For boxers the single most significant piece of equipment is the boxing gloves. In the initial stages of boxing, athletes where not required to wear gloves. In ancient Greece and Rome the fighters never wore gloves and fights some times ended in death. With the passage of time however, and as boxing became more civilized, the need for the boxing glove was imminent, in order to minimize fatalities and injuries.
Conventional boxing gloves cover the fighter’s entire hand, and extend about five inches up the arm. The gloves are made from leather; a solid piece that covers the four fingers of the boxer’s hand, there is a second part that covers and protects the thumb. Some gloves, used in the United States, are made without a special separate protector for the thumb. In these gloves the hand fits in one pouch in order to prevent eye injuries. Aside from the leather cover, the gloves are made to contain padding material to absorb shock, protect the knuckles, as well as the faces of the boxers.
Boxing gloves range in weight from 6 to 12 oz. In general, heavier gloves are harder to be kept upright during a fight, when the boxers get tired. During the original inception of the use of boxing gloves, their primary use is to protect the knuckles of the fighters. However, in recent years boxing gloves safety and padding was increased for added safety. The first modern boxing gloves made, weighed about eight ounces. Recently, for added safety boxing gloves used in most boxing leagues weigh ten ounces. Boxers still wear boxing gloves for the same reasons they did initially. To protect the knuckles as well as the opponent from an easy knock out. The extra padding will force the boxers to use strategy instead of pure brute force.
Boxing gloves are an important element in boxing, because they alter the game and bring strategy into play. In conventional boxing, the primary goal is to use ones hands to knock out the opponent. The primary technique of boxing is to use your hands to strike your opponent with as much force as you possibly can. Because hands contain hard bones that could really do damage on the soft tissue of the face the use of the boxing glove is essential to prevent injury. Boxing gloves allow boxers to throw punches with more force than normal during training with minimal risk of injury. The reason for the introduction of the boxing glove was to prevent frequent knockouts. Due to the introduction of the glove, boxing matches became longer and strategy cam into play. The introduction of the boxing glove as well as the strategy factor in the game, leagues started to form as well as governing bodies that enforce rules. Over, the boxing glove has been very important in the evolution of the sport of boxing as we know it today. The boxing glove is an integral factor in the sport of boxing, and the sport itself has evolved around boxing gloves.
Naturally, boxing and the boxing gloves are an important part of Muay Thai and Kickboxing as well. If you are boxing, kickboxing, or training muay thai it is important to understand the use of and practice with gloves and wraps. If you are a fighter, or training to fight, it's part of the game and you need to know how to train with boxing gloves.
However, if you are just training to get in shape and stay healthy (like most of our students), you should still use gloves and wraps to protect your hands (in the long and short term) so that you can maintain your healthy lifestyle.
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