The MMA or mixed martial arts is gaining much popularity over other martial arts. This has increased the demand of the supplies used while performing these activities. Accessories like MMA gear, MMA shorts and clothing are in great demand in all parts of the world. These accessories are designed to be worn by sportsmen taking part in higher level competitions held at global level.
For those who want to purchase MMA gloves, not too extensive options are available for them. But yes, there are a few things that they should keep in mind while making the purchase. These special gloves can be used during training and practice with partners, in competitions and also while practicing with the punching bag. The training gloves are much like the boxing gloves which do not have distinct thumb and palm. They have finger rings that keep the fingers open and help the wearer grasp even if he has fallen down the floor. Gloves also come with additional padding which is good for two reasons, firstly, the padding will guard your hands and secondly, it will also shield your training partner.
The gloves used for punching bags are designed differently. These gloves don’t let your knuckles get damaged due to the repetitive punching on the punching bag. They produce the required friction due to which the blaze is reduced. The part of the gloves that covers the wrist is longer to help hold up the wrist. If you are purchasing gloves for punching bag, extra padding is not required as the hitting surface is already padded. For the gloves to be used in a competition, it is essential that they fulfill the criteria to match the standards. The padding should have the thickness of about four to five ounces. Padding should be present at the knuckles and extended through the hand. Some official fight federations demand that only their gloves can be worn during the competition to meet the official standards and personal gloves are not allowed.
The three main categories of MMA gloves are bag gloves, coaching gloves and fight gloves. These are the three particular styles of gloves that are used for mixed self defense skills practice. Further, many sub styles are branched out from these basic styles. While participating in state commission competitions which provide their own gloves, you may be given a standard pair of gloves but you should also keep your own available as back up. Be alert while getting ready for the competition to ensure that the gloves are worn properly. Fasten them tight to avoid wrist wounds. You can also use hand wraps to tighten them if there is an extra space in them.
The gloves available in the market sometimes have a print on them that makes them look stylish. The material of these gloves also differs as some are made of leather while other are manufactured using vinyl. Leather glove are more sturdy and long lasting while vinyl gloves are believed to be more comfortable as they can be stretched.