Proper boxing equipment is a “must” in any boxing training program. A capable, qualified coach would not send a boy on the football field without proper shoulder pads or headgear. Yet, I have seen high school boxers use worn-out boxing equipment and a makeshift mat with no canvas cover; and I have known of boys who have not been provided with aluminum cups. This is absolute false economy, and should not be tolerated.

In comparison with most other sports, boxing is inexpensive to conduct, and can be very profitable financially. After the initial outlay – the ring, punching bag, and gloves – additional purchases are minor in nature. Upkeep is incidental. In numerous colleges, boxing receipts are second only to those derived from football. We do not wish to convey the impression that we suggest boxing only because of the profit motive. But we do wish to show that the sport needn’t be conducted at a financial loss to the school.

Rubber mouthpieces are another essential piece of boxing equipment for all boxers. They are inexpensive. You will find the investment a wise one. It is certainly much cheaper than the dental work which may be required when no mouthpiece is used. The mouthpiece will eliminate practically all teeth injuries and mouth lacerations which are caused by the lip coming in contact with an irregular tooth. Many boxers find it advisable to secure a mouthpiece made from an actual impression. This is desirable even though expensive.

On to other equipment, a ring is required on which the padding extends over the edge for added protection. All turn-buckles must be padded and the ropes wrapped with flannel or gauze. The mat should be at least two inches thick, with a tight canvas cover on top. All bouts and meets must be fought in a regulation ring. Remember, accidents are caused only by laxity and carelessness. Use a regulation ring during all practice sessions.

In general, the punching bag stands for the light bag, and a few training bags for heavy punching should also be available. Jumping-ropes are standard equipment in any boxing gymnasium.

Headgear is compulsory boxing equipment for all matches. This headgear is specially designed and is termed “competitive headgear.” It is lighter in weight than the headgear used in training, but affords the same amount of protection to the eyes and ears. It also includes extra padding at the base of the skull as protection for a boxer on the rare occasions when his head hits the canvas as he falls.

It has been definitely ascertained that many injuries incurred in the professional field have not resulted from a blow, but rather from falling to an improperly-padded ring floor. Competitive headgear, with its ample padding is another precaution to avoid possible injuries of this nature.

Every coach should insist that his boys wear proper boxing equipment: headgear, mouthpieces, and protective cups along with his boxing training tips. This must be so at each boxing workout – permit no exceptions. If a mouthpiece slips out, or headgear becomes improperly adjusted, time should be called to replace the mouthpiece or to properly adjust the headgear. To overlook these details is to be remiss in your duty as a coach or supervisor.

Naturally, there is a limit to what protective boxing equipment can do. All rule books, whether for amateur boxing or professional fighting, provide that a doctor be in attendance at ringside. We don’t want to convey the impression that this is necessary because of any dangers inherent in boxing. It is a precautionary measure that is also taken in all properly supervised contact sports contests. Virtually every high school or college conducting a competitive sports program has an M.D. who is designated as the “team physician.”

Call on this man to examine carefully each boxing team candidate before he actively engages in the sport; have him observe the boy at any time you have reason to suspect any injury or illness; and require that each boy undergo examination the day of a match. This is an added precaution which eliminates the possibility of a boy who is sub-par because of illness exposing himself unnecessarily to possible injury.

Proper attention to all boxing equipment will help eliminate accidents. It is a must for any school beginning a boxing training program.

The judo history makes a fascinating study and can provide valuable insight into judo techniques. Soon after the end of the Tokugawa period in Japan, the Restoration period was in progress, and the old forms of hand-to-hand combat were replaced by weapons of steel.

About this time, an eighteen-year-old student, soon to become famous among Japanese educators, began his practice of jujitsu under the instruction of Professor Hachinosuke Fukuda, the eminent master of the Tenj in Shinyo-ryu school. The student, who was to become the founder of judo, was Jigoro Kano. After the death of Professor Fukuda, Dr. Kano trained under the new master of that school, Professor Masatomo Iso. Death soon took Professor Iso, however, and Dr. Kano transferred to the Kito-ryu school to study under Professor Tsunetoshi Iikubo.

