[olly]

I probably should of made it clear when I started this thread that when I don't use gloves, I'm only hitting the bag lightly. It's not like I'm going all out on the bag and trying to injure myself.

[PinStripes13]

I think everyone’s bringing up a good point. If you’re going to hit the bag with power, with no gloves on, you’re just asking for trouble. I’m about 90% sure you’re not able to condition your hands to make them “harder”. If you just shadow box with the heavy bag/banana bag, I think you’ll be fine. Practice leg kicks, finding your range, and practice breathing (I stress this a lot with teammates).
If you’re hitting the bag with intention, put heavy gloves on. I’ve seen kids walk into the gym, thinking they know everything, and hit the bag with nothing but wraps on, and I’ll watch as they break a carpel in their hand.

[BRAD32]

I used to hit it bare knuckled unil I split my knuckle open.
It took about 3-4 weeks to heal.
So I bought some gloves.
-Brad

[Cromwell]

I have to disagree with most of you here, and I'm not basing my position on theory. I had a heavy bag for the first time when I was very young. I, like many first timers, hit it bare handed, cut up my knuckles, and strained/sprained my wrists a few times. However, I kept working at it from time to time bare knuckled with great care. After not so much time it was no longer a problem. I can pound the bag as hard and as long without gloves as I can with gloves. The trick is that you have to KNOW you're controlling each punch. What tends to bust up your hands is when you aren't connecting with the bag perpendicularly. It is those glancing blows that torque your wrist and rip your knuckles open.

I also have found this to be a worthwhile endeavor. My knuckles are not callused or anything like that. You cannot tell anything to look at them. I believe that is because that -- more then toughening the skin -- you learn to be very precise with your fist's alignment with the target. You learn to compensate for the bag's movement and even spin. The spin you must be particularly careful with, however. Great way to slip up and rip your knuckles.

So, while most of the time it is probably best to use gloves -- and even I use gloves most of the time just to be safe -- I have NEVER worked a heavy bag in years without spending some time going bare knuckled on it. Again, it is because the gloves let you cheat a bit with alignment and you might not even realize it. Bare knuckled, you'll know it right away. As long as you're careful and go slow at first, I believe there are benefits to the practice. It increases your precision as far as transferring the energy from your punch where you want it to go.

One final note: I could be a freak, but I'm just sharing my results. Do be careful if you try it. Anyone who knows much about heavy bags who has ever seen me do it thinks I'm crazy. Then I beat the bejeezus out of the bag, show them my hands, and they're at a loss for words. Kind of a fun party trick...;-P

Cromwell

[DaeronX]

lol makiwaras are stupid XD make my knuckles bleed T-T

[KrazyWelshLad]

My knuckles are pretty solid now, because before i got my punchbag i used to use the wall when pissed off and it aint a flimsy plasterboard one its concrete/brick or whatever im no wall expert

Now i use my punchbag all i put on is wraps for wrists or just a woolen glove like a winter glove if you get what i mean and my knuckles are fine with it, BUT my knuckles are badly scarred

[Brawler99]

I don't use gloves at all on a bag. You only hurt yourself if you connect with the bag wrong. Plus, it's more incentive to train your techinque better. Train with a glove, and you'll get lucky on glace-offs, but train bare knuckled, you'll connect every time.

[jhook]

Originally Posted by olly

Lately I've been punching my heavy bag without gloves on, just hitting it bare knuckled. Will doing this strengthen my knuckles or will it just damage them?

it can make a blister under the skin then if that pops it can be very irritating, if you work on the bag bareknuckled everyday you would develop cuts that take ages to heal andcan open up so easy

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i have some of these that i sometimes use on the bag , these protect the first knuckle but rough up the second knuckle from arm, my knuckles aare like sand paper.

[davidportiz]

well in my opinion, i think it good because it hardens ur knuckles and ur risk. but hey that just my opinion!

[mustardtits]

you should train like your going to fight.