Bandages are an essential attribute of a boxing sportsman. Boxing bandages are necessary to prevent damage to the skin, to protect the ligaments from sprains.
When training on bags, movable pears, a boxer always runs the risk of injury to his hands. This may be due to decreased concentration, improper positioning of hands, insufficient clenching of the fist.
Bandages for boxing: types
Bandages vary in length and elasticity. They vary in length from 2.5 to 5 meters. The length of the bandage is chosen depending on the size of the hand, how it is wound, the size of the glove. On average, its length varies from 3 meters and more. If the bandage is not long enough, it will not be enough to fully wrap the hand and wrist.
In terms of elasticity, boxing bandages can be elastic or inelastic. Elastic bandages fit the hand better, literally becoming one with it. However, at the same time, such a bandage can overtighten the hand, disrupt normal blood circulation, which is extremely unacceptable during boxing. Another important point - during the winding process, it may seem that the bandages are wound well, but during training, the hand may begin to numb, causing discomfort to the boxer.
Inelastic bandages are safer in this case. They are usually made of cotton and have several advantages:
When winding such bandages, you immediately feel how much the hand is overtightened;
Cotton fabric absorbs sweat well, which prevents premature deterioration of the gloves from the inside;
Since cotton bandages stretch a little over time, they perfectly follow the curves of the hand, perfectly fitting it
Boxing bandages: application benefits
Due to the correct application of boxing bandages, the risk of injury is significantly reduced, and the effectiveness of training, on the contrary, increases. Bandages are required for:
Unloading ligaments and muscles, additional fixation of movable joints, insurance against strong sprains;
Protection against pollution, prolongation of the use of gloves, due to the possibility of absorbing excess moisture;
Fist fixation, correct setting of punches, implementation of reinforced punches
It is highly undesirable to use boxing bandages without gloves. The fact is that under the influence of energy they go astray and subsequently cease to fulfill their functions. As a rule, training takes place in thin gloves for projectiles, which are worn over bandages. Note that to improve the effectiveness of boxing lessons, it is advisable not to box without bandages.
How to wrap a boxing bandage?
There are 2 ways of wrapping bandages - the classic way and the "eight". The first is considered simpler and is suitable for those who do it for the first time. Step-by-step instructions for this winding method are as follows:
- Fix the thumb in the loop. We begin to wind from it.
- Wrap the bandage around your wrist, move to your thumb, and with one turn, finally secure the bandage.
- Then it is necessary to wrap the striking surface, making a transition to the inside of the brush. In this case, each subsequent loop should go to the previous one only half.
- Next, you should wind on the knuckles, since they offer maximum protection.
- To top it off, you need to make a couple of turns of bandages where the brush is not sufficiently protected.
- It remains with the use of Velcro or strings to fix the structure around the wrist.
How to wind a boxing bandage: the choice of "advanced" athletes
The so-called "figure eight" method provides harder and stronger punches. This is due to a tighter fit of the bandage to the arm, firm fixation of the hand.
Treating the joint of each individual finger significantly reduces injuries during competition and training. The beginning and end of the method are identical to those described above. However, after a couple of turns around the knuckles, the bandage is passed in a clear sequence between the index, middle, ring and little fingers.
In the process of wrapping, fingers must be spread apart. Turns should be carried out from the side opposite the thumb. Then, after each turn, you need to move to the wrist for additional fixation.
First of all, wrap your hands yourself. This is the only way to properly adjust the tension of the bandage. It should also be remembered that if the bandages are wound too tightly, the hand may become numb, a weak bandage threatens that the bandage will "walk" along the hand.
Wrap the bandage so that when the hand is unclenched, nothing crushes, and when it is clenched, it tightly wraps around the fist.
Note that the question of how to properly wrap boxing bandages is far from the last in the instructions for preparing for boxing training. After each battle, the bandages must be dried on the battery. It is allowed to keep them unfolded and rolled up.
Basic rules when choosing bandages
- A bandage includes a thumb loop, tape and Velcro, with which it is attached to the wrist.
- Bandages are made from various materials: synthetic or cotton. The service life of polyester or nylon bandages is longer, and the wear is, accordingly, less. But such a product is characterized by poor absorbency, does not provide the normal level of ventilation that is necessary during exercise.
- It is important to choose the right bandage length in order to understand how to bandage your hands in boxing. A bandage with a length of 2.5 m is suitable for amateurs. 4-5 m. Is the length recommended for professionals.
- Bandages with special antibacterial impregnation are especially good. These models are usually available in blister packs.
