Training with punching bags can be excellent for strengthening your arm muscles for boxing. That’s why many professionals prefer to use punching bags without gloves.
While beginners use boxing gloves during the early stages of their boxing or MMA training, they often shift to bare-knuckle training as they progress. Punching heavy bags without gloves can help to condition your forearms, wrists, and knuckles while strengthening your connective tissues and skin over time.
Not to mention, training without gloves helps build your defence if you ever need to protect yourself. You might need to modify your punching styles while switching from gloves to bare fists. And it’s also best to avoid hitting the punching bag without gloves for a long time.
In today’s article, we’ll discuss whether it’s safe to use punching bags without gloves. So, without any more dilly-dallying, let’s get on with it!
Is It Safe To Use A Heavy Punching Bag Without Wearing Gloves?
The first thing you need to understand about bare-knuckle training is that it’s not suitable for beginners. You can’t expect to train without gloves the first time you step inside a gym for a punching bag workout. Bare-knuckle training is something you must gradually work up to once you’re super-comfortable with using normal MMA or boxing gloves.
Even then, you can’t train without gloves on punching bags all the time because it can cause severe ligament damage if you’re not careful. You can also break the fragile bones in your hands while punching the heavy bag too hard without wearing gloves.
Since there’s no buffer element to cushion the blow when training without gloves, you must be extra careful about your punching style and the bag’s strength. Also, you have to work on perfecting your punching techniques and body stance before training without gloves.
It’s best to mix your bare-knuckle training with hand wraps, boxing gloves, or MMA gloves from time to time. You can train without gloves once or twice a week and use other protective hand gear for the rest of the days. That way, you can work on building strength in your forearms, knuckles, and wrists without suffering any severe injury.
How To Use A Punching Bag Without Gloves?
You must switch up your training strategies and techniques while using a heavy punching bag without gloves. Below we’ve discussed some easy steps to help you get started with bare-knuckle training.
Step 1
Improve your training technique by forming a flat and strong fist that’s firm and can stand the blow from punching a heavy bag without gloves. Keep your fingers tightly closed so they stay flush against one another while remaining flat. Make sure that your knuckles and fingers simultaneously hit the bag while punching.
Step 2
Strengthening and conditioning your wrists is another outstanding advantage of the bare-knuckle training style. However, you must be careful not to bend your wrists during or before striking the punching bag. If the punch lands at the slightest angle, it can sprain or fracture your wrists.
Your wrist must be in a perfectly straight alignment with your fist. Always keep your forearms and wrist tense while throwing a punch, and try to imagine them as a single element of your body.
Step 3
Maintain your form to throw crisp and precise punches while focusing more on speed than power. Putting too much power in each punch will increase the risks of injury when training without gloves. Also, pull out of the punches the moment they land on the punching bag.
Step 4
As we mentioned, you might need to change your punching style for bare-knuckle training. Avoid throwing hooks with your bare fists because they put your wrists in vulnerable positions, which can lead to injuries. You might be unable to maintain a straight wrist-to-fist alignment when landing hooks. Thus, it’s safer to stick to the normal punches and jabs for bare-knuckle training.
Step 5
Remember to take breaks whenever necessary and not to over-exert yourself because the bare-knuckle training style can cause the skin on your knuckles to crack or break. Although the skin will become tough eventually, you have to give it time to heal properly during the initial days.
Bare-knuckle training can be quite hardcore, so you might need time to heal from physical pain or bruises. Not just this, but taking breaks is also essential to overcome fatigue. If you feel tired during bare-knuckle training, it’ll hamper your form and increase the risks of injury.
Should You Train With Gloves?
Now that you know how it’s possible to safely use a punching bag without wearing gloves, we should also mention it can be a huge learning curve. You can become prone to injuries if you don’t take proper precautions or follow instructions.
It’s best to consult a professional trainer if you’re determined to switch to bare-knuckle training. You can follow the methods mentioned above to start your bare-knuckle training, but always do it under professional supervision.
However, discontinue the training immediately if you feel persistent pain in your wrists, knuckles, and forearms. And, if you are looking to purchase a heavy bag or gloves, MMA Factory has everything you need!
On that note, we will sign off now to let you get some hours in the gym. Keep training hard, and see you next time!
