The key to a successful career for any athlete lies in hard training, which allows him to maintain optimal shape and regularly improve his skills. One of the key elements of the training of a fighter is the so-called "work on the paws." This is a set of exercises for practicing strikes, in which special gloves are used. Due to their unusual shape, they are called "paws" and such training elements are suitable for boxing, taekwondo, kickboxing and other types of contact sports. Punch mitts come in a variety of variations, each designed for a specific type of exercise.
Professional fighters from boxing, kickboxing and taekwondo note that such training paws are an indispensable tool in the process of preparing an athlete. Without such exercises, a person has practically no chance of making meaningful progress in any of the disciplines mentioned. Punch mitts are considered an indispensable tool of the trainer, since it is he who controls the implementation of the exercises and knows which punches need to be worked out in the next lesson. Training gloves have a well-defined purpose and each of the models of this projectile is designed to perform its task.
Types of punch mitts for taekwondo, boxing and kickboxing
Since punch mitts are supposed to help the athlete correctly place the punch, they have several different types. Thus, they not only cover more disciplines, suitable for taekwondo, boxing or kickboxing, but also allow a fighter to be trained to specific training specifications. Punch mitts of various types did not appear immediately. Behind each of the models for kickboxing, taekwondo or boxing are decades of practical training, which made it possible to identify the optimal structure for training equipment. Ultimately, punch mitts took on their current shape, ideal for practicing various punches.
Training gloves for boxing, kickboxing and taekwondo are available in three versions. These are such types of sports equipment as:
straight boxer paws;
bent paws;
universal punch mitts.
The first two options are considered the most popular types of this equipment. Curved and straight paws are must-have training tools for any fighter who is on the path of boxing, kickboxing or taekwondo. Without them, the quality training of an athlete is out of the question.
Straight punch mitts are considered the main projectile in the process of practicing punches. They are also called "classic", which indicates the peculiar popularity of these gloves. Such training equipment is used to hone direct punches and kicks. In most cases, these are leather paws that have a fairly rigid tab. Suitable for boxing, kickboxing and taekwondo. Straight paws make high demands on the skill of the trainer, since only an experienced athlete knows how to properly use training equipment of this kind.
Bent punch mitts are also a mandatory component of a fighter's training. Their main task is to work out the movement of the athlete and his accuracy. Like straight paws, such training elements are suitable for kickboxing, taekwondo and boxing. One of the main features of this projectile is rigid polyurethane tabs. High-quality bent punch mitts, as well as straight varieties, in most cases, leather. An eco-substitute for this material will not be able to withstand prolonged loads, so it is recommended to take bent punch mitts made from natural ingredients.
Universal paws are much less common. This was influenced by several factors, among which the main one is the specifics of the use of the aforementioned projectile. Training universal paws look like both straight and curved gloves, but they are larger. In addition, such punch mitts have a painted target in the center so that the athlete can see where to strike. It is believed that these training gloves are more suitable for taekwondo and kickboxing than boxing. These paws are ideal for practicing kicks.
Forms of punch mitts: application specifics and characteristics
In addition to classification by purpose, punch mitts also differ in their shape. This is an important aspect that coaches use to practice punching effectively. Often training gloves of various types are tried to be combined with the most suitable shape. However, if desired, you can find both straight paws of several shapes, and universal training equipment of a certain size. Which option is best for boxing, kickboxing or taekwondo is up to the athlete and his coach.
To date, there are two main forms of such equipment as boxing training paws. We are talking about the following options:
Small rounded paws. Most often, these are straight training paws that are ideal for boxing. Allows you to effectively work out direct strikes.
Oblong training gloves. They have a teardrop shape. Due to their specificity, they take an anatomically correct appearance. This is a kind of universal training projectile. With it, you can hone both direct strikes and side techniques and uppercuts.
If you do not know which boxing gloves you should buy, we recommend that you seek the advice of a professional. For various types of martial arts (boxing, MMA, kickboxing, taekwondo), certain training exercises are needed that affect the shape of the paws and their type. The price of boxing gloves for boxing, taekwondo, MMA or kickboxing depends, first of all, on the material and manufacturer. As a rule, in the online stores of our country you can find punch mitts of any value, because Ukraine is famous for its love for various types of martial arts.