A boxer's hands are the tools of his craft. If they break down, he is completely out of commission. For this reason, fighters enclose both hands, within the gloves, in a material known as "hand wraps." Many boxers cloak their hands in Mexican-style wraps, as they possess an elastic property that tightens around the hand, forming a "cast" that adds support when punching. Boxers can protect their hands during during training by learning how to wrap them properly.
Wrapping Your Hands
Step 1
Hold your hand out flat, with all fingers pointing away from your body, palm positioned parallel to the ground. Spread your fingers and thumb wide and hold them this way throughout the maneuver. Take the looping strap of material hanging from the starting end of your wraps and fasten it around your thumb.
Step 2
Pull the wrap across, and slightly down, the back of your hand so that it reaches the other side of your forearm, about one and a half inches below the joint of your wrist. Wrap the wrist area of your hand at least three or four times, forming a makeshift splint that provides added support to the wrist when punching.
Step 3
The third time you round the bottom of your thumb with the wrap, pull it up and diagonally to your "pinky" knuckle. From this point, begin to strap it around all of your knuckles, horizontally, starting with the palm side of your hand. Again, do this at least three times.
Step 4
Upon wrapping your knuckles for the third time, bring the wrap from your outer index finger down, diagonally, back to the bottom corner opposite your thumb. Cross the palm of your hand, horizontally, bringing the wrap around the outside of your thumb.
Step 5
Turn the wrap sideways so that it becomes thin and, pulling up, hook it around the meat of your thumb. Pulling the wrap up, diagonally, strap it in the space between your pinky and ring fingers. Again, bringing it under the base of your thumb, pull another strip between the ring and middle fingers. Repeat this movement between the middle and index fingers.
Step 6
Reflatten the wrap, after rounding the base of your thumb, and pull it up to the outer "pinky" knuckle. From there, begin "spiraling" it down around the solid portion of your hand, encasing it in a glovelike manner.
Step 7
Bring the wrap around the outer edge of the pinky side. Strap it, horizontally, back to the base of your thumb. Again, turn it sideways, so it becomes thin, and hook it, up and down, in the space between your thumb and index finger. Finish by reflattening the wrap and, moving it horizontally from the base of your thumb, spiral it back down your wrist and forearm, ending at the point from which you started. Most wraps have a Velcro fixture placed at the ending side. Fasten it, completing the task.
Tips and Warnings
- If a wrap feels uncomfortable in any way, redo it. It is important that your hands feel snug and secure but unobstructed. Any restriction when closing the fist can lead to serious injury when punching.
- Make sure your wrap fits snugly on the hand but so tightly as to hinder circulation. This is especially important in the wrist area, where decreased circulation may numb the hand and hinder your ability to decipher when it is closed properly.
Things You'll Need
- Mexican-style hand wraps
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