Any MMA/Boxing fans out there? I got a question...

[Mikezilla]

So I finally bought me a house, with a huge garage to put all kinds of cool manly stuff in so I thought "hey get a punching bag". So I did, hung it up, bought some wraps and gloves, and started pounding away. I didnt really read up on the subject or how to wrap my hands properly, when I took the gloves off, the skin on my knuckles was completely gone. My right pinkie knuckle looks like someone took an iron to it. My question is, what did I do wrong? Did I not wrap my hands tight enough? Gloves too big/small? I just dont know if this is normal, and calluses will build over time, or Im just a tard and didnt do something right. 

[ChadTower]

Both, probably.  You probably didn't wrap it all that well, being new, and you probably don't have skin tough enough to handle it yet.

[jamesjones626]

how heavy is your bag?  What kind of gloves did you buy, boxing or the mma style?  Also its not smart at all not have your hands wrapped while hitting the bag.  If your just starting out, you have to start hitting softly to build up your tolerance, but more importanly you have to know how to punch first so you don't break your wrist, or knuckles.

[Mikezilla]

Its a 100 lb bag. I bought the MMA style heavy bag gloves. I had my hands wrapped, but I just dont know if it was too tight, or not tight enough. Ahh...See, I just went full bore on it lol. Wasnt being too soft. I know how to punch, well, was instructed on how to before, and I read about it, but couldnt remember the hand taping techniques (it was a long time ago). Wrist and knuckles were fine, well, bone wise, the skin on my knuckles however, has seen better days. 

[northerngames]

just sounds like bare knuckle tolerance to me limit your power a tad and do a certain amount of short burst and slowly add as you go as the days go by.

then do more number of punch's and add more power as you go.

if your just getting into and went full out and your skin is not use to it sure there going to get raw and like some others have mentioned you could hurt some bones if there not use to the impact jarring whiplash etc.

could throw a shoulder out or pinch a back nerve too just going hot full out right off the get.

also take your time to warm up and stretch your muscles and back remeber your practicing instead of full out kicking its ass if your just starting

[Xiaou2]

This is a normal thing when you first get started.

 The skin is not dense enough yet, and will easily rip off.  The bones will also
become more dense over time.

 One of my teachers told me to ignore the fallen skin... and just keep
punching. (Bare Fist)   Every other day, I punched the bag for at least
a 1/2 hr.   I cant recall how long it took, but eventually the skin did toughen,
and an hour of bashing wouldnt even make a slight tear.

 I also recommend plenty of bare knuckle pushups.  Do them in Slow-Motion,
taking +20 seconds in each direction.  Start out on carpet at first if needed,
progressing to hardwood floor, or similar non-padded surface.

 I never tape my hands, and I only wear gloves for sparring.

 I also use a wall mounted sandbag for punching rather than a heavy bag.
I use a 6ft tall MuayThai style bag for kicking.

 * Note *  I did use Chinese  "Dit Da Jow"  after the punching sessions.  Helped
to make the fists heal faster.

[Ginsu Victim]

* Note *  I did use Chinese  "Dit Da Jow"  after the punching sessions.

Number four on the menu, right? Does that include an egg roll?

[Xiaou2]

 Its a herbal solution.  Sinks into the skin & joints.  Been used in the Chinese
striking arts 'forever'.

 Can usually get it at local martial arts stores.  But try to see if you can get
it made from a local school such as "Mantis".

WIKI:

 "Dit Da Jow is an analgesic liniment traditionally preferred by martial artists. Often a martial arts master blended his unique mixture of many aromatic herbs such as myrrh and ginseng, which were combined to stimulate circulation, reduce pain and swelling, and improve healing injuries and wounds.[1]  The tradition became known as "hit medicine". Many people have also found this sort of liquid analgesic to be useful for reducing aching muscles, arthritis and rheumatism discomfort.

All bruise liniment formulas contain ingredients to stop pain, reduce swelling and inflammation and disperse stagnant qi and blood. It is composed of cooling herbs to reduce swelling and inflammation as effectively as ice; and warming herbs that kill pain, promote circulation, and break up accumulations of stagnant blood and fluids."

Herbs in the formulas according to TCM use "temperature" and "action". with each herb exhibiting an "energy" that has an effect on the body. Some are cold while others are hot. The overall combination of herbs in a Dit Da Jow formula determines its relative energy. Warmer jow is more often used in conditioning or chronic injury while cooler jow is more likely to be used for new injuries that may be inflamed. The action of each herb has specific uses. A Dit Da Jow should have one or two primary actions, determined by the herbs which are used in the Dit Da Jow formula.[2]

Most bruises are usually shrugged off by athletes and martial artists as minor injuries that will heal themselves. Over the centuries, kung fu practitioners noticed that large bruises or repeated bruising on one area sometimes created accumulations of stagnant qi and blood that could cause serious health problems years later. Trauma liniment was developed to disperse these accumulations and treat sports injuries, thereby prolonging the soldier/warrior/athlete's career and health.

Today Dit Da Jow can be bought online and through martial arts catalogs or it can be directly obtained from a Chinese apothecary or master. Dit Da Jow is primarily used by martial artists to aid the healing of Iron palm training.

[Ginsu Victim]

How come I knew you'd give a serious response to my obvious tongue-in-cheek question?

[Mikezilla]

Ahhh ok cool. I was worried that I had weak skin or something haha.  Thanks so much for all the advice/tips. Im not so much into kicking just yet, just want to work on punching for now. I was thinking of just powering through it and doing it anyway, but my GF freaked and almost nagged me to death so I probably wont for a few more days 

Ah. Bare Knuckle push ups for sure. Forgot about those, ok, I will. Thanks a lot Xiaou! 

[Ginsu Victim]

Thanks a lot Xiaou! 

We don't do that around here.

[Mikezilla]

Whoa ok. Lesson learned.

[Ginsu Victim]

Whoa ok. Lesson learned.

[jamesjones626]

i would suggest buying a good pair of boxing gloves maby 16oz, and skip using the mma style gloves.  Buy good quality kind that you get from sports stores not the crappy 10 dollar pair at swap meets.

[Xiaou2]

We don't do that around here.

 

How come I knew you'd give a serious response to my obvious tongue-in-cheek question?

 Sorry man.  I tend to respond more serious when its not 'in-person'.  Chinese
arts have taken a lot of bashing in recent years, from people who have plenty of
fuel for big comments, but not so much for research.

Ah. Bare Knuckle push ups for sure. Forgot about those, ok, I will. Thanks a lot Xiaou!  Cheers!

 Glad to help.