Punching with handwraps only

Anyone who has been around the boxing or martial arts world knows that some people practice punching with handwraps only. These guys want to get the “feel” of punching without gloves, but they still want the safety of wearing handwraps.

But the question remains: is this a good training tactic, or does it just end up compromising your punching technique?

Punching with handwraps only degrades your practice session

There is a fact that professional boxers, mma fighters, and bouncers all know. And that is: you have to wear padded gloves when you work the heavybag.

Yes, I know it’s tempting to use the punching bag without gloves, because it simulates a “real” bare knuckle fight. But remember, training isn’t supposed to be just like real fighting. If you train your punching with handwraps only, you will bruise and skin your knuckles. And when that happens, your training intensity will suffer, and you will unconsciously alter your punching technique to avoid the pain and prevent further damage.

Punching with handwraps only puts you at risk

Wraps are great for keeping the bones in your wrist aligned and for lessening the occurance of stress injuries in your hands and joints.

But boxing handwraps don’t prevent abrasions, and they don’t prevent bone bruises.

So if you really want a full training session — one where you give it all you have and hit as hard as possible with good punching technique — you neeed to wear handwraps and padded gloves.

While you’ll occasionally see a pro fighter using the speedbag without nothing more than handwraps, you’ll never see them bang the heavybag without proper hand protection.

So leave punching with handwraps only to those wannabe tough guys who only work the heavybag once in a while.