Want more wrestling news, rumors, and results? Be sure to visit PWInsider.com and PWInsiderXtra.com.
Boxing is a combat sport that involves the use of heavy punches and powerful blows. Boxers and fighters engage in heavy physical exercises, putting them at risk of injury. According to a study conducted on Injury risk in professional boxing during 2001-2003, the most common types of boxing injuries include facial lacerations ( 51%), hand injuries (17%), eye injuries (14%), and nose injuries (5%).
Entering the boxing ring means putting yourself at risk of these injuries. Following the right guidelines or safety precautions is crucial to avoid injuries, concussions, or bruises. These precautions include how using appropriate boxing gear and proper techniques can save you from injuries and fractures in the ring or during training.
Warm-up sessions are vital whether you are going for a competition, sparring or training. You must do some kind of stretching before engaging yourself in a physical activity. Warm-ups improve your performance by making your muscles and ligaments stretchable to move in multiple directions.
Stretch the muscles of your arms, legs, chest, neck, and spine as a pre-boxing match exercise. Here are some helpful warm-up stretches that can prove beneficial for preparing your body for a fight. Incorporate them into your training.
Achilles Stretch & Standing Toe-up Calf
Rotating Stomach Stretch
Assisted Reverse Shoulder Stretch
Choosing the right size of boxing gear is essential to safeguard your body during the fight. You can seek professional help from your boxing coach in this matter. Make sure that your boxing safety equipment is custom-fitted and provides a range of motion while fighting.
Boxing gear or boxing safety equipment includes the following;
Make sure you use the right boxing gloves before engaging in physical activity. It depends on your body weight and the activity you are engaging in. Usually, gloves for sparring feature more padding than training gloves. Similarly, the gloves for heavy bag training are different from the competition gloves. If your weight is approximately 160 pounds, your gloves size must be 14 ounces. Suppose your body weight is more than the weight of an average person; choose 16 oz boxing gloves. You’ll find a range of specialized options from trusted sources like XMartial, which cater to different glove needs for both training and competition.
Hand wraps are important boxing safety equipment whether you are engaging in bag work or fighting in a real competition. Choose the semi-elastic type hand wraps for a good experience. They must be long enough to provide maximum comfort and protection.
A head guard protects your skull and face from potential head injuries, concussions, and fractures. It must possess the following properties to ensure maximum security;
A head guard must not block your vision.
It must be comfortable to wear.
It should allow smooth ventilation.
A head guard must possess adequate padding.
Never enter the ring without a boxing mouthguard. It protects your chin and teeth from injuries. The most important thing here is that it must fit your teeth and be adaptable.
Hand wraps are essential for every kind of boxing. They prevent you from injuries, help you recover quickly, and encourage you to keep fighting. Hand wraps aim to protect the small and soft bones of your hands, wrists, and knuckles. Hand wraps assist in distributing the shock impact caused by strong punches and blows from your opponents.
However, the wrapping technique matters a lot. Follow these tips and tricks to benefit properly from using these hand wraps:
Ensure that you apply the correct hand-wrapping technique. Watch different videos on YouTube regarding hand-wrapping techniques.
Maintaining enough padding and cushioning on your knuckles and wrists is important.
Make sure to open your hands while wrapping. After that, create a fist. You will notice the created fist is tight. Don’t make it too tight. Otherwise, it will block the blood flow through your veins, making you uncomfortable.
Wrap between the fingers. It will offer enough support and save your fingers from potential injuries.
The standard length of hand wraps is 180 inches. So, choose hand wraps according to your hand size, but remember that they must be long enough to wrap around your hands adequately.
Remember that hand wraps are not for providing padding or cushioning to your hands. It is the function of boxing gloves. Hand wraps are for securing the small bones and joints within your hands.
Moisturizing your nose is important before going for a competition, as the dry skin inside your nose is more exposed to tearing. Therefore, apply a moisturizer to make it moist and flexible to avoid cutting and bleeding. Hydrate the inside skin of the nose well to avoid nosebleeds. You can make it moist by using;
Steam inhalations
Drops of saline water
Natural moisturizing sprays
Petroleum jelly will protect you from severe facial lacerations and injuries. Petroleum jelly makes your facial skin slippy and elastic. Applying a thin layer helps decrease the forceful impact caused by powerful punches and strikes. Thus, the chances of cuts and bruises are likely to be reduced.
Moreover, it is also effective against friction burns because of its moisturizing features. It creates a blockage between the wounds and other elements, including dirt or irritants. Petroleum Jelly deflects your opponent's powerful blows, protecting you from cuts and scratches.
Remember: Consider choosing a petroleum jelly that is pure and free of irritants, additives, or fragrances.
The best way to minimize the chances of injuries during boxing is to understand your game better to know when to strike hard in sparring or a competition. Develop your defensive and punching techniques. Invest your energy in practicing slipping, escaping, blocking, and dodging skills to enhance your performance.
Boxer’s Safety In The Ring
Using the right gear, moisturizer, and petroleum jelly and implementing different exercises can save you from injuries. Understanding and implementing these precautions during the training will ensure your well-being in the ring. Safety is paramount in combat sports. Therefore, invest time adapting these precautions and prepare to mark your presence in the boxing world.
If you enjoy PWInsider.com you can check out the AD-FREE PWInsider Elite section, which features exclusive audio updates, news, our critically acclaimed podcasts, interviews and more by clicking here!
Bang On Casino
