12 Tips To Become A Better Sparring Partner

The first time you start sparring can be extremely intimidating if you don’t know what to expect. Most beginners think of sparring as one step away from being in an actual fight. The better you are at sparring, the more success you will have in preparing for a fight. If you are only training muay thai to burn calories and get a cardio workout then sparring is optional and you should continue to have fun and enjoy the sport of muay thai.

However, if you actually want to get better at muay thai, sparring should be added to your training regimen. Sparring is designed to practice new techniques and reinforce the basics. It is used to help develop timing and recognition, both of which help you use your weapons in a fight. When an opponent recognizes how to win, those win’s will keep on coming. In order to get the most out of your sparring and training, be sure to follow these tips.

Tip # 1

Don’t Go 100% – I do not think it is a good idea for beginners to spar very hard. If you have a fight coming up, hard sparring can be advantageous; however, as a beginner start slow. Usually it takes one person to kick or punch really hard, then both parties start elevating the pace. The easiest way to tell if someone is new is usually when the person is going 100% trying to KO their sparring partner. Remembering that you are sparring to improve your technique, not to KO your partner. Sparring is teamwork and neither should be going 100%.

Tip # 2

Lose the Ego – You will hit and get hit. Accept it and be ready for it. Get over your ego. People who feel that they are too good to get kicked or punched are not in touch with reality. You are training in a full contact sport and if you are new to sparring and worried about looking bad then you are in the wrong sport. The only way to get better at muay thai is to get your hands dirty. The only way you will learn to block and punch and kick is if you get kicked and punched. Eventually you will learn to block those kicks and protect yourself from those punches. Having an ego will only get in the way of becoming a better fighter. You don’t want to be “that guy” in the gym that everyone is talking about after training and at the end of the day no one even wants to spar and train with you. You can only get better with the help of others. Be sure to respect everyone at the gym and be humble.

Tip #3

Look for Openings/Timing is everything– Don’t kick for the sake of kicking! Look for an opening in your opponents guard and try to exploit it. Throw a right kick and see how your opponent responds. You need to test the waters to see if you can find any weaknesses. After all, everyone has a weakness and it is up to the opponent to identify it and maximize this to his/her advantage. The more you spar, the easier it becomes to identify weaknesses and different styles.

Tip #4

Use Combinations – Once you get used to sparring you should start to try and put together combinations. Instead of throwing a low kick, why not throw a jab-jab-low kick? Remember that putting combinations together is much more effective at landing shots than throwing single attacks. Use as many combinations as you can in order to be more effective. Focusing on using your hands and feet together in the combinations. For example, you might try a jab-jab-left hook-low kick. It is always good to try and end a combination with a kick as it scores more points.

Tip #5

Create a Game Plan – Before every sparing session you should have specific things that you want to improve on. “My goal this session is to…” Try and select a few key things that you will focus on during a sparring session. For example, you might want to enter a sparring session to try and work on setting up your low kicks. During the session, focus on throwing that low kick after every punch. This is a great way to improve your kicks. Realistically, in a fight, you’re not going to throw that low kick after every punch but at least your body is use to certain combinations and there is no hesitation when you want to execute it.

Tip #6

Knowledge is Power – Ask for advice! After sparring with someone, don’t be afraid to ask for help. Think of it as a partnership. Your sparring partner is your teammate and you will grow if you work together to improve your game. This goes both ways, so don’t hesitate to offer tips and advice if you see something that the person can improve on. The more knowledge you have during training, the closer you are to becoming a better fighter.

Tip #7

Change your Sparring Partners – Don’t be afraid to spar different people. Variety is essential! Everybody has their favourite combinations and their own style. Sparring with different people will enable you to react and respond faster and easier the more you do it. As a beginner you want to go outside your comfort zone. Practice and train your weaknesses. Whatever you feel least comfortable doing…train it, so that it becomes second nature!  Make your weaknesses your strengths. Don’t be afraid to spar someone that is better than you. Often you will learn the most from people who are at a higher level. It’s easier to pin point your weaknesses when your game is elevated. Those old habits your trainer was knit picky about will come out during uncomfortable sparring sessions. A good fighter is able to adapt and respond quickly in a fight to different styles and use it in a way that will win.

