It is essential to properly use hand wrap before boxing or hitting a punching bag. Properly wrapping hands protects them from many common injuries resulting from the jostling of bones during impact. Hand wraps keep the bones of the hand from separating. This helps avoid bone fractures, sprains, torn ligaments and ripped tendons. Using hand wraps allows boxers and martial artists to punch significantly harder with less fear of injury. All serious fighters wrap their hands before putting on boxing gloves.
Step 1
Spread the fingers of your hand wide apart and point your thumb upward. Unravel the hand wrap and find the loop at one end. Place the loop over your thumb and allow the hand wrap to hang down the palm side of your hand.
Step 2
Pull the hanging end of the hand wrap toward your body while resisting with the thumb with the looped end wrapped around it. Loop the wrap around the bottom of your wrist and pull it upward around the back of your wrist. Complete three wraps around your wrist ending with the unused hand wrap on the palm side hanging down toward the floor.
Step 3
Wind the wrap under the wrist and across the back of the hand. Bring it over the space between the thumb and index finger, then down across the palm. Bring it around the knuckles three times. On the palm side the hand wrap should be at the base of the fingers.
Step 4
Turn your hand over so your thumb points toward the ground. Bring the hand wrap over the outside edge of the hand which is now pointing up. Pull the hand wrap toward you then wrap it around your wrist one and a half times so it is now pointing up.
Step 5
Bring the hand wrap across the back of your hand and between your thumb and index finger. Turn your hand over, loop it around the bottom of your wrist then around your thumb. Turn your hand over again so your thumb faces down. Wind the wrap around your knuckles.
Step 6
Alternate winding the wrap around your wrist and your knuckles. When your thumb is pointed up, bring the wrap around your wrist and across the thumb. Turn your hand over and loop it around your knuckles. Turn your hand over again and do the wrist again. Continue until you run out of hand wrap.
Step 7
Attach the Velcro end of the hand wrap to your wrist. Make sure it is snug but not cutting off the blood circulation in your hand. You should be able to open and close your fist comfortably.
Tips and Warnings
- Some fighters prefer to have their hand wrap between their fingers. You can do this during the alternating wrist and knuckle wrapping step. Instead of looping the hand wrap around all the knuckles, bring it between two fingers in sequence from the pinkie to the thumb then back.
- It is easier if you have someone else apply your hand wrap for you. Communicate clearly how tight you want your hands wrapped. Hand wrap that is applied too tightly can cut off circulation and cause injury.
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