Issue 136

Respected cut master Jacob ‘Stich’ Duran reveals how he prepares fighters for battle through the fine art of hand wrapping.

Back in the time of Roman Gladiators there were many types of fighters: double sword, animal (they fought animals), shield, lasso, net, fishmen... They would enter combat with various weapons and protective gear: helmets, tridents, shields, ropes, arm guards, swords, daggers and spears were all used to help them slay their opponent.

Then there was another kind of gladiator.

He didn’t use a weapon as such. Instead, he entered the arena with nothing more than a caestus. A caestus was a leather hand wrap that was occasionally modified with metal and spikes.

The Latin word is derived from caedere, which means “to strike.”

I can only guess that some 2,000 years ago some guy stood under The Colloseum and helped one of these ‘boxer’ gladiators strap on his only form of equipment.

Now my line of duty is to prepare modern gladiators for battle and I’m the one applying their only piece of equipment. It is a true honor.

The idea of cutmen wrapping hands to keep the fighters safe and give them the confidence to go out there and throw those hands without fear of injury is often overlooked. It shouldn’t be.

I take pride in my hand wrapping and many say I’m the best in the business, so when I sit down and ask a fighter if he wants the knockout wrap or the tapout wrap, we both know that fight time has arrived.

It’s funny how fans know about the KO wrap and the tapout wrap as they always ask me if there’s a difference – there is.

The tapout wrap doesn’t have as much tape and isn’t as tight. It’s best for grappling and, if necessary, throwing blows. 

Just because one guy gets a certain wrap, it doesn’t mean the fight will end that way. Randy Couture got the KO wrap when he fought James Toney, but submitted him.

The tapout wrap is usually for the guys who favor grappling over punching. Many of the Brazilians prefer it, but not all. 

Anderson Silva, Vitor Belfort and Wanderlei Silva all love the KO wrap. There is no feeling like the moment I walk into a dressing room and start preparing a fighter for his wraps.

When a fighter tells me he wants the KO wrap I know he’s going into battle, and being part of it is what makes my job so rewarding. 

The KO wrap is different than the tapout wrap because I apply more tape, more padding on the knuckles, and secure the hand a little firmer.

I also secure the wrist a little bit more. The Kampmann-Sanchez fight is a good example. I gave Martin the KO wrap knowing he was going into a toe-to-toe war with Diego Sanchez.

I was bothered when Martin said his hand was broken, but relieved to find out it was only bruised. I remember the right hand he hit Diego with, the one that busted his orbital bone and gave him a big gash. I am glad he asked for the KO wrap!

When wrapping the hands, a cutman needs to have an idea of the fighter’s gameplan so the wrap can be adjusted accordingly.

For a grappler/submission guy (the tapout wrap) I relax the wrap some so he can move his fingers more freely, but I have to make sure that his hands are protected because he’ll still be striking.

I use two layers of tape instead of the three to four layers I use for the striker. Some grapplers like their thumbs free so they can grab easier.

I have done this, but don’t recommend it because it takes a lot of the tension off the wrap. Jaime Varner wanted his thumbs free and he had problems with his hands until I convinced him to go with the full wrap and the thumb attached. 

Hand wrapping is a fluid process. The cutman has to understand what each guy likes. Tyson Griffin and Andrei Arlovski like the wrap so tight I often rip the tape during the process. But sometimes too tight is a bad thing, just as too loose can be a bad thing.

It’s the same with too much or too little gauze. Like I said, it’s a fluid process.

The best advice for improvement is practice, practice, practice! And practice on yourself. That way you can actually feel how much tension you should apply and you can be consistent with every technique.

Every fighter is different and you have to gauge his wrap on your basic form and make adjustments to make him feel secure, yet comfortable. Comfort equals confidence.

Finally, a good wrap minimizes the chance of hand breaks, but doesn’t eliminate them. If you’re training your fighter and wrapping his hands, tell him to close the hand all the way and throw straight punches.

I’ve taught guys like Josh Barnett, Mark Delagrotte and Jeremy Horn how to use my technique. It’s rewarding when I hear their fighters are happy.

Some of the gladiators of Rome entered the arena with nothing more than a leather hand wrap, and now all of the fighters of today enter combat with just tape and thin gloves. That tiny amount of equipment is very important, as it can end the game in an instant.