My lad is 6 and has been complaining of his wrists hurting when he hits the bag, so I've said he can't do it anymore until we change his gloves and get him some wraps. He's currently wearing these: http://www.blitzsport.com/Kids-Leather-Boxing-Gloves?sc=82&category=11166 Can anyone recommend some wraps and gloves for a 6 year old? I'm looking for something around the £20-30 mark.
I think you should focus on strengthening his form, wrists/forearms, and/or a softer bag. "Better" wraps/gloves are just "punching casts" and masking the problem. How is his form after getting a bit tired? Many times wrist problems can come from over exerting and losing form. That results in "punching" with the hands open and wrists limp effectively "rolling" the wrist. If he is pushing himself, he may be using the glove to punch rather than a tight fist. Kind of questionable to have him do extreme exertion exercises like pull ups/chin ups due to possible strain issues. However a nice wrist weight roller might work wonders if he doesn't mind training with it. Just wondering... How often is he hitting a bag?
He was training twice a week. Since he complained though I've stopped him doing it at all. I think the overexertion thing is probably right, he hits hard, and likes to hit hard every time. Maybe he just needs to tone it down a touch for the time being. I don't think it's a strength problem, he's strong as **** for his age and he does gymnastics aswell so he gets plenty strengthening exercises for all his joints.
Yeah. Also many times gyms aren't "caring" for the bags. Bags settle and get REALLY hard towards the bottom (probably where he hits them). Your gym take the bags down and check/fix padding redistribution? Also his young bones are still quite spongy so that impact on a hard bag is doubly vicious. I meant more of maintaining a tight fist as in grip endurance versus strength. The natural curve of the glove and the wraps can keep guys punching long after their grip has given out. Also tensed arms, shoulders, etc... while throwing a punch. When fatigued we can sometimes let our joints cheat in for loads our muscles should be absorbing. In the heat of working the bag no problem. After the pump is gone? The pain of your wrists/elbow/shoulder joints absorbing impact versus the muscles sets in.
Sounds like his wrist is bending/giving when he hits the bag. Have him hit it slower and work on form and his hand landing flush and his wrist staying straight. If his straight punches and jabs are delivered on balance and from the correct angle, he should correct the wrist problem in no time. Speed and power come from good form and lots of practice. No worries.