All forms of boxing are extremely dangerous, therefore, athletes are advised to perform manipulations designed to protect parts of the body from injury. Such actions include bandaging the hands of boxers. How to properly wrap boxing bandages is one of the initial skills that athletes learn.
Types of boxing bandagesA boxing bandage is a long (2.5 to 5 m) stretch or non-stretch tape with a thumb loop on one end and an adhesive fastener on the other. Short boxing bandages often do not allow to properly wrap the arm of an adult wrestler, and too long - make it difficult to put on a glove. The most popular size of a boxing bandage, which is the easiest to wrap around the arm correctly, is 3-4 meters.
The elasticity of the bandage is the second important factor after size. Well-stretched boxing bandages can be wrapped around the arm as a "second skin" - ie. very tight. However, with such an item of equipment, there is always the danger of overtightening the hand and wrist, which can cause impaired blood flow, numbness of the hand and discomfort that will definitely interfere with the fight.
Professionals often choose completely inelastic cotton bandages that fit perfectly on all the curves of the wrist and hand, control the degree of tightness already during the wrapping process, and absorb moisture released from the skin well.
How to wind boxing bandages - diagram
The classic scheme for protecting the hand with boxing bandages looks like this:
- put a loop on the thumb and unfold the bandage from the back of the hand;
- wrap the wrist tightly under the thumb in 2-3 layers, making sure that the winding is not too loose or tight;
- 2-3 times wrap the hand above the thumb, closing the knuckles and making sure that the bandage does not form creases;
- include the thumb in the winding, fixing its position.
For many athletes, this option of properly wrapping a boxing bandage around the arm is sufficient to protect the hands and wrists from injury. However, regular participants in fights prefer to wrap boxing bandages through their fingers as the safest way to protect their hands. For this option, you need to perform additional manipulations after performing the classic winding:
- bandage the joints of the fingers begins with the little finger, fixing the bandage on the wrist, then gradually move to the index;
- at the end of the bandaging, you need to make another 1-2 turns around the hand and wrist;
- a sticky fastener will help to fix the bandage, which must be pressed tightly so that it does not interfere with movements.
The correct wrapping of the arm for boxing should be convenient and comfortable, otherwise it will not help the athlete, but interfere with the movements of the hands or slide, losing its protective functions. That is why boxers are advised to do the wrapping on their own, since no one except them is able to feel the constriction or too weak tension of the bandage. Novice athletes can be guided by the following recommendation: with the correct winding, the bandage does not create pressure on the hand in the free 
position, and when the hand is squeezed into a fist, it grasps it tightly and fixes it.
For minor injuries, wrestlers often use a bandage as a "pillow" for the wrist. To create a "pillow", the bandage is wrapped around four fingers 2-3 times, the formed ring is removed, folded in half and applied to the knuckles on the back of the hand. Then the rest of the bandage is wrapped, which should start with fixing the "pillow", and then wrap the wrist and fingers.
Boxing bandages should be taken care of after each fight or. The care consists in drying the attribute uncoiled or rolled into a roller.
To protect hands from damage, gloves alone are not enough, although they absorb some of the energy upon impact, they do not fit tightly enough to the hand. Even in them, serious injuries are possible if the bandages are not properly secured. They provide the best contact of the glove with the hand, increase the level of shock absorption and save the limbs from permanent hematomas and joint fractures.
The range is different in color and length, the choice depends only on your tastes, preferences and brush size.
Nothing revolutionary and non-standard, in terms of material, has not been invented in recent years. Unless you can choose an elastic or inelastic fabric. An elastic bandage better fits the hand, but at the same time it can squeeze blood vessels and nerves, with prolonged training this can lead to unpleasant sensations and consequences.
Most bandages have three parts:
- Small loop.
- Directly bandage.
- Velcro or ties.
The loop is designed to hold the entire structure around the thumb. It is enough to insert it in order to form a fixing point, you do not need to make any additional turns or fiddle with the knots.
If your new bandages are devoid of this part, you will feel discomfort every time you wrap your hands.
The main part is represented by a strip of fabric, the standard length ranges from 2 to 5 meters, the width is standard. Velcro is needed for final fixation.
Strings are also suitable, but they are more difficult to cope with, especially for a novice boxer. Part of the punches will be practiced without gloves at all, only in bandages. Therefore, get used to them, always wrap your hand, focusing on your feelings, and not on someone's advice. After all, everyone's body is individual, and it is you, and not the advisor, to work in such conditions.
How to properly bandage your hands with boxing bandages?
