Muay Thai - Hand Wrapping

Before the introduction of Western boxing gloves, Thai fighters would prepare their hands with hemp hand wraps. The handwrap was not mandatory, a boxer could choose to wrap his hands for protection, or he could choose to fight bare handed. The hand wrap technique was an art unto itself; the end of the hemp would be knotted into seashell shape knots on top of each knuckle. Moreover, every fighter in those days had to be well-educated in other sciences, such as herbal medicine. They had to know what type, and what part of certain plants were to be boiled in hot water, or to be chewed, or to extract juice from and apply on to the body. These procedures would help toughen the skin, to help stop bleeding quickly, or to cure fight injuries.

Another great myth that was repeated until it became fact was that hand wrap of old Muay Thai fighters were soaked in warm starchy water. Then when dry, the hand wrap would be as hard as plaster cast, or even that ground glass would be applied on to the wet hand wrap to give the fists a razor-like effect. According to many well-respected Muay Thai authorities, the ground glass on hand wrap myth is just the repetition of a boast by someone who liked to impress Westerners, and it stuck. The truth is that everybody had his own “hand wraps” that either he made himself or was given by his teacher. These hand wraps would be worn and taken off at each fight, repeatedly. So logically, there would be no way that hard plaster casts could be used, as hand wraps, over and over again, and ground glass sticking to the hand wraps would make it impossible for the fighter to use them again in the next fight, because he would surely cut himself before inflicting any injury on to his opponent.