Hand Wraps

[SamuraiGuy]

Hey just wondering how many of you use Hand Wraps in your training and when/if you compete in MMA events. I recently got some hand wraps and are just learning how to rap them, I'm getting a bit better..any opinions on if hand wraps are good, and seeing who uses em would be great.

[Tom Yum]

Hand wraps keep your wrist aligned better (but cannot make up for an improperly alligned fist). They also give a little protection to your knuckles.

[wardancer]

Originally Posted by SamuraiGuy

Hey just wondering how many of you use Hand Wraps in your training and when/if you compete in MMA events. I recently got some hand wraps and are just learning how to rap them, I'm getting a bit better..any opinions on if hand wraps are good, and seeing who uses em would be great.

I never used them.
I trained my knuckles by hiting barehand on ricestraw bag attached to wooden post (e.g Makiwara) until my knuckles bleeds for about a year.
To conlude, it does not matter how much you wrap you hands to train:
just to brake your hands in a streetfight!

[bdipab]

At first it is important to use hand wraps so that you don't hurt you're wrist doing traditional jab, cross (horizontally held). I prefer the vertical jab, cross or with only a 3/4 turn which is easier to do without injuring wrists (but it takes right training to have as much power). I would say that you have to train up to bare hands on 80lb or more heavy bag, etc, or risk having to take time off to let wrist heal up.

Again, for the beginner, stress the right performance of the technique (where power and speed should come once you have down the mechanics).

[SamuraiGuy]

Yeah, Ive been taught to punch with a vertical fist for almost every punches, for various reasons. The reason we use hand wraps is to prevent wrist injury from repeated punching.... dont want arthritis or some crap like that...

[HtTKar]

You should have someone else wrap your hands unless you have been taught and are experienced yourself in wrapping. Otherwise you could do more damage than good. No point if wrapping your hands if you're not doing it right.

I bought some wraps once and never used them. I've never needed them.

[wardancer]

Originally Posted by SamuraiGuy

Yeah, Ive been taught to punch with a vertical fist for almost every punches, for various reasons. The reason we use hand wraps is to prevent wrist injury from repeated punching.... dont want arthritis or some crap like that...

So you rather strap your wrists and brake them the day you fight barehand defending yourselve in the streets.
So you could avoid arthritis that you think could be caused from barehand conditionning!

[AlexJitsu]

Or you could use palm strikes to the face...

[Tant01]

Originally Posted by Mike Brewer

... In streetfights, a good straight jab to the nose is nearly always enough to make most attackers think twice, and it's damned difficult to break a hand doing that. ...

Ya don't say?


Imagine that!

[Tom Yum]

You mean all that time perfecting my jump, swinging, 760 degree upside down kick has gone to waste ?



Dang.

[Tant01]

Originally Posted by Mike Brewer

Some people have to be shown, Tant.

I'll tell ya Mike, I've had the pleasure on more than one occasion to test this theory.

It's amazing how much blood can come out of that thing and how far it will splatter... "Bleeders"


It won't end every fight but it's a darn good start!

[Tom Yum]

I was wearing a mouth guard, sparring pretty hard with a guy whose two weight classes above mine and also a really good amateur fighter and he caught me right up the middle with an uppercut.

My mouth guard cut into my lip and and mouth, couldn't eat grapes or anything citrus. You couldn't see it from the outside, but there was a small u shaped cut on the inside.

Makes you appreciative of your gear. Without it, my tooth might have gone through my lip.

[SimonM]

Originally Posted by SamuraiGuy

Hey just wondering how many of you use Hand Wraps in your training and when/if you compete in MMA events. I recently got some hand wraps and are just learning how to rap them, I'm getting a bit better..any opinions on if hand wraps are good, and seeing who uses em would be great.

Hand wraps are a great way to weaken your hands.

[SamuraiGuy]

Weaken my hands? and I dont see how they would weaken my hands....

I assume your into breaking your hands or something to make them tougher, to tell you the truth at class I dont really feel they are doing anything, except preventing my skin from ripping open. I dont know how much support they give my wrist, prolly not wrapping it professionally. Obviously wraps have merit if professional fighters have to use them.

BTW about the palm strikes we do practice those, and If you dont have wraps instructors tell you to use those instead of punches.

We dont actually use alot of punches, more hammer fists and knees, elbows and the whatnot, I love the hammer fist.

Thanks for all the input to everyone.

[wardancer]

Originally Posted by Mike Brewer

wardancer,
What?!!?

Wrapping your hands allows you to train with more regularity and consistency BECAUSE they allow you to train without injury. Someone who injures his hands on purpose is going to have some problems training effectively, because even if he does gut out the sore hands and throw punches, they'll be tentative and sloppy. I'm curious as to what you'd have done in that original year of training while your knuckles were all bloody and sore if you'd had to defend yourself. How effective do you suppose your punches would have been? Can you imagine getting assaulted by some druggie or alcoholic at a club, popping them in the mouth, and finding out later that they had AIDS and you gave their infected blood a free ride into your body by maintaining open sores on your hands? Did it occur to you that cross training in grappling might cause those open sores to bust and cover training partners, mats, and clothing in your blood? That might be disagreeable to some...

Look, don't go out and disfigure your hands or resort to the old mystical, magical, makiwara toughening of the knuckles. You don't need it. Wrap your hands and train hard. Believe me, if you're throwing good punches, you won't have much to worry about. In streetfights, a good straight jab to the nose is nearly always enough to make most attackers think twice, and it's damned difficult to break a hand doing that. If you're too worried, aim at the guy's neck.

When I did makiwara conditionning I was not into grappling.
But my personal makiwara was at home, not to be share..do not be silly..

About training, no it did not hurt (badly) only when I had a shower because the water! i do not think it affected the quality of the punching techniques.
To the contrary, I feel being able by punching 1000 times a hard surface made me being able to punch someone so hard!

About the disease stuff, LOL..what are you gonna tell the dude to wait so you can wrap your hands!

Even the best MMA and boxers brake their hands anyway, it is a question of conditionning!

Makiwara is not only knuckles conditioning but also elbow, shoulder, backbone been able to take the physical punishment of the punching impact.
But I must say it is important to make sure the makiwara is flexible target (about 2 inches after the punch), the idea to punch 'throught' the target and NOT train yourself to hit a hard wall, because you hurt yourselves and also you will 'hold' back your punch.

Makiwara conditioning is not for under 16 years old and must for a BB in karate.
If it was up to me, I would say green belt or after 1 year of consistant karate training.

Look at this way, karate is a bareknuckle MA! e.g Mas OYAMA.

In boxing, gloves are used to protect the hands due hands injuries.