Why are the "gloves off," anyway? I thought you were supposed to put them on?

So, I've got a lot of gloves. I do believe in having the right tool for the right job, but I also find it hard to pass up "a deal," and as in other areas of my life, I suppose I might fall victim to the "collector" mentality. In any event, with the pair of speed bag gloves that I've had since I was a kid (that have gone missing, but I still have somewhere!), plus the eight sets pictured here (and not including other glove-like training gear such as focus mitts), I have nine sets of MA/bag/workout gloves. Some got thrown in when I purchased other equipment, some I bought just to have on-hand, or for my kids to use when training with me, and a couple sets I've had for many, many years (I got the Tuffy boxing trainers for Christmas one year when I was 14, I think, and the Everlast Karate-style open thumb bag gloves were also a Christmas present from when I was in my 20's).

My favorites are the Everlast bag gloves; these were made back when even the budget-priced Everlast gear was still manufactured to a high standard and lived up to their name... I've had these gloves, and beat on these gloves, for years.



My second favorites are the relatively new V-Sport grappling style training gloves, to wit:



I've been using these almost exclusively for several weeks, as I'm trying to break them in (and they are getting more comfortable by the day). These are all leather, have a nice, solid construction, and so far can take a beating. I'm using these for bag work, but I could see them being useful for grappling, MMA, or other types of training that require decent protection without sacrificing finger mobility, grip, or tactile feel. The best part of these gloves (besides the color, the nice solid construction, and the feel of real leather)-- they cost $20 Canadian!

One accessory that I've realized in my old age is not optional are wraps.



When we were in high school, my know-it-all friends and I (so cool and tough, to the last man) used to work the heavy bag with speed bag gloves on at best-- no wraps. Sometimes we went bare-fisted/sans speed bag gloves entirely. But there's a reason they have "heavy bag gloves" and "speed bag gloves;" they are different! And in either case, you should always wear wraps. They not only protect your hands by adding some padding; they also protect your wrist and fingers from spraining or breaking, and they help to maintain the integrity of your fist by establishing the proper relationship from finger to finger (if you've wrapped your hands correctly!). I learned all of this the hard way, after several bent fingers, twisted wrists, and scuffed and cut knuckles... Don't train without wraps and the right gloves, kids. Your hands and finger joints will thank you later!

White Belt Out