Tip #8

Look for Trends– When you begin sparring with someone you should try and look for specific patterns you notice about their style. If they are a southpaw you will want to adjust your game plan. If they have heavy hands, you will want to make sure your guard is strong and look for the leg kick opening. Use that first minute of sparring to your advantage and see what combinations they keep on throwing. Knowing their strengths and favourite combos will help you better prepare for it the next time they throw it.

Tip #9

Relax – In Thailand you’ll often here the trainers say “Sabai Sabai!” This is a tip useful to anyone and is often the most difficult  when you start sparring. Try to focus on slowing down your pace with calming breaths. The biggest challenge is when people aren’t relaxed the body tenses up. All of a sudden your punches and kicks are slower and it is easier for your opponent to hit you. Before you know it, you feel as if all technique and training is forgotten. You’re not alone! If you’re mindful and conscientious of being relaxed you can practice and train your body to do what you want.

Tip #10

Stay Balanced – Hold your ground! Balance is an essential component of muay thai. One thing that you will notice with Muay Thai compared to other martial arts is that after every punch or kick you are back to your neutral defensive stance. This will ensure that you will always be in a good position to block and counter any attacks that you might receive when you are sparring. It is important to focus on always trying to maintain strong balance to put you in a position to counter or attack. 

Tip #11

Imagine Sparring is a Game – When you spar, pretend you are playing a game. You want to score as many points as you can without your opponent scoring points on you. You should also remember that in traditional muay thai body kicks score the most points, then knees, low kicks and punches. When you pretend you are playing a game when you spar, it will help you relax and focus on trying to do the right things. Sometimes we need to “trick” our brain or breakdown a task, so that the mountain only looks like a small hill. It’s easy for one to say “relax”, but it is more difficult to understand how to get the mind and body there. 

Tip #12

Have Fun – Sparring should be fun. There is no winning or losing. Sparring is a great opportunity to learn and improve your muay thai game. Chalk it up to experience! No matter how hard you spar with someone, you should always respect them at the end of the round. Don’t ever forget that you are sparring to get better.

Remember that sparring is about improving your timing, technique and footwork to prepare you for a real fight. It is the best way to simulate a fight in muay thai. The more you can practice these tips, the more success you will have in becoming a better fighter.

5 Tips For A More Effective Stance

The fighting stance is the most fundamental position that you will ever learn in any type of martial art. A proper stance allows for strong, effortless movement and an easy transference of force from body to extremity. Furthermore, having a good stance allows you freedom of movement that directly translates into the individual expression of the practitioner’s style. Whether you are a martial artist or an athlete of another physical discipline, there is no disadvantage in having a good stance. It will only make you a better at what you do. 

Frequently in the gym I see people sacrifice their stance in order to land a blow or to get a specific grip on their opponent.While it would seem to make solid sense to attempt such an action, remember the goal of combat is not just to hit your opponent at all costs. It’s to do so in a way that weakens their position while at the same time strengthening your own.

The stance is the starting position for all martial movement. I feel that the stance nowadays has lost importance in many styles of martial arts and combative sports. It is still taught, but within the student population there seems to be a lack of information as to why certain actions are performed. In order to perform at your best it is absolutely necessary to find, perfect, and understand your starting position. Can you imagine what would happen if you attempted a max deadlift without knowing how to properly secure yourself in the beginning of the lift? The same principle applies to martial arts and, for the sake of this article, muay Thai.

In muay Thai there are several stances you can adopt during your training. Everyone is built slightly differently and these differences will determine what is the optimal stance for you. I personally feel the stance you adopt should be the one that allows for maximum ease, fluidity of movement, and transference of force. 

