If you’ve ever thrown a punch bare-knuckled, you’re likely familiar with the sharp pain and potential injuries that follow. That’s why every boxer needs to protect their hands. Follow these steps to avoid hurting yourself during boxing training.

How to Prevent Hand Injuries During Boxing Training

1. Wear Boxing Gloves

The most common way to protect your hands is with boxing gloves. However, different types of gloves are suited for various situations. All-purpose gloves are excellent for sparring and general training, but if you’re hitting the heavy bag, go with a well-padded pair. These heavier gloves will provide more cushion to guard your knuckles.

2. Use a Quality Punching Bag

Punching bags are often filled with sand or grain, but these fillings eventually collect and harden at the bottom, creating a much more hazardous target to hit.

Thick, rough canvas bags can also be an issue. Over time, they can tear up your gloves much faster than other materials and eventually cause injuries.

Practice with a quality vinyl or leather heavy bag filled with high-density fabrics instead.

3. Wrap Your Hands

Whereas boxing gloves protect the knuckles, wrapping secures the hands and wrists. Hand wraps help prevent broken bones, sprained wrists, and skin damage. There are many different ways to wrap hands, so watch tutorials or ask a coach to show you how.

4. Practice Often

Training won’t make your hands invulnerable, but it will strengthen them, making them less susceptible to injury. Additionally, punching with poor technique increases your risk of getting hurt. More practice with an experienced coach will help improve your technique and direct your power to the right place.

5. Let Your Body Heal

Practice is essential, but it’s also important to let your body recover. If you start to feel pain in your hands or wrists, take a day or two to rest. Training through the pain will only worsen the feeling and possibly lead to lasting injuries. After you heal, you’ll come back feeling refreshed and ready to fight.

If you’re looking for a talented boxing coach to help you build your skills and perfect your technique, reach out to Tessa Moon of TM Productions. Based in Honolulu, Tessa has trained as a boxer for over a decade, working and training with the best fighters and champions across Hawaii and California. She will use her extraordinary skills to harness your potential and turn you into a champion. To get started on your training, call (808) 291-7817 or fill out a contact form online.