WTF is this crap about hands blowing up without gloves or wraps?

[iopyud]

I'm sorry if I sound annoying but what's up with that?

I often read messages saying you'll injure yourself if you punch without gloves or wraps. Even hitting heavy bags without them will result to injuries.

If that's the case, won't majority of striking arts become useless in actual self defense scenarios?

But then again, what about THESE guys?

YouTube- Rioheroes HIGHLIGHTS, BEST KNOCKOUTS!!!

I'm not provoking a flamewar or whatever, please enlighten me. Thanks.

[PointyShinyBurn]

Because while you might throw three or four punches in a street fight (or maybe 30-40 in a bare knuckle vale-tudo match) you will throw hundreds in a session on the heavy bag or pads several times a week. It's an issue of accumulated wear-and-tear.

[MMAMickey]

^that, and people move more when you it them.. they dont tend to swing from the ceiling unless you've already hung them there

you get alot more resistance from a heavy bag

[iopyud]

Ah so it's much safer to punch people.

What about the issue of missing and hitting the skull?

[Tranquil Suit]

Striking with the knuckles is done with the intention of 'leaving a crater'.
When hitting the skull however, it's too thick to 'get cratered' by knuckles. And they might get cracked, but it's not very likely (Honestly, it's not a catastrophe).
Instead you're better off striking such areas with your palm (palmstrike AM I RITE), particularly the bottom ridge of the palm. Thou not a sharp area, it is thicker than the knuckles and more robust (because it's flat) AND it's actually more effective to rattle the brain area when hitting a skull!

As for hitting the heavy bag with your bare fists, yes it is an issue of accumulated wear-and-tear, but not so much on the knuckles as on the elbows and shoulders, that have to absorb all the continous shocks. So, wear boxing gloves when hitting the bag to solve said problem.
Same reasoning applies to your knees, it's really bad on longterm to run on asphalt beacause of the continous schocks that your knees have to absorb. So try finding a dirt track and/or get yourself DECENT running shoes.


And uh, knuckle push ups are not for strenghtening the knuckles. That's bullshit. It's for strenghtening the wrists (like when you do punchy). So it's important to maintain that form. And yes, it's bullshit to do knuckle push ups on a bare floor, you'd just flatten your knuckles in longterm. Get yourself a fucking mat, they're cheap.
And if you don't have a mat on the spot, try doing some push ups on your fingers for variation.

What about the issue of missing and hitting the skull?

Get better at fighting and/or get insurance.
Although, I'm not sure if insurance covers street fights. Meh whatever. Get a job then.
Serious: It means you made a mistake during a fight, hopefully the price is not too dear (ie, your knuckles are intact (see above)). Either way, continue the fight.

[gregaquaman]

I do about five minutes in a training session doing bare knuckle on heavy bag. I used to do focus mitts bare knuckle. I am 36 and I dont feel that I have issues with my hands.
I do tend to hit differently bare knuckle on bag rather than boxing glove on bag. bare knuckle I throw a lighter and snappier punch and allow it to rebound off. I also start light each time and work up.
but having said that the advice to use gloves/wraps is still sound. It is the same theory behind using a mouthguard.

As far as hitting the skull dont throw overhands bare knuckle.

[Mr. Machette]

My experience hitting the bag without gloves has been this:

Knuckles skin easily. This makes it painful to train and is a setback.

Wrists can be sprained easily by mistake. Even bigger setback.

I don't wrap or use "boxing gloves", but I do put on a pair of snug fitting work gloves.

Protects my skin, and gives enough support to mitigate the wrist thing.

[Osaka peach]

My experience hitting the bag without gloves has been this:

Knuckles skin easily. This makes it painful to train and is a setback.

Wrists can be sprained easily by mistake. Even bigger setback.

I don't wrap or use "boxing gloves", but I do put on a pair of snug fitting work gloves.

Protects my skin, and gives enough support to mitigate the wrist thing.

exactly, the skin over the knuckles usually tears when you hit the bag without gloves.

[KhorneliusPraxx]

What they all said^

It is actually just common sense.

[MMAMickey]

I do tend to hit differently bare knuckle on bag rather than boxing glove on bag. bare knuckle I throw a lighter and snappier punch and allow it to rebound off. I also start light each time and work up.

the benefits of working bare knuckle (fight specific) are ruined by the fact you're not hitting full power