The great Bruce Lee put it best: “The arms and kicking leg are important only because they are the vehicles of body force. They, the tools, only give expression to body force when the body is in proper alignment. The position of the hands and arms and of the legs and feet that facilitate easy body expression is important.”

Below are five tips that will help better your stance:

1. Foot Position

The feet are the most important factor in determining your balance. The more the martial artist can feel and control the position of the feet the better he or she will be at expressing intention (punching, kicking, moving, etc.).

The feet should be staggered and placed slightly wider than the hips (but for muay Thai no wider than the shoulders). The weight distribution between both feet should be fifty-fifty. Both feet should be angled slightly to the side and the knees should be facing in the same direction of the feet. Having the feet and knees aligned will minimize any leakage of force and provide a more stable base for the athlete. The rear heel should be raised with the weight placed on the ball of the foot. The elevated heel acts as the trigger for the majority of your striking arsenal and it allows your feet to be alert and move quickly. Never stand flatfooted on both feet as your movement can easily become sluggish.

2. Abdominal Tension and Hip Position

Whenever you are in a fighting stance you want a small amount of tension kept in your abdominal muscles. Also it is important that your pelvis be positioned directly underneath your shoulders. This will allow for a stronger defense, assist you in transferring force to your extremities, and improve balance by keeping your spine in an optimal position.

Take my word for it; you do not want to be hit in a relaxed stomach. Body shots have a nasty way of stealing the life from you, especially when they are met with zero resistance. Think of abdominal tension as your armor. Don’t go to battle without it! On a scale of one to ten, you want your tension level at around a two. This amount of tension will aid your movements but will not subtract from your ability to move or breathe effectively.

3. Arm Position

The placement of the fists, forearms and elbows is extremely important in muay Thai. Having these three things in the proper position can greatly add to you offensive and defensive capabilities.

The right (or rear) elbow and forearm stays close to the body and protects the solar plexus, the liver, and the ribs. Note: I said that the elbow stays close, but it is not glued to the ribs. Allowing the elbows to protrude an inch or two can discourage your opponent from kicking to the body as they may smash their foot into your elbow. That being said, do not flare your elbows out to the side and open up the ribcage. The right (or rear) fist stays close to the face and is positioned on the jaw or cheek bone. This protects the face and gives your fist the appropriate path to attack your opponent. 

The left (or lead) arm is placed slightly in front of the body to act as a first line of defense and offense. The forearms and elbows aid in protecting the solar plexus and the ribcage. Unlike the rear arm, the lead arm is going to be very active during combat and therefore should be placed away from the centerline. When finding your optimal arm position make sure the arm is not extended to far away from the body so that the position exhausts your shoulders and prevents the generation of force. The left fist should be held at nose level. This will help protect your centerline while not obstructing your vision.

4. Head Position

The position of your head it also very important in martial arts. A bad head position can lead to knockouts and broken noses. In every gym you will hear trainers yell at their students, “Chin down! Hands up!” The head should be slightly tilted forward with the chin practically glued to your collarbone. Keeping the head in this tucked position will aid in protecting your nose and the soft tissue of the eyes. Under no circumstances must the head move from this position.

5. Movement in the Stance

Even if you have the perfect stance, for it to be effective in combat movement must be introduced. Standing perfectly still is going to make you a sitting duck for your opponent. Moving targets are hard to hit. If you don’t move, your opponent could close his eyes and still manage to hit you square in the face.

There are many different cadences fighters can adapt and in my experience everyone has their own different “swagger” while fighting. To adapt a cadence, I recommend watching fighters you enjoy and take bits and pieces from their movement patterns to add to your own style.Whatever your cadence may be just make sure that it contains no rhythm (constantly repeated movements). If it does, it becomes easy for your opponents to time you with counter shots.

How To Train The Roundhouse Kick

As I have stated many times in the past, the roundhouse kick is one of the most powerful techniques in the muay Thai arsenal. It also happens to be one of the signature movements of the martial art. So, if you are going to say you practice muay Thai, you need to take the time to get this technique down.

