Boxing gloves are the basic equipment of a boxer, often decisive for sports results. How to choose the right boxing gloves and what to consider when buying them?

Boxing glovesimprove the safety of people practicing martial arts. Barefighting poses a risk of serious injuries, often fatal. With the appearance of gloves on boxers' hands, significantly fewer in-ring accidents began to be recorded. The boxing glove absorbs the blows and protects the boxer's hands from injuries.

Today, boxing gloves are used not only by athletes practicing boxing, but are also used in other martial arts, including in kickboxing or muay thai.

Boxing gloves differ in weight, material and shape. The inside of the glove is filled with a special material with a large crumple zone, thanks to which it absorbs blows well. The form of the filling allows the proper positioning of the fist, so as to protect the thumb and the rest of the hand from injury while dealing blows.

Choosing the right gloves is of great importance for the comfort and he alth of the boxer, but also for the fighting technique, so the purchase should be preceded by a detailed analysis of the needs. Additionally, in professional sports, the parameters of gloves are strictly defined and the use of substandard gloves may result in disqualification from the tournament.

Boxing gloves - weight

The weight of boxing gloves is given in ounces (OZ). 1 oz is 28.4 g. We offer 6-8 OZ, 10 OZ, 12 OZ, 14 OZ, 18 OZ and even 20 OZ gloves, with 10 and 12 oz gloves being the most popular among boxers. The weight of the gloves should be based on the weight of the boxer.

People with larger hands should wear heavier gloves, but the highest weight of the gloves - 14-20 OZ, is intended mainly for professionals fighting in the heavyweight category.

The heavier the gloves, the safer they are, because they absorb blows better. The lightest gloves - 6-8 OZ are made for young people with fine hands, mainly women and children.

Gloves intended for training (so-called fists) are available in a different size table - from S to XL.

Worth knowing

Boxing gloves - shortstory

Boxing dates back to antiquity, but the need for fighting gloves was introduced only in the second half of the 19th century. Before gloves appeared in boxing, the sport was very brutal and fights often ended in the death of the players. In 1730 boxing became an official sport based on codified rules, but there was still no written requirement for players to wear gloves.

Boxing gloves themselves were invented in 1747, but were only used in training. It was not until 1867 that Great Britain established a system of rules (Queensberry Rules) that forced boxers to wear boxing gloves during fights in the ring. At the same time, however, there were other (London) rules where gloves were still not required. In this respect, the boxing code was standardized only at the end of the 19th century. The symbolic figure behind this revolutionary shift was boxer John L. Sullivan, the last to win the championship with barefoot fists and the first to win the world championship in boxing gloves.

Boxing gloves - types

BREAKDOWN BY MATERIAL

  • Boxing gloves made of natural leather(cow, calf or goat leather) are most of all the most durable of all and last a long time. They are also the most expensive gloves in the offer (they cost several hundred zlotys), which is why they are usually chosen by professionals.
  • Boxing gloves made of synthetic leather(leatherette) are much cheaper than leather (costing several dozen zlotys), but wear out quickly. So it is a good purchase for those who start their adventure with boxing or practice this sport sporadically. Synthetic gloves do not affect the quality of boxing itself.
  • Boxing gloves made of mixed materialsare characterized by the fact that their upper part is made of natural leather and the interior is made of synthetic leather. Thanks to this, the gloves have a longer life, and at the same time their price is not too high.

DIVISION BY DESTINATION

  • Boxing gloves with a rounded, bulky (convex) structureare used for fighting, sparring and training with equipment (shield, sack, pear). They will prove themselves in classic boxing and kickboxing.
  • Instrument gloves (fists)are gloves intended mainly for intensive training. They are suitable for clinch fighting training, but also for training with the use of equipment, e.g. a bag, shield orpears. A feature of this type of gloves is high durability and slower wear. From a technical point of view, the fists favor quick blows - singly or in series.
  • Grappling and MMA glovesdiffer from ordinary boxing gloves mainly in their appearance. They are not so built-up, they reveal the fingers and the inside of the hand to allow players to grasp, which is part of the technique of these martial arts.
  • Muay Thai (Thai boxing) glovesfrom classic boxing gloves is distinguished primarily by their construction. They have a more flattened shape, thanks to which they allow you to pull your opponent's head down or fight in a clinch. The gloves will also work well in kickboxing.

