What Are Grappling Training Gloves?

Mixed martial arts (MMA) has gone from being a fringe activity to almost a mainstream sport. MMA fighters use special gloves to allow "grappling." Grappling is one of the key technical elements in MMA. This involves grabbing and handling the opponent in various holds. Fighters need more freedom of movement than conventional boxing gloves can give.

  1. Finger Slots

    • Grappling gloves hold each finger individually, either with full slots with individual padding, or one loop for each finger or with a single mass of padding for the knuckles. This allows for freer movement of the fingers. The bare fingertips make for much more accurate and effective grappling than would the stubby and fat padding of boxing gloves.

    Bare Palms

    • The bare palms of grappling gloves allow for natural and free movements of the hand, enabling easy switching between striking and grabbing. The palms are open for full tactile sensation for accurate handling of the opponent.

    Padding

    • The padding on grappling gloves protect both fighters and their sparring partners. It absorbs some of the impact of a blow so that the fighter's knuckles will cause less damage. The padding on training gloves is usually thicker. This enables extended training, minimizing the impact of each blow, but still allowing the fighter to practice technique.

    Wrist Support

    • Grappling gloves have wrist support that can prevent wrist damage. It is actually possible for fighters to break their wrists while punching; grappling gloves help guard against that. These gloves have a thick strap around each wrist to keep it from twisting or bending improperly. This support helps to direct the energy into the blow, preventing it from dampening by wrist movement.