There are two main options for wrapping bandages - the classic way and the "eight". The first one is simpler and will suit all those who first took a bandage in their hands. Further step-by-step instructions for the correct hand bandage:
Fix the thumb in the loop. Now we will start winding from it.
Wrap the bandage around your wrist, move to your thumb and finally fix it in one turn.
Now is the time to wrap the striking surface, with the transition to the inside of the brush. Each subsequent turn should go to the previous one only by half.
Start swinging on your knuckles, they need protection most of all.
A couple of turns in those areas where the brush is not sufficiently protected with a bandage will complete the picture.
Now you can fix the entire simple structure in the wrist area with Velcro or ties.
There is nothing difficult in this, the coach will show several times how to do it correctly. And if you have such an instruction, you can practice at home, even if at first glance everything sounds very simple, but the first few times you may not succeed.
You can follow this step-by-step photo instructions for bandaging:
The fact is that it is better to memorize the process purely mechanically and to carry it out in the future "automatically" Attempts to understand and remember the correct sequence of actions will lead to errors even with this lightweight version.
The choice of "advanced" specialists.
But any film about boxers tells us that real pros pass a bandage between each finger, forming that very "eight". It looks quite impressive, a piece of cloth becomes like a real glove. Is this more effective than the first method? Yes a little.
The method itself came to us from the Union, for many decades it has provided and continues to provide tougher and stronger blows. All this thanks to a better fit to the hand and a firm hold of the hand.
Treating the joint of each finger individually dramatically reduces injuries during training and competition. The method begins and ends in the same way as the one already described. But after a couple of turns around the knuckles, the bandage is sequentially passed between the index, middle, ring and little fingers.
During wrapping, the fingers should be spread apart, turning from the side opposite the thumb. After each turn, we move to the wrist for additional fixation and only then return to the next finger.
Again, it sounds simple, but problems when trying to repeat this in practice are guaranteed to arise. A personal example of a trainer, pictures and videos at the end of the article will make the task somewhat easier.
Three of the most common beginner mistakes.
Creasing. Even with a well-delivered blow, you don't particularly injure the hand itself, but you are guaranteed to wipe the skin until it bleeds.
Compression of veins and nerves. This will lead to a loss of sensitivity, and it can come to shaking hands. When sparring is not the best option.
Due to poor contact, the bandage can unwind and come off your hand. It rarely happens, but this is also a reason to bandage your hands again.
There are no tutorials and recommendations that would allow you to find or calculate the optimal length of a bandage or the number of its curls. Everything is felt and verified through personal experience.
Feel free that you don't know how to wrap boxing bandages. You will be taught all this in the first training sessions and will approach the problems that have arisen with understanding. In fact, it's hard to find more good-natured people than boxers. But the situation can be very different, depending on the chosen hall. In this case, we are talking about our hall - "Fighting Gloves". You can sign up for a workout.
In any sport, there is a certain set of ammunition that protects the athlete from injury. And what can we say about martial arts? There, protection is given a primary role. These are helmets, gloves, bandages, etc. Here's how to properly bandage your hands with a boxing bandage and why this will be discussed further.
Why do you need bandages
So, what are the bandages for and why wrap them around your hands. The main function of the bandages is to protect the hand and its joints from damage. This is understandable, because the force of impact during training reaches several hundred kilograms and the protection of gloves alone is not enough, therefore, an athlete is simply obliged to know how to properly bandage his hands with a boxing bandage. They significantly soften the blow, but, in any case, the gloved hand is not fixed tightly enough and the risk of damage remains great. It's not for nothing that a fracture of the metacarpal bone is called a professional boxing injury. Bandages, however, reliably fix the wrist bones and joints in the correct position, plus the athlete's fist is more tightly fixed in the boxing glove, almost making up one whole with it. This minimizes the risk of damage. Another advantage of using bandages is the fact that the fist becomes tighter and the force of the blow is much increased.
Bandage selection
There are many different bandages, which differ in price, material of which they are made, length, width, elasticity and many other factors. Let's try to understand this diversity. The length of boxing bandages can be 2.5, 3 meters and more. The length is selected individually, depending on the size of the athlete's brush and on what method of winding he chooses. It should be said right away that you should not choose short bandages. It is better to make a couple of extra turns than to fix the brush badly and regret it more than once in the future.
