Issue 072
February 2011
Practice aids designed to help replicate cage conditions in the gym.
MMA sparring’s usually performed in full protective gear – head guards, shinpads and 12oz-plus boxing gloves. But a new generation of MMA ‘sparring gloves’ have hit the market. These supposedly allow wearers to replicate the authenticity of a competitive MMA fight in their gym. The gloves are fingerless like grappling gloves but come with additional padding to protect your hands and, to a lesser extent, the other guy’s face.
Naturally, striking with small grappling or ‘MMA’ gloves is quite different to punching with larger ‘boxing’ gloves. In MMA, theoretically, one shot can end the fight (and sparring with small gloves on, one shot really hurts). So range and accuracy become much more of a priority, and sparring in MMA gloves can be a revelation in this regard if you’re used to the boxing equivalent. Perhaps surprisingly, smaller gloves also help you relax into your stand-up a little. It’s easier to stay focused on technique and demeanor when you’re not unleashing or weathering an onslaught.
However, sparring gloves aren’t as straightforward to grapple in as manufacturers would have you believe: nigh impossible even. Pummeling was especially hampered. We could manage it in FBT’s variety but we found those didn’t have enough padding on the knuckles, opting instead for protection on the back of the hand. PunchTown’s Karpal 6oz gloves were the only pair that allowed grappling and provided protection on the knuckles themselves.
Anything other than light-to-medium sparring in 4oz or 6oz gloves isn’t particularly advisable: “Save that for the fight,” as Cain Velasquez’s trainer Dave Camarillo said last issue.
Pro MMA 7oz sparring glove
“These have got great knuckle protection and I especially appreciate the additional padding on the thumb, because you can often catch the second knuckle while hooking,” says FO training editor Pete Irving. “They’re good-quality leather and might even take a while to break in. A great option but obviously very hard to pummel in. We have a similar, branded, Urban Kings glove that I use every day; a little more built-up than this one.”
FBT 6oz sparring glove
“Easier to pummel in but still not completely straightforward,” says Pete. “The padding’s in the wrong place, on the back of the hand rather than on the knuckles! A bit useless unless you’re master of the back fist.” An attractively low price, however.
PunchTown X-Breed eX training gloves
Sparring for extended periods can easily jolt any glove’s Velcro strap free. Not only does that leave the wearer flapping around, “Your sparring partner can get a surprisingly nasty Velcro burn,” points out ‘Pistol’ Pete. These gloves, though, come with an additional elastic-loop enveloping the Velcro wrist strap, so no more flaps or rashes.
Rogue Sparmaster
‘A revolution in sparring’ says the blurb. “Lots of protection on the knuckles but I find if I land a blow with these my wrist ‘folds over’ the top,” says the Strike & Submit welterweight champ. “No thumb protection isn’t an enormous issue but grappling would just be impossible in these. There’s so much padding at a forward-facing angle that it could confuse my range too.”
PunchTown Karpal TRX training gloves
“These have the knuckle protection in exactly the right place and they’d be the easiest to grapple in,” Pete decrees. They might look like a bit Empire Strikes Back but these brand-new 8oz gloves pulled off the ‘W’ in our tests, ticking all the practical boxes.
FIVE STEPS TO BETER SPARRING
By Bob Breen, writer of Sparring: Strategy, Tactics, Technique
Bob is often referred to as “Godfather of European jeet kune do” and is a full instructor under Dan Inosanto.
Go slow and grow
Practice is essential. Develop your skills by sparring gently and gradually pick up the pace. If you can’t talk to each other during sparring you’re going too hard.
Don’t be on the ‘12’
Your opponent hits whatever is straight ahead of him best: this is his ‘12 o’clock’ position. Use slipping, bobbing and footwork to stay off it. Study the famous Cuban boxers and notice how they work just a little off the centerline.
Footwork is the key to avoidance
Practice footwork in all its formats so your legs get you out of trouble when your head is spinning. I teach six or eight patterns but moving spontaneously is fine. Drill the footwork on its own; then move with an opponent defensively (no hitting, only moving); then try hitting in clusters when you stop in any position.
Keep tight
Chin down, shoulders up. Practice the rear-hand catch or parry against the jab, elbow in tight to the body. Incorporate a snapback from your feet and mix in the footwork drills above. Then work on the front-hand shield. Keep it high and fluid so you can still punch but not get trapped or grabbed.
Perfect power structure
Hit with your skeleton to punch above your weight. Aim to be like a scaffolding pole attacking your opponent head on. Move your head a little off line to make this work best. Less energy is expended as you’re using body structure along with muscle.
