In Krav Maga, we're regularly switching between having our hands wrapped, unwrapped, and using boxing gloves. While old school wraps are nice and simple, I like being able to switch between the three modes quickly. That means utilizing some sort of gloves.
My first upgrade from basic wraps was a set of Title Speed Wraps (generously provided by my friend Dawn!). My first thought was that they were quite flimsy, but I quickly grew to like them (they get pretty poor reviews; I must be one of the few fans out there). I liked that they went on quickly, provided some basic support, and didn't really get in the way when I wanted to do more bare-handed style practice. Best of all, they were washable, so when everything got nasty, they could be easily cleaned.
Still, after a year or so of use, they were toast. I thought I'd mix it up and tried out Meister's Gel-Padded speedwraps. While I've only used them a few weeks, I really like them.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtr0ncHT9Xwu4y1VQ94uf6jRbt5x51FU21G1_TPUAOsmI7489dDUZd3N5sVS15t2J9qd7lDRh58kUOxlZu5XaVgP4Eeje7Vif5ebyvgZk2Cf8NB0IDFOM0G2Sl2FlFCmn1qJzSuw/s580/20140702_055819.jpg)
They are definitely more substantial than the Title Speedwraps, with the 26" wrist strap providing solid wrist support. At the same time, they're all fabric and relatively lightweight, so I maintain quite a bit of dexterity when I use them alone.
They work well under boxing gloves over; providing support I quickly noticed was lacking when I went a round without them.
The only catch with these wraps is that apparently my wrist size isn't within their target market. Even though I bought the Medium/Small size, they wrist wrap overshoots the Vecro by a good few inches. The result: I'd end up with a tail flapping around. It's not only annoying and not particularly secure, but when executing some moves would scratch the neck of the poor person I was paired up with.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiSEh6MVET5iFy6j4SfTpzViydVO_sMOd08n3hzWxptJHqIFtnUfF7fwYL4eebtAX_UT_CamTLqzNeKjX6Sr5nruKc-RgTuVEpyeUcw-d9cT19JjUtFvwM6LDXY1WGr_uM5Ebj2g/s580/20140702_055832.jpg)
The most field expedient solution was to throw a loop of athletic tape around my wrists. That held everything in place nicely. A more long term solution was to sew some extra Velcro and in place:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwQlWCBJ9YtqFM40irnoIUD9KCuOU4zvhgiDYvN7ptfiO4v-7jWxMEKER7FNTsddW07E_oH3yZhxPbNH3Hb3Kn-5I9JJPWj9pwRqVjCGZNJDNKBGc5lbEHf-2Ukp8tpVq2gSh-3A/s580/20140702_055634.jpg)
(That's before I did any sewing. I'm proud to say that one set of strips Velcro I secured with dental floss instead of regular thread. Mmmmm, minty fresh, and tough as nails.)
I'm still very much a newbie in the world of Krav Maga and fighting. But I know that some days it's nice to be able to practice with lots of protection (read: boxing gloves), and sometimes it's nice to practice with the bare minimum (read: bare handed). And these speed-wraps give me a solid compromise for both worlds. They may not be as badass as some MMA gloves, but they are comfortable and get the job done.
No comments:
Post a Comment