wrap or gloves for heavy bag workout?

[86drop]

i'm thinking of getting a heavy bag in the near future to start doing some cardio work on it. i'm wondering if i can get by with using only mexican-style hand wraps for my punching or if it is a necessity to get some sort of bag glove. i don't plan on going for broke as far as punch power is concerned as this will be mainly a cardio workout. getting kinda excited about a new kind of workout and am anxious to get going. any help is appreciated. thanks guys!

[urmaniac13]

I have been fit-boxing for almost 2 and half years, and I use both. I put on straps underneath to protect my wrist, then a pair of well padded glove shown here. Though I am a girl of a smaller frame (165cm/54kg) and never a real boxer, I quickly gained strength for delivery and I couldn't do without either.
Even if your goal is mainly aerobic accomplishment, once you learn proper forms and delivery technique, your knuckles and wrists will take quite a beating, especially considering that you have been already well trained and conditioned, and it is wise to protect them properly.
It is really a fun exercise and I love it... hope you will, too!!

[bodyshop20]

I done martial arts for 7 yrs and never used anything except my fist.
Yr hand will harden to the bag and will hyrt other people if you ever have to hit them, you cant stop and put a glove on if your comprimised in the street

I too prefer to hit the heavy bag bare-fisted but my gym requires hands be protected, so I recently bought some bag gloves instead of wraps.

Consider doing pushups on your knuckles to strengthen your wrists and contribute to better punching power.

This is a great way to get a quality and intense cardio workout without running.

[Gooseneck]

I usually do my heavy bag bare knuckled as well, good for building more bone density due to the microscopic fractures that results of it. This is also called body-hardening, used heavily in martial-arts and the military. I do however have some MMA gloves that I use occasionally if I plan on hitting the bag for any length of time.

[bodyshop20]

a hardened hand will knock an unharded body.
Go for bare hand with no wraps etc
Gooseneck yr my kinda man

[EliteLift]

I prefere to use use wrist wraps for longer sessions and not to protect my bones and joints, only because i tend to peel skin off my nukles over long periods of time.

[trainerty]

Geez bare knuckle fighters....serious stuff.

Somebody who I look to for training tips alot recently talked about heavy bag work. This guy (Rafael) works with pro fighters and during training he gives them these short thick (sometimes weighted) grip sticks. They use the sticks to work the heavy bag (except for straight jabs).

His theory, since the hip is the dominant component and these athletes do enough damage to their knuckles why add on to damage. Speed and power work can be done successfully with the sticks.

Unless you just want the ugly knuckle fighter look.

[.V.]

The bone restructuring can be done with or without the wraps or gloves, You aren't changing anything about the impact in the carpals, metacarpals, radius, or ulna by wrapping up.

For me - canvas bag = wraps. vinyl bag = nothing. boards = nothing. Speedbag is also unwrapped.

But yeah the calluses on the two striking knuckles the side of the hand, and the heel of the palm are pretty cool to have. Just like those that lifters have just behind the fingers.

End result, it doesn't really matter. Dont want your knuckles to bleed, wrap up or glove up, no difference really. Don't mind calluses developing, don't wrap or glove.

There is a certain feeling of hitting the heavy bag without gloves or wraps. It does a much better job of connecting the impact of the fist on the bag with the brain for a complete whole body and mind experience.

Wearing gloves or hand wraps is like wearing a condom. I'm sure you know what I mean.

[.V.]

I don't know about california, but here they don't sell 'em that will fit over our hands.

[EliteLift]

lol, pierini i would think that a condom would take away more than wraps, but i like the analogy haha. as for calluses i guess if thats what you want..