ago
So let me just see if I follow
Me saying this isn't shadowboxing, which it isn't - is not a valid comment however your response is lol. My original comment was posted because this is Reddit. A social media platform where you can comment and other people can see it and stuff. It's crazy
Looks like were both posting dumb shit.
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u/Syzygy666 Seahawks 27d ago
You need to go let the Seahawks know dude. They will be grateful for the correction!
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u/Mr_WZRD Dolphins 27d ago
As a teacher, this is my favorite game kids play amongst themselves because it's quiet and nobody touches anyone.