Boxing TNT

If you don’t want your hands to get all torn up, heavy bag gloves are the answer. When I first trained on a sand bag, I ended up with bloody knuckles.

One thing to be stressed is that bag gloves are meant for training and not for use with an opponent. They are made with little padding and will not protect your partner.

It is up to you whether to use hand wraps. Just be sure to size your gloves accordingly. Heavier gloves will help condition you for the rigors of boxing.

Hand wraps offer wrist protection which can be good but you will also want to work up to not using them so you can condition for ground fighting which requires mobility in the wrists.

Traditional Boxing Gloves

Should I use boxing gloves for the heavy bag workout or do I need bag gloves? It is up to you. There are some pluses and minuses to both.

There is no problem in using your 16 ounce boxing gloves on the bag. But you can save the wear and tear on your more expensive boxing gloves, by using the bag gloves.

Heavy bag gloves are leather or vinyl style ‘mittens’ that contain a decent amount of padding on the knuckles while also providing enough wrist support that errant injuries may not occur.

Construction

Of course it is not to say that you have complete protection, but they do certainly cut down to risk of injury.

The heavy bag is designed to optimize power and endurance so that is why it has little give. Therefore, you will need to be able to hit the bag with force and not worry about getting injured.

Since the heavy bag is hard and heavy, you obviously need to hit it hard as well. It will not give so in order to punch it hard without getting hurt, you need protection.

Other Workouts

Bag gloves can also be employed in other workouts in the gym. They can be used to hit the double end bag or focus mitts. What they cannot be used for is sparring since they are far too light to be used safely.

Do not use MMA gloves on the heavy bag unless you want to replace them soon. You’ll end up wearing out the gloves quickly and risking hurting your fingers. MMA gloves are not a good choice.

What To Purchase

When you buy heavy bag gloves, you want to purchase ones with enough protection, not the ultra-thin ones that do not provide enough support.

They simply do not provide the protection that you need. Heavier and more durable bag gloves produced by name brands are most definitely what you should look for instead as these are the top items to wear.

I recommend UFC bag gloves, along with the Century heavy bag gloves. Bad Boy, a UFC sponsor, also has a nice set up gloves. I have had experience with all of these, and they will all work great for bag work.

CB: How do boxers get so lean, and what lessons can us average folk take from their regimens?

RP: I know this point is redundantly made but it’s true.

People spend to much time training with cardio equipment. I have seen people train on cardio equipment, and their body’s still look the same months later!

When the average person has had enough of walking around in their body they are in they usually think of hitting the pavement running. Or people will train with the typical circuit of elliptical and treadmills etc…Training for long and very casual intensities. Raising cortisol levels, preserving fat, etc…

People who perform a boxing workout get lean from the intense anaerobic way they train. Boxers fight and train in rounds lasting from 2 minutes to 3 minutes in duration. The training done for that duration is generally at a higher intensity. The training equipment also demands you get lean by the way the bags have to be worked.

Put it this way to maximally work and move the heavy bag in the right manner burns more calories and takes more effort to do. Your body then takes the lean shape from the aftermath of this demand of it to put forth the work. Same thing for the punch mitts when used correctly your whole body is moving and working and in a more anaerobic and intense manner than aerobic training.

Many times people who cross train or want to learn boxing for self defense are amazed at how sore they are in different areas of their body from the workout. They are waking and working muscles that have been dormant for some time in a intense manner.

As I’ve stated several times above since boxing workouts are predominantly anaerobic and we train with lots of intervals, our metabolic rates are increased.

Unlike the aerobic way people train where they only burn calories for the duration of the aerobic activity or training. With anaerobic interval work your metabolic rate is increased for hours even after training is complete as you obviously know.

CB: What’s the role of slow cardio in stripping fat from a boxer’s body?

RP: Not much at all….

We condition using sprints, sled work, sledge strikes, sprint and run drills, but really speaking from a fighters perspective, nothing beats intense sparring to get in shape. We also perform intervals of fast punching on the bags and punch mitts.