Through both articles and videos I have shown how to perform the kick, how to defend the kick, how to appropriately time the kick, andhow to counter the kick in various ways. Today, I will give you a template of how to actually organize a training session by utilizing all of these techniques.The workout provided should take about an hour to complete and should be performed with a partner.

Workout Part #1: Warm Up and Mobility

1. Mobility Work

First, perform a basic mobility routine for five to ten minutes so your body is ready for action.Watch the video below to learn about my fighter’s mobility routine:

3. Warm Up: Jump rope x 2 rounds

3. Shadow Boxing: 2 rounds

Remember the most important rule of shadow boxing - don’t be lazy! Move around, keep your hands up, focus on your stance, and throw a lot of kicks to get the hips loose. If you’re still warming up when you begin to shadow box, slowly introduce your lower body techniques as in the video below:

4. Heavy Bag Work: 50 kicks per leg

When kicking the bag, keep the bag moving and focus on timing the kick. Optimally, you want to strike the bag right when it reaches the center of the swing. When performing this drill, take your time to set up the kicks, but don’t hold back on power. To kick hard you have to kick hard - a lot. This drill should take about ten minutes to complete.

Workout Part #2: Drilling

This next section needs to be done with shin guards and gloves. Choose three counters to the roundhouse kick and drill them one person at a time, for one round each per person. Alternate partners each round. One person will defend the kick and perform the appropriate counter while the other attacks.

Said another way: Partner A will throw kicks for the first round, while Partner B defends with the selected counter. When the round ends, Partner A now performs that same counter, while Partner B throws kicks.

Appropriate counter techniques could include, but are not limited to: checking, catching, or parrying the roundhouse kicks. Keep in mind when performing the drills to stay active and move around. Don’t stand in front of each other like statues. If you are pressed for time, switch partners every half round.

Here is a video demonstrating three different counters to the roundhouse kick:

Workout Part #3: Thai Pads

3 rounds of Thai pads per person

During the pad work section incorporate all the elements of muay Thai: punch, elbow, knee, kick, and clinch - but make sure to pay extra attention to kicking. Keep the combinations simple and repetitive.

Workout Part #4: Sparring

Spar for 3-5 rounds

All protective gear should be worn during sparring. For this sparring session kicking and defending the kick is the objective. Use your timing, footwork, feints, and strikes to set up your kicks. Also remember to spar light and work with your partner. Learning is the goal, not smashing each other.

WMY MMA The anatomy of the leg kick!

The following is an in depth look at the anatomical structure of the nerves and muscles in the leg and the most efficient ways to render them inoperable. In addition we have included several set ups, combinations and techniques for using the information provided by the anatomical study.

As a side note, we learned from Dr. Cacciamani that there are two ways to cripple and immobilize the leg. 1 is an attack to the primary nerve structures (e.g. the Sciatic Nerve) and 2 is an attack on the muscle tissue. From our research, the difference is generally that nerve attacks immediately cause the temporary loss of control for the limb. Whereas muscle tissue attacks cause swelling, cramping/knotting, and gradual deterioration of muscle function.

This makes sense if you think about it. You can take out the structures that send messages to and from a muscle/group of muscles or you can pulverize the muscle itself. Bottom line is, if your opponent can’t or doesn’t want to move his/her leg anymore, you’ve pretty much done the job.

Included are some diagrams for reference. And below that are a series of videos showing how we like to apply the information we’ve learned from Dr. Cacciamani and from our independent research.

Anterior Neuromuscular Anatomy of Human Leg

Posterior Neuromuscular Anatomy of Human Leg

You can watch them in any order you wish, but

I have tried to assemble them in a loosely organized fashion in hopes that our readers will see how the various techniques can be used to compliment each other

and to form a catch all for reactions, energies, and defenses to any one particular attack.

