Any truth in this?

**kdawgious** · Posted On: 10/14/2011 8:14am

Over the years I've come across numerous myths and stupidity surrounding the East Asian martial arts, you've all heard them. Now I don't hear many such tall tales revolving around the Western styles, but one theory that pervades most conversations comparing Boxing to Karate is the idea that boxers wrap their hands up so much that the hands don't receive proper conditioning the way a karate player's hands do when hitting the heavy-bag/makiwara.

I keep hearing that peoples' hands will "shatter like glass" when hitting a punching bag bare knuckle with full power, now obviously this hogwash - I hit the bag regularly bare knuckle and the worst I've had to deal with is peeling skin.

Back to the myth in question, are boxers truly doing themselves a disservice, with regards to condition of their fists, by so heavily wrapping their hands? Or is this just some stupid myth that "traditional" karate-ka speak to make themselves feel better?

**thrutch** · Posted On: 10/14/2011 10:09am

Makiwara training's (supposedly) for strengthening the "punching muscles" in the wrist and sharpening up the skin on the knuckles to make kyushu striking more effective. There's probably a few other claimed benefits too.

Given the choice I'd work the bag every time.

I'm no doctor, but I'm not aware of any training that can make your bones stronger and less likely to fracture/break/shatter.

In summary: BS

**SifuJason** · Posted On: 10/14/2011 10:39am

There are several threads about this already (which I and others have commented on), go search for them for a more detialed explanation. You can condition your hands to be less likely to break, and to toughen your skin up--your body has mechanisms built-in to hlep it remodel in response to stress; however, if you hit forehead (or other firm parts) straight on with a punch, your hand will likely break.

Boxing, as a sport, does ignore this to an extent, though the bag work they do (even with gloves on) does reinforce their hands over time. Also, anytime someone fights competitively, wrapping is an important protective mechanism, because you don't want to risk a break mid-fight.

So, the answer is, yes boxing is missing something karate or kung fu does do; however, it's only marginally useful.

**LI GUY 1** · Posted On: 10/14/2011 10:53am

Its not true, kind of.

I had this one jarate guy, big guy, fat, sucks at his karate btw lol, but anyway he asked me if my art did hand work. I said well yea we use our hands. He said no like this and he started backhanding a wall so that it shook, I will admit he hit it pretty hard.

Now, after we left and said how cool he was lol, I looked at my friend and said "wow he wasted a crap ton of time conditioning his hands, he could have just hammerfisted the wall with zero conditioning".....hell I could have done that with a hammer fist.

**LI GUY 1** · Posted On: 10/14/2011 10:57am

Now as to will your hand break when you punch a guy in the face? Well, I have plenty of times hit people bareknuckle in the face/jaw/temple/cheek bone area.

Never more than a swollen hand if even that.

I have seen a few friends who broke a pinky maybe, or had some bad swelling, but it is rare that if you know how to punch you wil hurt your hand. Squeeze a tight well formed fist, and punch away, zero conditioning needed.

It also helps that I have a strong grip through lifting, training, and hand grip exercises occassionally also. A stronger hand/forearm = less chance of injury.

**RWaggs** · Posted On: 10/14/2011 10:57am

Yeah, mostly BS. I do Kyokushin and spar bare knuckle fairly often. I started kickboxing on the side and was doing heavy bag work with gloves but no hand wraps at the gym, and with bare fists at home. Pretty soon, my hands were so inflamed and wrists were so tender that I had to basically not punch anything for 3-4 weeks to heal them up. I now wrap tight and glove up ANY time I'm hitting the heavy bag or even focus mitts and my hands/wrists feel great.

You may be able to train your hands to punch the side of a train car, but you'll never be hitting full strength and you'll probably have real arthritis problems when you're older.

**LI GUY 1** · Posted On: 10/14/2011 11:01am

Good point RWaggs. When I started doing real consistent stand up ttraining I started wrapping up. It allows you the mental edge to hit harder and saves your hands from abuse. By not wrapping you are asking for injury if you are even semi-serious about training.

***Tranquil Suit*** · Posted On: 10/14/2011 11:09am

Irrelevant, but wrapping also prevents your hand from moving inside the glove.

**W. Rabbit** · Posted On: 10/14/2011 11:53am

Originally Posted by thrutch

I'm no doctor, but I'm not aware of any training that can make your bones stronger and less likely to fracture/break/shatter.

In summary: BS

You being unaware is not the same thing as that kind of training being BS.

To become more aware, L2Search Function.

**LI GUY 1** · Posted On: 10/14/2011 12:06pm

Weight training is proven to make bones more dense. Stronger. Also, having stronger muscles, ligaments, and tendons around the joints/bones will hold them in place and absorb shock making fractures and dislocations less likely.

So, cut the conditioning crap out, focus on proper form, and getting stronger hands. Look up grip strength and start doing it. Your hands will be healthy and a lot less likley to break, much better than makiwara's and that crap.