The next nuance: bandages are elastic and inelastic. Elastic bandages are much easier to wrap than regular bandages. They fit more closely to the wrist, and even a beginner can handle them. But such bandages also have disadvantages. Not knowing how to properly bandage your hands with boxing bandages, you can very easily pinch your hands, which will negatively affect the training and well-being of the athlete. Inelastic bandages do not have this disadvantage. Of course, you can squeeze your hands with them, but in the process of winding it is much easier for an athlete to feel the degree of tension and control it. As for the material, cotton will be optimal here, as it allows air to pass through well, allowing the skin to "breathe" and absorbs sweat better. It is from cotton that non-elastic bandages are usually made.
So, let's move on to the process of wrapping the bandages. There are many ways and options, but the main thing is to understand the principle itself. You don't have to blindly follow any particular method. The purpose of the bandages is to protect the hands. Wind it as you feel comfortable, convenient, of course, it should not look untidy. The general principle of how to wind boxing bandages is as follows: the loop of the bandage is put on the thumb, then the bandage is overlapped on the wrist through the back of the hand. Several skeins are made on it, the number of which you choose yourself, based on the length of the bandage and what material it is made of. Then you can, wrapping the joint of the thumb, make several turns through the palm. It is important that each subsequent turn goes 50% on the previous one, or you can immediately wrap each finger through the wrist in turn, and then make turns around the palm. You can alternate winding each finger, and then a loop around the palm. It all depends on how comfortable it is for the athlete.
You need to complete the wrapping process with several turns on the wrist, going down to the elbow. As already mentioned, each subsequent turn goes halfway over the previous one, and at the end the bandage is fixed with Velcro. True, there are bandages with ties, but they are extremely rare and rather uncomfortable, so we will not talk about how to properly tie boxing bandages.
Beginner mistakes
The mistakes that beginners make are, first of all, the very tight wrapping of the bandages. As a result, the hands are pinched, numb, the athlete feels increasing discomfort, his hands begin to tremble. In general, there is no time for training. It is also bad when an athlete, not knowing how to wind boxing bandages, does not wrap them tightly enough, which is why the bandages begin to fold into folds, or even completely unwind and peel off. If the blow has already been more or less delivered, the arm in this case, of course, is difficult to break, but you can sometimes even rub the skin until it bleeds.
Storing bandages
At the end of the workout, the bandages must be dried and not just thrown into a pile, but carefully straightened and preferably hung. After drying, the bandages are wound tightly and stored in this form. They need to be washed periodically, since, constantly soaking in sweat, the bandages can become a source of skin allergies or even some inflammatory diseases. Try to keep the bandages dry, clean and neatly wound at all times.
In this article, I will tell you about what boxing bandages are, what is their essence, who needs them and why, their types (varieties), which are better / worse, etc. and finally, I will tell you how to wind them correctly (without any perversions there там, i.e. the usual method suitable for the majority, which was practiced in the Soviet Union and some (many) to this day).
What are boxing bands?
Boxing bandage - this is a long tape (ps the length can be different, up to 5 meters, in general, the length of the bandages is selected from the size of the hand, the method (method) of wrapping the bandages on the hands and the size of the gloves; in short, I do not recommend taking short bandages, because they are not enough to wrap your wrist and hand well, the best option is 3 meters, but be that as it may, you need to pick it up for yourself (hand, winding method and gloves, do not forget about this when buying, otherwise buy garbage, which afterwards you will regret a hundred thousand time)).
Boxing bands are used not only in boxing (the name can be misleading), but also in other types of martial arts (Thai boxing, kickboxing, etc.) specifically in order to protect fingers, palm and wrist from injuries (cracks, dislocations , sprains, fractures, ruptures of tendons and ligaments, etc.).
Full-size boxing bands should have Velcro and an eyelet. If they are absent, then I do not recommend buying (acquiring) them, because they are not very convenient to use. See below photo:
This is a loop (fixation occurs on the thumb).
And here is a photo of the Velcro that fixes (fixes) the bandage on the arm:
What else to say then ... oh yes, boxing bandages, in addition to protecting fingers, palm and wrist from injury, also increase the impact in combat, in training, etc. due to the fact that the bandage fixes the joints of the fingers. For these two reasons, you should never ignore this device, whoever tells you what.