Top View of Fascia and Nerves in Human Leg

Due to time constraints, I have initially included only 5 additional clips in this article. I will be updating it often over the following weeks until all the following clips are published:

• Jab + Cross + Right Kick (unloaded leg theory)
• Right Kick Counter to the Jab + Cross (loaded leg theory)
• Jab + Cross + Hook + Right Kick (loaded leg theory)
• Overhand Right + Left Kick (loaded leg theory)
• Left Kick Retaliation to Right Kick (loaded leg theory)
• Draw Step Set Up for the Right Kick (loaded leg theory)
• Swing Kick Counter to the Right Kick (neutral leg theory)
• Outside Angle Kick Counter to the Jab + Cross (neutral leg theory)
• Jab Set Up for the Outside Angle Kick (neutral leg theory)
• Left Inside Leg Kick Set Up for the Right Kick or Outside Angle Kick (neutral leg Theory)
• Calve Punt(neutral leg theory)
• Over-Riding The System, Forearm Chop, Knee, Heel Kick from the Clinch
• Forearm Smash Attack vs Guard Pass Prevention
• Elbow Spike Guard Opener

Loaded vs Unloaded Leg Theory (Weight Bearing vs Non-Weight Bearing – Contracted Muscle vs Relaxed Muscle)

Jab, Cross, Right Leg Kick Combination

Leg Kick By Draw

Jab, Cross, Hook, Leg Kick Combination

Kicking the Rear Leg and Inside Leg Kicks

Right Kick Counter to the Jab, Cross Combination

Swing Kick Counter to the Thai Kick

Outside Leg Kick Counter to the Jab, Cross

Jab, Outside Leg Kick Combination

Inside to Outside Leg Kick Combination

Overriding The System for MMA

MMA Karate Chop Guard Retention Counter

Yamasaki M MAElbow Spike Guard Opener

Choosing the right gloves

HOW TO CHOOSE THE BEST BOXING GLOVES: A DETAILED GUIDE

You’ll find a wide selection of boxing gloves with various weights and styles. There are also different brands and prices. Now, with almost hundreds of gloves what will you choose? Here is a detailed guideline on how to choose the best boxing gloves suited for you. Everyone has their own way of picking gloves, but we will provide you a general idea on how people who bought boxing gloves for others and for themselves pick.

In this guide you’ll learn:
1. How To Pick the Right Size
2. How To Choose the Right Glove-Type
3. Do Brands Matter?
4. Does Color Matter?
5. Lace-Up vs. Velcro
6. Leather vs. Vinyl
7. How Do You Define a Good Pair?
8. Rules of Thumb Before Buying Boxing Gloves

Disclosure:  Please note that some of the links below are affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you decide to make a purchase.  Please understand I recommend them because they are helpful and useful, not because of the small commissions I make if you decide to buy something.  Please do not spend any money on these products unless you feel you need them or that they will help you achieve your goals.

HOW TO PICK THE RIGHT SIZE

Glove size is displayed as ounce or oz. The most common sizes available are 8 oz, 10 oz, 12 oz, 14 oz and 16 oz. There are no odd sizes (9 oz, 11 oz, 13 oz, and so on). It is worth noting that glove size and glove weight are different. Sizing does correspond with the weight of the glove, but not all the time. This means buying gloves sized at 16 oz does not mean they weigh exactly 16 oz.

Sizes are classified to easily know what glove weight a boxer should train in. Glove weight is important because it has to fit your chosen method of use. For example, bigger gloves have more padding, in turn, offer better hand better protection. These are best if you hit the heavy bag, mitts and other boxing training aids. Another example is how professional boxers often train in heavier gloves. They want to get accustomed to the heavier gloves’ weight so their hands will be faster during fight night.

Below are general guidelines on what size of boxing gloves you should wear according to height and weight.

Commonly used for Sparring: 16 oz – regardless of weight

Commonly used for Competition:  8 oz and 10 oz – regardless of weight
*sometimes it depends on match regulations. In most fights, these are the normal sizes used by professional boxers.

Now you know what size you’re going to get. But before buying the boxing gloves, you should first wear them with hand wraps on. If you don’t have hand wraps with you while shopping (like most people), get a roll of quarters in your palm and wear the boxing gloves.

