Why Hand Wrapping Actually Matters
Before your first class, someone will hand you a set of handwraps and assume you know what to do with them. Most beginners don't. That's fine — but skipping them, or wrapping loosely just to get through the door, is a mistake worth avoiding early.
Your hands contain 27 bones, dozens of small joints, and connective tissue that wasn't designed to absorb repeated impact. Handwraps compress everything together, stabilize the wrist, and protect the knuckles under the padding of your gloves. Without them, even light bag work puts stress on structures that take a long time to heal when they go wrong.
A proper wrap takes about two minutes once you've done it a few times. It's one of those small habits that separates people who train consistently from people who take weeks off nursing preventable injuries.
What You Need Before You Start
You need one pair of handwraps — 180 inches (roughly 4.5 metres) is the standard length for most adults. Shorter wraps exist, but they don't give you enough material to cover the wrist properly. Stretch wraps are easier to work with than traditional cotton for beginners because they conform to the shape of your hand as you go.
That's it. No tape, no extra padding, nothing else. Sit down, lay the wrap flat, and make sure the velcro end is facing away from you. The loop at the other end goes over your thumb to anchor everything in place.
Step-by-Step: How to Wrap Your Hands
Step 1 — Anchor the wrap. Spread your fingers wide and slide the loop over your thumb. Keep your hand open throughout the entire process. Wrapping with a closed fist creates a wrap that's too tight when you open your hand and too loose when you make a fist.
Step 2 — Wrap the wrist. Pull the wrap across the back of your hand and circle your wrist three times. These passes should sit flat and feel firm but not restrictive. The wrist wrap is the most important part — it's what prevents the joint from bending awkwardly on impact.
Step 3 — Cover the palm and thumb. Bring the wrap up across your palm, around your thumb once, and back across the palm again. This locks the thumb in and adds a base layer of padding to the meaty part of your hand.
Step 4 — Wrap the knuckles. Move up to your knuckles and circle them three times. Keep your fingers spread wide. The wrap should cover the knuckle line completely. If it bunches or folds, unwind and redo it — bunched material creates pressure points inside your glove.
Step 5 — Go between the fingers. This is the step most beginners skip. Bring the wrap down from your knuckles and pass it between your pinky and ring finger, across the palm, then back up between your ring and middle finger, across the palm again, then between middle and index. These passes splay the fingers slightly and prevent them from jamming together when you punch.
Step 6 — Final wrist passes and close. Use whatever wrap is left to make one or two more passes around the wrist, then seal the velcro. The finished wrap should feel snug across the knuckles, firm at the wrist, and comfortable enough to make and open a fist without restriction.
Make one and then check it. Open and close your hand several times. If anything cuts off circulation or feels bunched inside, unwrap and start again. It takes a few sessions
A Few Things Worth Knowing
Always wrap before you glove up — not after you arrive and realise the class is starting. Give yourself five minutes before training begins, especially while you're still learning the technique.
Let your wraps air out after each session. Rolling them up immediately while damp creates the kind of smell that doesn't fully wash out. Hang them over your bag or a railing, let them dry, then roll them loosely for storage.
Wash them regularly. Once a week if you're training several times — cold water, gentle cycle, air dry. Wraps that feel stiff or smell persistent are wraps that need replacing.
One pair is enough to start. But if you're training more than three times a week, having a second pair means you're never reaching into your bag for something still damp from yesterday.
Ready to get started? Siam Athletics handwraps are available in Canggu, Uluwatu, and Ubud — or order online with same-day delivery across South Bali at siamathletics.shop.