As far as the average client, I’ll never forget when I was working in Syracuse NY I was training an older guy named Tom. Tom was frustrated cause he couldn’t drop the pounds he wanted too. He was on a plateau.

He was training aerobically only for the last 2 years playing musical chairs with the cardio equipment. He was very frustrated and bored that he couldn’t drop any more fat.

So upon working with him. I had him jumping rope, working the punch mitts, working the heavy bag and VERY easily he lost 14 pounds in 6 weeks! Not bad for previously being on a plateau! The fat literally melted off just like that. Because of the intense anaerobic way he trained and the muscles and movements he was using in training this way.

Fortunately for me communicating with the best strength and conditioning coaches and constantly reading and studying the best books keeps me abreast of what methods work best.

CB: How do you and other boxers get lean for fights in terms of nutrition?

RP: We start cleaning house!

Or should I say cleaning the fridge, freezer and cupboards. My clients rid them selves of boxed, packaged, frozen, canned, processed foods. I have them stop eating sugary cereals, soda, sugary juices, white breads, refined carbs, margarine, just garbage food period! This goes along way with improving performance, vitality, and weight loss obviously.

I then have them start to eat real whole foods. Foods that actually have a life source and will deliver nutrients and vitality to them.

So for weight loss having them eliminate the garbage foods and drinks and having them eating smaller meals frequently throughout the day works big time for weight loss on top of the kick butt training their doing.

It still amazes me on how many people skip breakfast. Or if they do have it, the typical sugar water called orange juice with a pop tart doesn’t do it. I have them eat a better breakfast and make sure their dinner isn’t the biggest meal of the day as their stomachs would suggest if it is.

My point is, typically people skip breakfast, eat a rather large lunch, and when they get home have a feast for dinner. That’s insane if you want to drop weight and get lean!

Don’t eat less meals. Eat more meals frequently with less food for weight loss. Their blood sugar levels are more balanced and their moods and energy levels are far more enhanced by eating more frequently, like 5-6 times per day if possible.

I also have them drink half their body weight in ounces of water per day. I have them consume fish oils at their meals.

I also keep critiquing their eating habits and food choices for weight loss as needed…

CB: Do you use boxer’s training techniques in your client’s workouts? If so, what could I do to speed my fat loss?

RP: Boxing workouts are BIG in my clients workouts.

It’s no wonder that the most popular classes in commercial gyms are martial arts classes.

Unfortunately many of those are watered down. By getting your eating habits under control and cleaned up and by jumping rope, shadow boxing, working the punch mitts, heavy bag, double end bag and speed bag you literally melt that fat off your body in a quick manner.

That’s why I like to use boxing training techniques. Boxing training gets results.

People can get bored with the cardio equipment. You can be totally uncoordinated and not improve upon before or after getting on the bike or stair master.

Not when you jump rope and perform the rest of a boxing workout. That’s why it delivers so much in one workout. All those bio-motor abilities you improve on top of shredding the fat from your body.

CB: What methods of strength training do you prefer? Do you use free weights or a lot of body weight exercises?

RP: Strength training methods will depend on the persons training age, background, weaknesses, needs, goals, and were we are from a fight.

So I have a lot of tools in the tool box I can use depending on the above scenarios. Usually I begin with body weight movements. I totally agree with what Alwyn Cosgrove says, “If we cannot stabilize and move our own body weight, we have no reason to use external resistance”

Once a person can handle there own body weight we use different strength exercises. I like using squats, I really like front squats cause we can train the legs with the thoracic extensors that are usually weak. A boxer that has been at it for a while will will have an increased kyphotic posture along with pronated shoulders. So we need to correct this if we want to improve performance.

We also use dead-lifts, single leg work, posterior chain work, core strengthen with more transverse plain exercises, but we also perform reverse crunches they are a great abdominal strengthening exercise that also help in improving posture.

A lot of unilateral work, pulls, rows, chins, pull ups, you name.