You could also measure the circumference of your hand before going to the store. Here is a 30-second video by RINGSIDE on how to measure hand circumference:

• 6” – 7.5” circumference, 12oz
• 7.5” – 8.5” circumference, 14oz
• 8.5” – 9.5” circumference, 16oz
• 9.5” and above circumference, 18oz or 20oz

You know it’s the best boxing gloves size for you when it has snug fit, is comfortable to wear, with fingertips reaching the top of the glove, and it won’t take a lot of force to make a fist.

HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT BOXING GLOVES-TYPE

To avoid wasting money, you should know what glove-type you need. There are different glove types. Each glove type has their own purpose.

Classic Bag Gloves

1. Bag Gloves
Bag gloves protect your hand and not what you’re hitting. These are used for heavy bags, double end bags and other training aids. Their main purpose is to protect your knuckles while hitting the bags hard. They also accustom your knuckles for harder impact.

There are two types of Bag Gloves: (1) The Classic Bag Gloves and (2) The Modern Bag Gloves.

The difference between the two is padding. The classic bag gloves are not recommended. Proper technique could not be reinforced while wearing these gloves. Most boxers know when they threw an improper punch because they feel it right away – may it be pain or an awkward landing upon impact. If you ever throw one with these on, you will not feel anything due to its dense padding.

Modern Bag Gloves

Classic Bag gloves don’t offer much wrist support, cushion and doesn’t weigh as much as a typical fight glove, training glove, or sparring glove.

Meanwhile, modern bag gloves remedy what the classic bag gloves lack. They are more padded and more protective than their predecessors. Wrist support, decent cushion, knuckle protection and proper weight are very much present in these gloves. It’s the best boxing gloves if you’re into fitness boxing or you’re just starting out.

Modern bag gloves are basically training gloves that are more padded, hand-friendly and user-friendly. 

2. Sparring Gloves
Sparring gloves are made to protect you and your sparring partner. It’s meant to develop skill and technique; not to knock your partner out. Most sparring gloves have balanced weight distribution — from the padded knuckles to the wrist support. They are similar to competition gloves, but they are bigger and more padded.

Gloves with good cushioning properties make great sparring gloves. 16 oz boxing gloves are the norm in spar sessions, regardless of the user’s weight, because hits won’t be as damaging than hitting with glove sizes 14 oz or below. It is also heavier and, thus, a good conditioning tool to increase endurance and stamina, especially in the shoulders.

3. Training Gloves
Almost every boxer has a pair of training gloves. These gloves are said to be made for all training purposes – heavy bags, mitts training, sparring, everything. However, you’ll soon realize it’s hard to obtain a perfect glove that can do both. Some training gloves are not soft enough for sparring or thick enough for heavy bag hitting.

These are perfect for people that are starting out and don’t know what gloves to get. Branded training gloves are also fairly cheap. If you want cheap all-purpose gloves that are mid-quality, then get ones from either Title, Everlast or Rival.

4. Fighting/Pro gloves

Fighting gloves, the gloves used for fight night, have smaller padding and more compact to hurt your opponent. This is its only purpose and nothing else. It is dangerous to use these for anything else because it will hurt your hands. Despite only having one purpose, boxers spend a great deal money for their fighting gloves.

5. Cardio Gloves
Cardio gloves are used on hitting heavy bags and mitts. That’s why they have thick padding to abosrb impact. However, don’t get these if you’re going to transition to boxing because these won’t last. They have the least amount of padding in this list and will fall apart faster, too.

6. Muay Thai/Kick Boxing Gloves
As Muay Thai and Kick Boxing are going global, their boxing glove brands are also getting more popular and have improved in quality. Their gloves have comparable characteristics with traditional training gloves and sparring gloves; only theirs are more flexible to grab opponents and use their hands during fights.

