Advisable to use weighted gloves with Cathe's kickboxing workouts?

libra32

Cathlete
Forgive me if this question has already been asked and answered, but I'm not sure if it has, so here goes:
Is it advisable to wear weighted gloves when working out to "Kick, Punch and Crunch", "Kick Max", "Cross Trainer: Kickbox" and the punching drills in "Cardio Kicks"? Can you still maintain proper form with the weighted gloves on? If yes, then what's the maximum weight for safety? (I just ordered 1 lb. weighted gloves that haven't arrived yet). I don't want to injure myself by wearing weighted gloves if/when the workout (choreography) isn't really designed for them. (I realize that Cathe and crew have their hands wrapped and are not wearing gloves in some of the workouts).
Thanks for any replies!
 
I wear 1.5 lbs ones and I do for all Cathe's kickboxing and also for Taebo. I think you are smart to start with 1lb ones. I don't even think about going any higher in the weight but I believe some here might...I think more weight could increase the chance of joint injury myself.....:)...Carole
 
I use weighted gloves with most kickboxing, but I've been doing kickboxing for about 10 years.

Here are my standard recommendations (I might forget some, which is why I recommend doing a search!). I always think of safety and effectiveness above all, so am rather conservative in my recommendations (but have avoided most injury that way!):

1) don't add gloves until you are sure you have safe form down: no locking of the joints, controlled moves, wrists straight, pivoting the foot and hips when punching, emphasis on the recoiling of the punch, etc. You want all that to be automatic before adding gloves, so you don't have to think of too much at once. And in answer to your question, "can you maintain proper form with the weighted gloves on"? , I'll throw it back at you: Can YOU maintain proper form with the gloves on? If not, then back off until you can.

2) when adding gloves, use them for only short periods and build up. Start with 10 minutes, then add on 5 minutes at a time. DON'T use them in the warm-up or cool-down, even after you've been using them for a while.

3) don't use them every day (when I first got mine, about 5 years ago, I got overly enthusiastic and did a couple of days in a row, and ended up with elbow tendonitis).

4) be aware of any negative sensation in your elbows and/or shoulders in particular, and stop using gloves if you are having problems. Take a week or two off from the gloves, then build back up gradually.

5) I've been using 1# gloves, with an occasional foray into 2# for slower workouts and short periods of time (and only after having used 1# for 4 1/2 years). I wouldn't recommend going much beyond that, though it depends on your personal strength and anatomy. Chynna (the former wrestler) could probably be fine with 3#, or, heck, even 5#, but little small-boned me will stick with my 1#. Rather than adding poundage to increase intensity, you can punch with more force (always controlled, and never locking the joint) and/or faster.

I think the most important thing when starting to use gloves is to let your rational mind be your guide, rather than that pleasure-seeking lizard brain we all have vestiges of. You may be having fun, and want to use your gloves through the whole workout right off the bat (lizard brain says "whooo!"), but approach it more conservatively (rational mind takes over and says "that's enough for today...we'll do more later") and you'll end up being able to do more in the long run.

You might want to do a search under "weigthed gloves" in this forum and in the "Open discussion" forum (under "advanced search," choose to find the words in the 'title of post" to get the most appropriate responses). I know the subject has been discussed a couple of times rather recently. You might find some more info there.
 
Thanks Carole. By the way, you look awesome in your avatar image! I'd love to know what your body fat% is---if you even have one! Shoot, I'd put on 1.5lbs gloves and more, if it will help me look as toned as you do!!!
 
Kathryn, you've given me wonderful advice---thank you! I will definitely keep the tips/advice in mind as I'm working out. I'm not sure how how well I'll be able to maintain form with weighted gloves on, so I'll start out cautiously; I might be dropping the weights to under a pound! I can't wait to receive my gloves and try them out!
 
>Thanks Carole. By the way, you look awesome in your avatar
>image! I'd love to know what your body fat% is---if you even
>have one! Shoot, I'd put on 1.5lbs gloves and more, if it
>will help me look as toned as you do!!!

Thank you for the nice compliment!! I haven't had my body fat figured for years, maybe one of these days. Also I can't really give all the credit for my results by using 1.5 lb gloves for kickboxing!!! Hard work and a clean diet did help ALOT though...:)...Carole
 
Kathryn ~

Where can I find weighted gloves? I picked up a pair at Olympia Sports but they were sand-filled w/ neoprene loops over the thumb and fingers and felt sloppy and awkward. I've done a couple of online searches but was unsuccessful... Any advise?

TIA!

~ Kim

"Welcome the challenge...Embrace it...Don't fear it." -Cathe Friedrich
 
>Kathryn ~
>
>Where can I find weighted gloves? I picked up a pair at
>Olympia Sports but they were sand-filled w/ neoprene loops
>over the thumb and fingers and felt sloppy and awkward. I've
>done a couple of online searches but was unsuccessful... Any
>advise?
>
Oh, I HATE sand-filled ones just because of that sloppy and awkward feel. I've tried several types of gloves, and by far my favorite (and only ones I will use anymore) are Ironwear. They are made of flexible heavy rubber, which just molds to the hand and is comfortable. Ironwear makes products for several other companies. I got my first pair at Target (years ago---I haven't seen them there recently). I also picked up some heavier ones (for "4-limbed aerobics" like the Firm does) on line, and found another 1# pair at the local Reebok factory outlet.

Reebok sells the Ironwear. Janis Saffel used to (doesn't anymore, from what I've heard). I found some online after searching "Ironwear glove" or "Ironwear hand." I don't remember what site it was, though.
 
Thanks, Kathryn ~

I knew you'd come thru! I'm off to search Ironwear glove and/or hand.

Thanks again!

~ Kim

"Welcome the challenge...Embrace it...Don't fear it." -Cathe Friedrich
 

Our Newsletter

Get awesome content delivered straight to your inbox.

Top