It’s impossible to feel stressed after a boxing session. No matter the duration, it has a transformational effect on your mood.
Cathy Brown, professional boxing coach, PT and Cognitive Behavioural Therapist at Third Space breaks it down. “Boxing isn’t just amazing for physical wellness but also for mental wellness. It’s a great form of stress release, helping people to cope with depression and anxiety as well as boosting confidence and self-esteem”.
It just so happens to be a great workout too. “It gives you an excellent cardiovascular workout and strengthens the whole body”, says Brown. “Boxing is excellent for mindfulness too as you have to focus on the now, and on what your body is doing and how it’s moving. It also invigorates your neural pathways as you have to remember combinations, which takes you away from thinking about anything else”.
Whether you’re in the ring or at the bag in a boxfit class, protecting your hands and wrists is of the utmost importance.
Hand wraps are there to layer under your training gloves to secure the tendons and muscles and cushion the impact of your punch. Brown explains, “Hand wrapping is extremely important as it acts as a support bandage that protects the wrist, thumb, knuckles and the small 27 bones in the hand”.
She adds, “Too many people feel that they will strengthen their knuckles by not wearing them. However, you need to protect your hands when punching pads and bags to prevent injury and to have longevity with your ‘tools’. It is also more hygienic to wear them.”
When securing wraps to suit your preference, there are just a couple of things to consider. Generally, these wraps are made from a combination of cotton and spandex. They must be thick to provide a snug fit, but not so much so that they’re heavy and trap in the heat.
Brown stresses “Boxing safe is paramount” and while it starts with your wraps, this is just the beginning. “Make sure you are always in a balanced stance position and that your wrists stay straight and your fists grip tight (with your thumb outside the fist) whilst punching. Your eyes should always stay forward looking at the pads/or the person in front of you no matter what offence or defence technique you are doing”.
She shares these top tips:
- Make sure you nasal breathe out as you punch; a lot of people make a lot of noise when they punch with their mouth open but it is extremely important to keep your jaw tight and mouth closed. If you get punched whilst you’re punching with your mouth open, you risk breaking your jaw.
- It is also vital that you don’t rush combinations as you need rhythm. Each punch should be fast, but don’t lose technique for speed. Boxing is a reactive sport, so you should be able to change the combination based on what your opponent is doing; however, by rushing, you miss opportunities and may leave yourself open to being caught with a punch.
- Your jab (front) hand is your range finder, if you can hit something with your jab, you can hit the target with any punch. Don’t get too close to your target as you will smother your power - long shots allow you to utilise your hips, back and shoulders efficiently.
Hand wraps come in two forms; self-tie or pre-wrapped and this depends on whether you have the time and patience to learn how to do the former. After that, you can take a playful approach to colourway and patterns.
Shop the best hand wraps below to beat your opponent to the punch
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Meister 180" Elastic Cotton Hand Wraps for MMA & Boxing
Made from a cotton and Spandex composition, these hand wraps offer a durable and protective layer under your gloves with a good amount of stretch.
Best of all though, they have a stylish zebra print that will bring a playful detail to your look. There are 16 designs that extend to camo, leopard, skulls and pink camo. The wraps are machine washable, yet a delicate cycle is optimal to prevent colour fading and a loop makes the initial wrapping that much easier.
Buy now £8.99, Amazon
RDX T15 Noir Inner Gloves
For ultimate support for your delicate digits, RDX has you covered with these inner gloves that are multi-beneficial. With two types of shock-absorbing foam at the knuckles yet still offering full function of your fingers, you can switch up between boxing or weight simply by slipping off your exterior gloves and come out swinging. These wraps can stay firmly where they belong, providing a breathable, stretchable and durable layer.
Buy now £23.00, RDX
Beast Gear Advanced Inner Boxing Gloves Gel Mitts for Combat Sports, MMA and Martial Arts
Enter beast mode with the help of this aptly named brand. These quality cotton wraps will see you through boxing as well as any martial arts with their elastic construction. Beast Gear has doubled down on the knuckle support with extra thick gel but there’s still stretch and an emphasis on comfort. Secured with Velcro, as an inner layer, they will stay firmly in place and they’re durable too.
Buy now £8.99, Amazon
Adidas Boxing Hand Wraps
These wraps from Adidas are a reliable pair that you can stash in your gym bag for any spontaneous boxing sessions. These are made for punching or any speed bag training but can also keep your hands protected through Muay Thai and MMA. They come in three lengths, and four colours and with the sportswear giant’s signature logo atop the Velcro fastening. No frills, all function.
Buy now £8.99, Amazon
MMA Hand Wraps Boxing Pink Kitty 180"
In a market where neutral colourways rule, inject some playfulness into your activewear equipment with these Hello Kitty-adorned wraps. While they are adorable, they’re functional too with a good amount of stretch and a loop to make the wrapping process a breeze. Disorientate your opponent with cuteness as you land a knockout punch. It is worth noting that delivery for these absolute boxing essentials is elevated as they come from the US, but we think they’re worth every penny.
Buy now £13.25, Etsy
INNSTAR Boxing Hand Wraps-3M / 5M Long Martial Arts Bandages
Be the star of the ring with these celestial statement wraps that are a subtle but impactful heavy hitter in your boxing kit. The starlight design brings a touch of sparkle that will certainly spark jealousy in your sparring opponent. They are crafted from elastic cotton with a loop closure and come with a gift-ready and handy storage bag.
Buy now £7.99, Amazon
Everlast Gel Hand Wraps
If you have purchased boxing equipment in the past, chances are it has come from Everlast. The brand is almost synonymous with the sport and is a leader in the kit game. As such, it has finessed items like the humble wrap to make your life as easy as possible.
These wraps are like fingerless gloves in their design, forgoing the need for wrapping tips and tricks. Slip them on and you’re ready to perfect the one-two punch in an instant. There’s gel cushioning at the palm and backhand, an elasticated secured fit and a lightweight construction.
Buy now £11.99, Sports Direct
Outshock Boxing Liner Gloves 500 Ergo
If you’re looking to take your boxing to professional heights, you must have the wraps to match. These liners are designed to resemble those used by the pros with a bandage-like construction that shows your opponent you mean business. While they may appear intimidating, they are actually incredibly easy to put on, while providing a layer of cushioning to protect your hands.
Buy now £14.99, Decathlon
RDX Gel Boxing Hand Wraps Inner Gloves
When venturing into the world of boxing for fitness purposes, securing a set of simple but effective wraps is essential. These are those wraps. No skill or dressing knowledge is required, just slip them over your fingers and you’re ready to go. Choose between four colours and the gloves will stay in shape throughout your training thanks to their flexible polyester construction with a bounce-back quality. There is also padding, right where you need it, absorbing impact at the knuckles. No sucker punches here.
Buy now £13.99, Amazon
BEAST RAGE Boxing Hand Wraps
An affordable wrap with maximum impact, we don’t blame you if you add one of each of the eight vibrant colours to your basket so you’re never without a set between sessions. From orange to blue, purple to pink, these supportive layers are designed for all combat sports with a stretch fabric that is hard-working, breathable and dries quickly so there’s no need to throw in the towel.
Buy now £4.99, Amazon
UFC Mixed Martial Arts Boxing Training Punch Knuckle Protection Hand Wraps
Channel your inner UFC fighter each time you enter the ring with branded merch from the mixed martial arts company. With a poly-cotton blend, these wraps are designed to work with you, not against you with a durable construction that protects your hands and wrists throughout your mitt work. Conor McGregor, eat your heart out.
Buy now £9.99, Amazon