General Guidelines on Choosing Boxing Glove Type

– Buy more flexible gloves if you need it for martial arts.
– Buy thick padded gloves if you are hitting heavy bags and mitts only
– Buy heavier gloves (14 oz and up) if you are training to get in the ring.
– Buy lighter gloves (10 oz and below) if you are competing in the ring
– Buy all-purpose training gloves if you are not yet sure what to get. They are highly recommended as starter gloves

 

DO BRANDS MATTER?

YES! BRANDS MATTER! There are brands which specialize a certain area, some offer more protection than others, while some brands are just plain awful.

It is advisable to buy high quality gloves from trusted brands than buying cheap ones from toy brands (Pro, TKO, Century). Buying from the latter is a waste of time and money. They are also dangerous because it could damage your hands. Quality gloves will last you for years, protect your hands, and save you money over time.

There are only a few brands considered to be of elite status in the boxing world. To give you a glimpse of what we mean, here is a list of the Top 25 Best Pound for Pound Boxers (as of November 2014) and the gloves they use on fight night.

25. Naoya Inoue – Winning
24. Leo Santa Cruz – Grant\Everlast
23. Takashi Uchiyama – Winning
22. Marco Huck – Adidas\Top Ten
21. Adonis Stevenson – Cleto Reyes
20. Erislandy Lara – Grant Gloves
19. Lucas Matthysse – Everlast
18. Bernard Hopkins – Grant
17. Nonito Donaire – Everlast
16. Mikey Garcia – Everlast
15. Nicholas Walters – Cleto Reyes
14. Canelo Alvares – Grant, Everlast
13. Danny Garcia – Cleto Reyes
12. Juan Francisco Estrada – Cleto Reyes
11. Carl Froch – Everlast
10. Miguel Cotto – Everlast
9. Sergey Kovalev – Grant
8. Gennady Golovkin – Grant
7. Guillermo Rigondeaux – Grant
6. Juan Manuel Marquez – Cleto Reyes
5. Timothy Bradley – Cleto Reyes
4. Wladimir Klitschko – Grant
3. Roman Gonzales – Winning
2. Manny Pacquiao – Cleto Reyes
1. Flyod Mayweather – Grant Boxing Gloves

You can see some brands repeated often. Below are the slight differences of these brands.

HIGH END BOXING GLOVES:

EVERLAST is synonymous to boxing because of its 100 year history with the sport. You basically get what you paid for with this brand. Their cheaper gloves have lesser quality in comparison with other brands in the same price range. However, their more expensive gloves are one of the best.

CLETO REYES is a Mexican glove specifically made for boxers with above average power. These have less padding and are more compact than other gloves, making it perfect for fight night. Cleto Reyes gloves’ undeniable quality is attributed to how they’re made. These gloves are handcrafted, stitched, and put together by experienced Mexican craftsmen.

GRANT are puncher’s gloves that were made for boxers with brittle hands. This is an American brand, but the gloves are made in Mexico. They can be compared Cleto Reyes gloves, but with extra padding and more support.

WINNING is the most used boxing glove brand in pro boxing. They don’t use it during fight night, though. Pro boxers use them during training because of their incomparable protective qualities. Made in Japan by craftsmen without machine assistance, these gloves have made a name for themselves by producing consistent quality gloves since their creation in 1937. Winning gloves are often referred to as pillows because of how soft they are. Having a pair of these means you’ll have injury-free boxing training for the next 5-8 years.

ECONOMY GLOVES

TITLE is a popular brand in local boxing gyms because they create quality gloves without being over priced. Their cheap classic training gloves could take years of abuse. They are also very easy to find and you can choose from various styles. Title easily is the best value for money.

RINGSIDE are very nice gloves with high quality materials, but priced at a higher cost. It feels great once worn and won’t break down easily. The cushion, leather, and stitches hold up pretty well after years of use.

RIVAL is a Canadian brand that creates long-lasting gloves and boxing gear. They are almost at the same level as Title and Ringisde in terms of quality. They are more expensive, though, because of their great design and exclusive materials.