Dr. Kano began to study jujitsu because of his respect for the prowess of his masters, but he soon began to thirst for a mental knowledge that was lacking in their teachings. He began to look for the secrets behind the superior expert control that the professors had mastered. He theorized that there would be greater value in combining the various schools and their techniques into one standard system: one that could be adopted as a physical education program for schools and would at the same time embody mental culture as well as physical skill.

In addition, jujitsu could be practiced as a competitive sport if the more dangerous techniques were omitted. This mastery of mental culture could thus produce a pattern of subconscious behavior that would be useful in achieving “mutual welfare and benefit.” He wanted a system that would be rational and logical and would develop the potential of the student’s real personality. The ‘do’ of the word judo symbolizes this philosophy.

In 1882 Dr. Kano formed his system and called it “judo,” the word which has now superseded the term “jujitsu.” The final step in the history of judo came when he founded the Kodo-kan in Tokyo, the institution that was to become the mecca of judo. The name Kodokan is made up of three words: ko, meaning “to preach,” do, meaning “way,” and kan, meaning “hall.”

Dr. Kano explained the new art of judo by pointing out that “gentleness means giving way until the right moment arrives”; that is, not to oppose the brute force of your opponent and thus to be defeated, but to utilize this force to your own advantage.

Suppose that your opponent has a total force of ten units, while yours is equal to three. If he pushes toward you with a force of seven units and your force equals only three, it is futile for you to try to oppose his force, for it will overcome you. But if you give way and harmonize your force of three units with his attacking force of seven, you automatically acquire a force of ten units.

Now you can defeat him because you can overcome his force of seven units with yours of ten. It can thus be appreciated that judo is a highly valuable science as well as an art, and this can be applied to judo technique.

Proper-Hand-Bandaging

On to the free boxing tips; let me stress here that a boy without bandages on his hands should never box or hit a bag.

As free boxing tips go, few are better than how to bandage your hand better to begin with; bandage yourself properly and you will feel more comfortable boxing right from the start. The following procedure for bandaging is proper: Place hand outstretched with the back of the hand facing up, and fingers spread apart at least half an inch. A loop made in one end of the bandage should be slipped over the thumb. Start the bandage high on the wrist and wrap it fairly tight, to minimize bending of the wrist when the boxer strikes. Wrap the bandages over the back of the bones (metacarpals) between the knuckles and the wrist almost down to the first joint of the fingers. Make at least three loops over the thumb to fully protect the big joint of the thumb. The boxer should open and close his fist three or four times during the wrapping so that the bandages will be neither too tight nor too loose.

While giving you free boxing tips, let me emphasize the importance of taking proper care of the wrists, bones of the hands, and the thumbs. Most important is proper bandaging of the backs of the hands, rather than the knuckles. Many people mistakenly consider the latter proper and adequate protection.

In preparation for a regular match use surgical gauze for bandages. Up to 10 yards is necessary, depending upon the size of the boy’s hands. For training sessions, ankle wraps cut in five-yard lengths, elastic bandages, or even carpet binding, are satisfactory.

The Correct Position of the Hand When Hitting

Proper hand-bandaging minimizes hand injuries, but the coach must still teach his boys how to hit properly to further avoid all possible injuries. Free boxing training tips here can help. Once a boxer learns to hit properly, he is rarely troubled by hand injuries.

When starting either a left jab or a right cross, point the four knuckles of both hands outward, and the thumb knuckle upward. When the left jab or right cross lands, the finger knuckles should be pointing upward, and the thumb knuckle inward. At the start of a left hook, the finger knuckles are pointing outward, and the thumb knuckle upward.. When the left hook lands, the knuckles are turned inward to the right, but the thumb knuckle must remain pointing upward. In the execution of a hook, the thumb knuckle starts and finishes pointing upward.

I always insist that boxers I am coaching keep their fists closed from bell to bell. No high school, college, or amateur boxer has enough experience to keep his gloves half open until the moment of contact. A boy trying this will, at some time or other, miss on his timing and a hand injury may result. He should at all times make an “even fist,” meaning all knuckles should be even across (no knuckle protruding) when the first is closed.

Many boys make this mistake, particularly when throwing a hook. Make this a hard and fast rule: keep the forearm rigid from the knuckles of the closed fist up to the elbow. If your boys remember this rule they will have better hitting power and no sprained wrists.

Following these boxing training tips and concentrating on proper care of the hands will result in a much better boxer.