We use equipment ranging from db’s, barbells, med balls, sand bags, kegs, sled, sledge hammer, I’m going to start using kettle bells more. Once again, these are all great tools we use depending on the situation.

Corrective exercises are used to keep the fighters muscle imbalances and posture in check.

I will say that generally fighters are bloody weak! So I like to improve and focus on maximal strength training. Hypertrophy training can be used if I have a fighter that wants to move up a weight class or needs a little more muscle.

For our dynamic training, I like to used med balls and other plyometric exercise for explosive power.

That pretty much sums it up as our training is ALWAYS evolving and improving as I continue to study and learn and as we progress in our own training.

CB: Do the boxing workouts require any special equipment?

RP: Yes the workout uses special equipment that is very affordable and can be purchased at sporting stores, or boxing equipment magazines.

You will need hand wraps, a jump rope, gloves, punch mitts, a heavy bag, double end bag, speed bag and a small timer that you can by at any store. You don’t have to get all the bags at once you can still burn allot of fat with the jump rope and heavy bag alone. The other equipment just really speeds the results.

Copyright (c) 2008 Rob Pilger

Boxing is a famous combat sport and martial art in which two people mainly use their fists for competition. Every boxer should keep his fists well protected and it is due to this they gain popularity. Starting from his invention, there were many varieties of boxing gloves available and in roman times, these boxing gloves were metal added to inflict greater damage and as the years passed, many gloves were introduced and each has its own pros and cons.

We can say that this boxing equipment has made boxing popular through the following quote by Marvin Halger “If they cut my bald head open, they will find one big boxing glove. That’s all I am. I live it.” Through his quote we get an idea about the need of boxing gloves in boxing.

In this article, we are going to have an overview on different types of boxing gloves and its features and how it protects the boxer”s hand. Lace protectors, bag gloves, training gloves, pro fight gloves, amateur competition gloves, aerobic gloves, MMA gloves, deluxe boxing bag gloves and MMA professional fight gloves are the different types of gloves available for boxing.

Lace up gloves looks so thin, soft and it is a lace converter that converts the lace up style gloves to hook and loop attachment. If you are looking for an excellent companion for lace up gloves, then it would suit better. The bag gloves are made of leather construction and well padded for protection with attached thumb. You don”t need to worry about the comfortabilty because this glove is designed in such a way that it can fit in-ease with handwraps.

Bag gloves exist in different varieties and if you look for a power weighted or grappling type, then this gloves suits better and it comes in different varieties with well padded. During the training session, the boxers should wear appropriate gloves that suits for training session. The myth behind the training gloves is that they are not made of quality materials so that it damages the fist of boxers, but it is not true. The training gloves are leather gloves which are well padded and cotton filled and it enhances your training session in the best way. Like the bag gloves, these gloves also exist in different types such as Mexican style, professional aerobics, champ hook; invincible lace up, champ lace up and professional lace up are those types.

The professional fight gloves are filled with layer closed cell with foam padding and pre curved. For competition, you can use the amateur competition gloves and it is constructed of leather. The best boxing gloves for kickboxing and boxing are aerobics leather gloves and it is cotton filled and well padded for protection. MMA gloves are suitable for both competition and training and it has an open palm construction that shows you the legal striking area. All these gloves are called as boxers protective gears and when you buy the boxing equipments, select the boxing equipments that are strictly manufactured as per USA boxing requirements so that you will be satisfied that you have bought the best one.

Boxing Gloves are around us from nearly thirty thousand years and so many significant changes made throughout its history, most importantly being in the beginning of Greek people using hardened leather straps to protect the knuckles of the fighters.

Now it was the time of Romans who got it shared by the Greeks and Romans elevated that sport of boxing to the new level in gladiator ring. Romans introduced certain few innovations to the boxing gloves resulting in the deaths and maiming of many fighters. Situation got serious in the result of which Boxing sport got banned in 30 B.C. But it did not wash from the minds of the boxing lovers entirely, Men still boxed bare-knuckled even though unsanctioned and in many different countries, illegal.