 There are more boxing glove brands out there. You can go to ExpertBoxing.com and see the other brands I wasn’t able to outline here. 

Different people have different needs. Some boxers need more protection than others so they choose Winning. Some are buying their first gloves so they choose Title or Ringside. In the end, it all comes down to personal need and preference.

Final Thoughts

– WINNING offer the best protection of all the brands

– CLETO REYES are great fight night gloves. It is often used by boxers with above average punching power; has lesser padding and needs break-in period.

– GRANT are between Cleto Reyes and Winning. These are great fight night gloves for boxers with brittle hands. These gloves are also the most expensive among all brands (cheapest is $400)

– EVERLAST has many popular boxing gloves under $50, but most of them are very low quality. Their gloves priced at $70 and above are considered their high-end gloves. If you want something that lasts longer, you have to pay more.

– TITLE, RINGSIDE, RIVAL are excellent starter gloves. Beginner friendly, budget friendly and offers great protection

COLOR

Boxing glove color matters. There are colors less visible to the human eye. This pays off during a fight, when you’re opponent is dazed and can’t see where your punches are coming from. Below are some colors and how they affect boxing.

Red – less visible to the human eye than other colors in the spectrum. That’s why they are used often in fights.

Light Colored Gloves – More visible; used for training, so trainers can catch punches better.
Other colors – you could use for training, boxing mitts and other training aids.

LACE-UP VS. VELCRO

Lace-up Boxing Gloves

A long time ago, all gloves were lace-up. As time went on, more and more people wanted to train alone, thus, the velcro gloves were born. Velcro, also called hook and loop, made it easier to put on and take off boxing gloves. People got more and more to the trend when they buy boxing gloves. This made it velcro the same level of choice as lace-up gloves.

What’s the difference? Which is better?

Velcro Boxing Gloves

Simply put, you can get a tighter and more secure fit using lace up gloves. However, if you’re training by yourself it could be difficult to lace-up gloves. It is also difficult to pull lace gloves as tight as you would like it to be.

That’s why for training purposes, it is better to opt for a velcro fastener — especially if you train alone. In professional boxing, lace up gloves are the norm because they usually have a coach or trainer to fasten the gloves for them. You don’t see velcro gloves during fight night.

LEATHER VS. VINYL

Leather has higher quality and more durable than vinyl gloves. Most of the time, vinyl gloves are associated with cheap boxing gloves. The latter is often used for cardio boxing gloves and leather gloves are used for everything else.

As much as possible, avoid the cheaper vinyl gloves. It is easy to find good looking vinyl gloves nowadays. It might seem as though the price is right, but we assure you the quality isn’t. The material will wear out quickly and you’ll end up buying again. Spend on leather gloves. They are highly durable and resistant to tears, scrapes and thousands of high speed impacts. Top grain is used for it to become durable – like cowhide and goatskin due to their highly durable nature. Also look for nylon based thread to ensure padding stays where it is supposed to be.

 

HOW DO YOU DEFINE A GOOD PAIR?

The best boxing gloves have the following characteristics:

– It is comfortable to wear with hand wraps on
– Perfectly fits your hand, wrist and fingers
– It shouldn’t force your hand to shape in a certain way.
– It will stand the test of time
– Has excellent cushioning qualities

RULES OF THUMB BEFORE BUYING BOXING GLOVES

1. Ask your instructor first.
2. Don’t buy toy brands from big sporting chains.
3. Avoid aerobic gloves. They wear out easily and made of cheap materials. Better buy gloves that cost twice as much but will last four times as long.
4. If possible, pick leather over vinyl every time.
5. It should be a good fit with hand wraps on.
6. It should not hurt your hands in any way when you punch. Gloves should protect your hands. 
7. If you buy hand-made boxing gloves, expect a break-in period.
8. The best padding will lose it’s memory very quickly. Whenever you punch, the padding will go back to its original construction. 
9. If you’re not going pro or just doing fitness boxing, then buy training gloves. They are the best value for money