Friday, June 29, 2012

Things To Know About Buying Mixed Martial Arts Gloves

By Leo Elbert


Mixed Martial Arts started off without the use of MMA gloves. The Ultimate Fighting Championship was responsible in making the use of the gloves mandatory in competition when they implemented it in 1993. Now MMA gloves are a fixture and a requirement in all matches involving Mixed Martial Arts. They are especially made to protect fists from any injuries by minimizing the impact of the punch but still enabling the fighter to strike a harsh blow. MMA gloves are designed with an open palm and open fingers. This allows so much freedom of movement for the hands. There are four types of MMA gloves according to purpose: sparring, bag, fight and hybrid gloves.

There are two types of sparring gloves- or practice gloves normally used in training and practice. One has finger slots, while the other has finger loops and a padded striking area. The choice of gloves to spar or train with will depend on what the fighter wants or is most comfortable with. Padding is more substantial with the sparring gloves, compared to other MMA gloves.

Bag gloves are most useful when the fighter is going on a round with a bag or striking pads since they are designed to minimize impact. Aside from denser padding, a grip bar and increased support for the wrist are also provided for. They are supposed to be for hitting bags only and that should only be the case. Do not use them for fighting or sparring or else you'd only be running the risk of injuring yourself or your opponent.

MMA fighting specifically makes use of fight gloves. Compared to sparring gloves, these gloves are a lot less padded. As they are used for competitions, they are usually 4 oz and have little or no padding at all. Therefore, never spar with these gloves on.

All those gloves combined will come result to the hybrid gloves. You can spar with them, you can hit the bag with them, and you can fight with them. However, most experts advise to spend a little money and have all three types of gloves if one wants to practice MMA professionally. You will have the best amount of protection if you have new fight gloves when going in a competition.

A handwrap is encouraged to be used beneath any of these gloves so as to soften the impact of the punches. Handwraps are used pretty much everytime, whether fighting or sparring.

MMA gloves come in two different sizes: 4 oz and 6 oz. If you are a beginner, go for the 6 oz since its dense padding will provide a lot of protection for your fists. The 4 oz will be best suited for MMA professionals who are already competing.

Double-stitched MMA gloves are more durable and last longer than one-stitched gloves so you should buy those. When it comes to cleaning the gloves, washing is not advisable. Keep the interior of the gloves clean by using a bandage.




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment