Hey all, I have a few questions having started thai boxing and a month ago and having just gotten nice new heavy bag for xmas. The first is - how to strengthen the wrists for punching? I can feel they are the weak link in my strikes already Second question is - how to toughen knuckles in a way that isn't hazardous to health? Third is - does anybody have a nice system/huge list for thai boxing combinations to practice on the heavy bag? Thanks a million, and happy holidays. Jack
Hi Jack, you can do all the dit da jaw and the grippers and the wrist rollers. But nothing will substitute for good fist/knucle push ups.
Two words: Hand wraps. Learn how to put them on properly, and use them with a heavy bag. If you are already feeling it in your wrists, you are already doing damage. There's a reason boxers wear handwraps, and despite what others may tell you, all the strengthening in the world won't prevent damage to your wrists. It's a complex joint involving multiple tiny bones and ligaments. Pounding a heavy bag does condition, but you need to support those joints. I would stick to knuckle pushups, and just using the heavy bag. Some people advocate using a makiwara (sp?) board, but I haven't tried it myself. Bas Rutten has some videos with some decent combos for training. They may be floating around on the 'Net somewhere.
Hey thanks guys I got some hand wraps the other day but I can't for the life of me figure out how to apply them properly. Must be like the Karateka's first lesson - putting the bloody belt on.
It's best if your shown how----following along as you are watching someone else. Talk to your instructor about this. It is a bit confusing at first
i wouldnt advise you to use a heavy bag on your own until you have had a few months training either. none of my coaches have been a fan of that because you end up developing bad habits no your own before you have a real idea of how to punch
knuckle pressups should strengthen your wrists and toughen up your knuckles, this would probably be my first piece of advice for this too.
