How to wrap hands properly for Muay Thai or Boxing
This article aims to provide tips on how to further enhance your wrapping for Muay Thai or boxing. If you are looking for a beginner’s guide, find a video tutorial on Youtube.
- Material: There is reason why professional boxers use gauze to wrap their hands. Firstly, it is stretchable. Secondly, it is thin. With these two properties, it makes for a handwrap that can provide a secure fit with minimal air gaps. At Rebel, we recommend using 4.5m standard Fairtex handwraps. If the wraps are too stretchable, it will not feel as secure. Wrapping the hands too tight will also prevent blood flow.
. - Wrist protection: Handwraps are the basis for wrist protection. The priority for wraps is to prevent misalignment in the wrist while throwing punches. However, it can only do so much to protect you. The remaining 80% of protection should come in the form of your technical ability to clip when you punch. The act of clipping your punch is the last moment of the punch where you wrists align in a straight fashion. The wrist twists and snaps into place where the knuckles will look slightly pointed down. Wrap your wrist well but more importantly, always clip your punches!
. - Knuckle padding: Many boxers layer their handwraps to provide more knuckle protection. If there is discomfort in the knuckles, changing the gloves with a thicker and more aligned padding at the knuckles will help. Adding 2 to 3 more layers of thin cloth will not do much to change the impact protection on the knuckles. For us at Rebel, we prefer to stick to smaller gloves as fighters tend to be more technical in them. If there is insufficient knuckle protection, we will use a slab of gel protection with the handwraps holding them in place. This allows you to go all out on your boxing without fear of injury. I personally use Skulltec knuckle pads as the technology in those are second to none.
. - Thumb protection: Wrapping the thumb is not necessary because the main point of injury to the thumb is usually on the IP joint. Hence, if you wish to protect that joint, your best bet is to tape it to prevent hyper extension or flexion.
If you are a recreational boxer training on a regular basis, it can mess up your routine if it takes too much time to wrap your hands. A handwrap that is not too stretchy or rigid allows you to wrap faster. Couple that with gel knuckle pads to prevent injury and you will feel a lot safer throwing your punches. Lace gloves do add more rigidity to the wrist area but nothing beats aligning your wrists when you clip your punches to prevent any serious injuries from happening. Take care of your hands and have fun!
– Coach Mel @melwillrebel