Also boxing bandages vary in fabric (there is cotton (it breathes better, perfectly absorbs moisture from sweat (which keeps the gloves from deteriorating longer) and, most importantly, it does not constrict the vessels, thereby not disrupting the blood circulation process (this is due to the fact that during winding cotton bandages, you immediately feel whether your hand is tightly tightened or not; and if something happens you can loosen it), moreover, over time, cotton still stretches a little in the right places and will clearly lie on the bends of the hand (take my word for it) , of the minuses of cotton, perhaps only the fact that it is difficult (it is loudly said, but still) to wind EXACTLY on the hand (but this is how someone cares for them, who crumples anyhow - yes, but the one who carefully works, dries - everything is normal), see the photo below:
And there are bandages with the addition of elastic materials, they fit (wrap) more easily on the hand and become literally one with it (difficult to explain in words). However, it is much easier to tighten the arm with an elastic bandage and disrupt the blood supply in it (unlike cotton), which is unacceptable for those who are not in the know (a constriction can cause swelling, injury, etc.). Many guys say, they say, that I shook my hand all right, nothing gets numb, and then during training they feel that their hands start to swell and cause discomfort, and then they complain ... see the photo below:
CONCLUSION on the above: in my opinion, it is best to take boxing bands with a length of 3 meters (or 2.5, but no less), a width of about 5 cm, the material is cotton. Color, I allow you to choose yourself)).
How to wrap boxing bandages around your arms?
P.s. I would immediately like to warn (remind) that I will now consider the classic way of winding boxing bands around my hands. However, for those who are not in the know, there are many other winding options, as they say: “there are no comrades in taste and color,” or “to each his own”, therefore, there is no need to splatter drool on the monitor, in which case, generalize, they say, here's my best way, and yours about nothing, etc. so do better in my opinion, but do not listen to him and stuff like that.
My recommendation is this: it is not necessary to use exactly the method that I will now tell you about (although I said that it suits the majority, there are exceptions). Try, experiment, how it will be more comfortable for you (more convenient, like it and all that), and wind it up. Don't fit in because you've been told so.
However, the expression: “reel as you like” does not mean that you rewind your hands with a bandage as you please (anyhow, if only). Each method (method) has its own rules (well, as the rules, the winding technique is different, you get the idea).
Well, let's get started.
STEP # 1. We put on the loop of the bandage on the thumb (photo below):
P.s. pay attention, the bandage of the hands occurs on the outside of the hand (i.e., in other words, on top), do not bandage the loop from the BOTTOM (inner part of the hand), see the photo below (this is wrong):
In this case, the loop will come off.
STEP # 2. Two or three times (see yourself according to your well-being), we wrap the bandage around the wrist:
This is done specifically in order to properly fix the wrist, which accounts for a significant proportion of the load when striking.
STEP # 3. After you've wrapped your wrist, you need to wrap the bandage around your thumb:
STEP # 4. After wrapping the thumb (1-2 times), we immediately continue to wrap the bandage on the knuckles (wrapping them 2 times):
STEP # 5. Wrap each finger, starting with the index finger and ending with the little finger:
They wrapped the index, wrapped the bandage around the wrist. They wrapped the middle finger and around the wrist again. And so with everyone.
STEP # 6. After bandaging the fingers, we make a couple of turns around the striking surface of the hand (we fix it), after which we again go to the wrist and fix it there with Velcro.
P.s. it also happens that at the end (when everything has already been wrapped and it remains to be fixed with Velcro) the Velcro itself is on the wrong side so that it can be attached. Many start to rewind again)), but there is a simpler way: on the inside of your hand, you simply turn the bandage over and continue to wind it around your wrist so that it is on the right part (above) so that you can stick it to the Velcro.
That's all, actually.
Thinking out loud
Pro guys and girls (maybe not all, I will not speak for everyone) do not even think about how to properly bandage boxing bands. Everything has been worked out there so much (well, the experience is great) everything happens (adjustment / tightening of the bandage) on a subconscious level. But novice guys and girls very often make mistakes, and it happens that they bandage their hands very tightly, which leads to edema (due to the fact that the hands become numb). It even happens, and vice versa, people bandage weakly and the bandage in the process of sparring (training) or practicing blows on a bag - is shifted, which can lead to injury and actual inconvenience.
Regular workouts - will allow you to "build up" so do not fuss)) if everything is ok.
I recommend bandaging your hands yourself (do not look at champions, such as Mike Tyson, who was bandaged in some videos, by the way, who are interested: ""), because this will allow you to adjust the tension of the boxing band. If the bandage is wound too tightly, then your hand will become numb, with a weak bandage - the bandage will walk along the wrist, and the sense of that bandaging is like a goat of milk ...
I also highly recommend that you take care of your boxing bands after removing them. Many have practiced, thrown off bang at random, crumpled and forgotten ... in the end, then there are ropes from which you can sew thongs))) and not bandages (who understands the topic: D) I recommend keeping them coiled up (carefully only) and regularly dry ( so it will dry out and smooth out).
For dessert - a visual video on how to properly wrap boxing bandages on your arm:
Best regards, administrator.