Boxers and mixed martial artists require not only training and toughness to succeed, but need a little TLC when it comes to wrapping their hands in preparation for a bout. A proper hand wrap adds some degree of cushioning to decrease the impact on the knuckles during training or during a competitive fight. Wrapping the hands is considered an essential skill, and there several methods used when wrapping, each mostly a matter of preference.
The Basic Wrap
Once you have your wraps, and make sure they are tightly coiled into rolls to allow for a smoother and less troublesome wrap. Beginning with your less dominant hand, the most basic wrap style involves putting your thumb through the thumb loop on the end of one wrap, keeping your hand flat with your fingers apart. Wrap three coils around your wrist, wrapping toward your body and being careful not to wrap too tight, which would cut off circulation. The fourth and fifth coil is a matter of taste, as it involves wrapping the thumb, which some fighters feel adds additional protection while some disagree. The best advice is to try the thumb wrap to see if it's to your liking. Otherwise, skip the thumb and continue to wrap the next few coils around the wrist to discourage hyperflexion/hyperextension, a common injury among fighters. Next, wrap the knuckles while keeping your fingers splayed, taking the wrap across the inside of the palm before continuing across the knuckles on the back of the hand. Use three coils for the knuckles. Bring the next coil around the back of your wrist before beginning wrapping in between the middle and ring fingers, taking the roll diagonally across the palm and around the back of the hand. Continue with the wrap across the knuckles for two or three more coils before finishing by securely attaching the Velcro tab.
Variations
Just as baseball players prefer a certain feel to their bats or hockey players like to tie their skates differently, fighters wrap their hands according to taste. Although each variation is essentially the same, small changes to the basic wrap results in a slightly different feel. After wrapping the knuckles, some fighters like to thread the wrapping between each finger in an over/under pattern to add extra firmness to the fist and to brace the fingers for impact. Another variation, called the "ribbon" method, follows all the previous steps, the exception being when it comes to wrapping the knuckles. The hand wrapping is stacked by three to four sheets before wrapping over the knuckles, which gives additional padding against impact.
Tags: across knuckles, around back, back hand, basic wrap, coils around, comes wrapping, keeping your