Boxing, again got revival in the 17th century and new innovative boxing gloves were re-introduced in the rings, these gloves were primarily only for the training purpose. At the time people still preferred going bare knuckled in the rings but still so many fighters were still being maimed and killed even though boxing was still an illegal sports in many different countries.

A sportsman named John Graham Chambers introduced new rules for the boxing sport in 19th century mainly known as Margquess of Queensberry rules. After these rules addition boxing gained respect. Now sanctioned with the rules of conduct it was free to progress.

Today, different boxing gloves are available in the market for youth, males and females, for competition and non-competition styles.

Boxing gloves come in different styles and weights such as 8 oz, 10 oz to 16 oz and gloves are worn over the hand wraps which actually help to stabilize the fist part from injuries. There are different gloves for different purpose like speed bag gloves, heavier bag gloves, Sparring gloves and competition gloves.
First is Speed bag Gloves, as apparent from the name that it is used for the training with the speed bag. It is glove with light padding just like a pair of padded leather mittens. it protects only knuckle skin of the boxer.

Heavier bag gloves is used on heavier punching bag. It protects the hands and wrists of the boxer. These gloves are padded with foam and covered in the sturdy leather for durability.

Sparring gloves are used in training and worn by the both sparring partners. These gloves have heavy padding for the safety of both sparring partners. They have multiple layers of padding to increase the shock absorbency feature.

Competition gloves are used for the amateur and professional boxers and are made of light weight materials. These gloves stand on the highest standards of quality and made as the strict standards. Competition gloves are generally made in 10 and 12 oz, more likely have white target on them. according to the IBA standards these gloves have to be in blue and red color and both opponents must wear the different colors of gloves for instance one boxer should wear Red and other should wear Blue. The white part of the gloves is known as target area, target is useful for the referee to judge the punches of the boxer. The point only counts if the target part of the gloves hits the boxer.

Using Right pair of boxing glove for the right purpose ensure the safety of both opponents involved.

Boxing has been a popular sport for quite awhile now. Boxing gloves have evolved over a period of 3000 years. Yes, boxing gloves are nothing new as you might normally consider. Since the ancient Greek days, boxing was considered a sport of the men and was honored. Even in the roman era, boxing was considered a mans sport.

There were many champions who would participate in the fist fights and these would be also held for the sake of the fallen heroes. Even in those times, the fighters were required to wear boxing gloves. These boxing gloves were made out of leather and they did not provide adequate protection to the writs of the boxer and his opponent. The boxing gloves are not only used to protect the face or body of the one that is getting punched but also it is used to protect the hands of the one who is punching.
This is because while punching, wrist injuries are very common. Sometimes these injuries can get so complicated that a boxer might have to give up boxing all together. Hence for the sake of safety these gloves are worn. However, our roman friends thought otherwise.

They often turned the sport more dangerous and the gloves into weapons. They would dry the gloves and harden the leather. After this they would attach metal spikes or stones to the boxing glove. This would cause severe damage to the opponent and lead do the eventual death of the opponent. Hence, the modern boxing gloves were introduced to prevent superficial injuries.

Although, it should be noted, with the use of the padded gloves, the chances of brain injuries are more in the absence of the head gear. The gloves may prevent superficial injuries to the brain and the facial tissues but the head gear is a must to protect from brain injuries.

The boxing gloves that are used today are heavily padded. These gloves protect the wrist as well as the opponent. It is important to wear wrist wraps before wearing the boxing gloves. The wrist wraps stabilize the fist and prevent the wrist from injuries. The heavier the glove the more the padding will be in them. For training sessions a boxing glove with a little more leather is encouraged. This will help the fighter protect himself from injuries during trainer. Also heavy padded gloves will help in punching bag training sessions.

Also the gloves that are made these days come with a thumb lock. This is an addition to the glove which moves the thumb out of the way while making the fist. This prevents accidents to the thumb as well as accidental gauging of other peoples eyes. Make sure that your boxing gloves has one of these before you purchase them