DIVISION ACCORDING TO THE METHOD OF FASTENING

  • Knotted gloveshave lace-up fasteners. This is a classic model of gloves that requires practice, time and additional help in putting on. This disadvantage aside, the lacing of the glove allows you to adjust it to your hand. As a result, the glove adheres better and holds more firmly when dealing blows.
  • Velcro-fastened glovesmake putting them on a lot easier. A boxer is able to put on such gloves quickly, without anyone's help. This is a big advantage, the more that the gloves themselves are very comfortable.

PLAYER GENDER DIVISION

  • Women's glovesare mostly smaller. For women, gloves weighing 6 and 8 ounces are produced. Although most of the gloves are manufactured as a type of unisex, there are more personalized women's gloves on the market that are distinguished by a stylish design.
  • Men's glovesare mainly produced in large sizes from 10 ounces upwards. The shape and functionality of men's gloves do not differ from women's gloves.

Boxing gloves - for beginners and pros

There are no typical beginner boxing gloves. So when choosing your first gloves, you should first of all be guided by their parameters and adapt them to your own preferences. The best for beginners are synthetic gloves, which are not too expensive and at the same time offer great comfort while training.

At the beginning, it is not worth investing in very expensive equipment, because the training intensity at the start is never high. So you don't need durable gloves sewn for professionals. For this reason, it is also good to choose gloves that are comfortable to put on, i.e. fastened with Velcro. At the initial stage of boxing training, the most important features of the gloves should belike: comfort and good ventilation.

The more professional the training, the greater the requirements. Advanced boxers usually choose heavier lace-up gloves made of genuine leather. In their case, the boxing glove must, above all, be resistant to damage, very durable and provide the highest protection to the boxer and his opponent.

Boxing gloves - what to consider when buying?

The most important thing when choosing gloves is choosing the right size and type. After determining what kind of gloves we need (which martial art we will be practicing), we should choose their weight. This usually refers to the weight of a boxer.

Persons under 45 kg should choose 6 oz gloves, between 45 and 65 kg - 8 oz gloves, between 65-78 kg - 10 oz gloves, between 78-90 kg - 12 oz gloves, over 90 kg - 14 or 16 oz.

After selecting the type and size, it's time to think about the type of fabric and clasp. If we are looking for very durable gloves, choose those made of natural leather. If you often train on your own, let's use Velcro-fastened gloves that can be closed by yourself. It is best if the Velcro is at least 7 cm wide, because only this will stiffen the wrist properly and protect it from injury. Lace-up gloves will be better for professional training and tournaments.

An important element of the gloves, which is worth paying attention to when buying, is the filling of the inside of the glove. It is good if the filling allows for proper ventilation. Gloves with special ventilation holes can be purchased.

The appearance of the gloves, i.e. their color or design, is a secondary issue, because it does not affect the quality of blows or the comfort of the boxer. The visual side of the hardware can be thought of at the very end.

Boxing gloves vs boxing bandages

An inherent element of boxing gloves are boxing bandages, the so-called boxing wraps, the task of which is to protect the hand, and more specifically bones, tendons, fingers and wrists, prevent sweat from being absorbed into the glove and seal the hand in the glove so that it sticks tightly to it.

The most popular are cotton bandages that absorb moisture well. Cotton wraps are available in various lengths. Their length should be adjusted to the "play" between the hand and the glove.

There are also so-called inner gloves (so-called glove wraps) that replace bandages and gel wraps. The gloves are very comfortable to use. You don't need an extra person to help you put them on. They are most often made of polyester orneoprene. Gel bandages are wraps with a greater cushioning capacity than ordinary cotton bandages, which is why today they are more and more often chosen by boxers.

Check out the tutorial by Przemysław Saleta on how to properly bind your hands

Source: Men'sOver40

Category:

ABC of exercises