The sight of a boxer in his hand wraps is iconic. These distinctive pieces of equipment are a vital piece of a boxer's kit. Whether you are a boxer, a kickboxer, a fitness enthusiast or a serious combat athlete, chances are you will be using them a lot. Wraps play an important role in protecting your hands from the repeated wear and tear of training. They hold the knuckles in place, support your wrists, and reinforce the small bones in the hands.
Step 1
Unroll your hand wraps. One end should have a cotton loop, while at the other end will be a velcro fastening. The cotton loop goes around your thumb.
Step 2
Check that your wraps are the correct way up. You want the velcro fastening to be the right way up when you have finished wrapping your hands although if you get it wrong, this can be easily remedied by adding a twist. Some wraps will have a label saying which way up they should be; if not, you can tell by unrolling your wraps.
Step 3
Make several wraps around your wrist, pulling the bandage tight every time you pass over the bottom of your hand on the side with your little finger.
Step 4
Start wrapping your hand in a criss-cross pattern on either side of your thumb, continuing to pull the wrap tight. The wraps should form an "X" across your wrist and the back of your hand.
Step 5
Next wrap between your fingers. Pass the wrap around your wrist, past the base of your thumb. Wind it up the back of your palm, through the gap between the knuckles of your little finger and your ring finger, then back down around the base of your thumb. Repeat this for each knuckle.
Step 6
Add a wrap across your palm and the back of your hand to hold the material between your knuckles in place. Then continue wrapping around your hand, covering the knuckles.
Step 7
Use the remaining length of material to wrap around your hand, your thumb, and around your wrist as necessary. Continue until you have used all the wrap, then finish by closing the velcro fastener.
Tips and Warnings
- There are many different types of boxing wraps. Experience will show you which type you prefer. The most common types are ordinary cotton wraps. Other variations include Mexican hand wraps, which are slightly stretchy. Many people have different ways of wrapping their hands. So long as you have the main points covered, this is fine.
- Hand wraps come in a variety of different lengths. Experiment until you find a length and style that suits you. If your wraps are too short, you may not be able to wrap your hands as described. If they are too long, you can simply wrap the remainder around your hands. This can be time consuming and can result in too much padding around your hands to fit into your gloves. Try not to wrap your hands too tight, as this can cut blood flow to your hands and cause discomfort.
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