How to wrap your hands:

More Information on Hand Wraps:

Hand injuries sideline more boxers than any other injury. While the rate of hand injury is less in MMA, you still must wrap your hands before hitting the mitts, the heavy bag, or doing any stand up sparring. There are many solid parts of your body, including your skull, elbows, and hips. Your fist is not one of them. Your fist is made up of chicken bones, that don't even fit together properly everywhere.

Before a professional or amateur fight, hands should be wrapped in gauze bandage and medical tape, or size and length determined by the governing athletic commission. These are generally limited to 2” and 1” in width respectively, and 8-20 yards and 6-10 feet respectively. Taping hands is an art, and best left  to professionals.

Wrapping hands for training on the other hand is a skill that can and must be acquired fairly rapidly. There are several styles of handwraps you can buy. The two basic points of consideration in choosing a wrap are length and material.

Chain sporting goods stores sell wraps no fighter would wear; they are too short and too cheaply manufactured. Inexplicably, even the major boxing brands generally come in just two sizes, Regular (usually 170” or 180”) and Junior (usually around 120”). Too little wrap and your lose protection. Too much wrap and it bunches and shifts. So choose a size that fits your wrist.

The other consideration is material. The most common wrap is strong cotton in a herringbone weave. This is a solid alternative, but offers little flexibility, and can provide an uncontoured fit. Some wraps are available in nylon, which are very long lasting, but these do not breathe, and tend also to be inflexible and not conform properly to the hand. The best wraps use a semi-elastic, relatively light cotton or cotton spandex blend that molds well to the hand, and provides a snug, secure fit.

A final consideration is the means to secure the wrap when it is full applied. Traditionally wraps were secured with a tie, but Velcro provides such a superior method that ties are rarely found any more.

The Spartan Series is available in a four lengths to accommodate any adult hand, and is made from a breathable semi-elastic material that wraps perfectly around the contours of the hand, and provides a secure fit and maximum protection.

There are a variety of methods to wrap hands, some of which are shows in a series of videos below. Each of the methods can work well, and generally vary in how they prevent bunching and shifting, and how they support the hand, notably the problem areas of the knuckles, wrist, thumb, and fifth metacarpal (pinky hand bone). You may prefer one over another due to problem areas in your own hands, the general practice at your gym, or any of several other good reasons.

Regardless of which method you decide upon, there are some tips that may prove useful:

• Wrapping your hands looks a little complex, but with practice, you will quickly get the hang of it.
• If your handwraps don't feel right, do them over.
• Proper tightness of handwraps is important. Wraps should be tight enough to stay firmly in place, but not so tight they will cut off your circulation. After you have applied the wrap, make a fist; it should feel as if the hand is become held together in one solid piece, but not as if your circulation is being cut off at all.
• Handwraps have a top and bottom. Some wraps are clearly marked "This Side Down". The reason is that the Velcro should be face up when finished. If you started with the wrong side down is no big deal. On the last step around the wrist, flip(twist) the wraps over once.
• Handwraps can be machine washed, but tend to get remarkably tangled. Attach the Velcro strips together first, and place in a ladies undergarment bag. Wash separately, as wraps can run. Hang up to dry, or put in dryer still in bag.
• Rolling up the handwraps when finished with your workout does not necessarily lead to a gross, moldy wrap, so try it. If you wrap does get gross and moldy, see above.
• If you work out several times a week, buy a couple pairs of handwraps.

More Handwrap Videos: