Before hitting anything, you must wrap your hands.
This is not an option. Not doing so will result in injury. You will tear open your knuckles and possibly break one of the many little bones in your hands. If you are thinking of forgoing the purchase of hand wraps, give your head a shake. This is one purchase you cannot do without. Once you have them, you have to know how to properly put them on. Below I will detail how to properly wrap your hands for boxing.
You have a few different options for handwraps. At minimum you should get a set of 180" wraps. Some people prefer Mexican style handwraps. They have a bit of elasticity to keep them tighter on your hands, offering better protection. At any rate, you have to purchase some kind of wraps for your hands. If you are thinking about buying the Everlast ones at Canadian Tire, don't. They are super short and don't offer much protection at all. Get yourself a decent set.
Method 1 (Video): How to Wrap Your Hands - Basic Method
Video or pictures, use what works best for you. Follow the pictures (you can thank my beautiful wife for the photography) in the sequences below. Every number corresponds to a description below the sequence. Obviously this sequence is to wrap your left hand. To do your right, simply reverse everything.
Wrapping is a personal thing, some people do it differently. There are a few different methods. This method is the easiest for beginners to do and it works just as good as any of the other methods.
Some people like a tighter wrap or one with the wrap coming between each finger. You and may be better for you if you find this one slipping. Either one will do the trick to wrap your hands for boxing.
Let's Begin
1. One end of your hand wrap will have a thumb loop in it. Put your thumb through the loop as shown. Always keep your fingers spread wide apart or the wrapping job will be too tight in the end and you'll lose circulation in your hands.
2. Bring the wrap down and up behind your wrist.
3. Wrap around your wrist 3 times, finishing with the wrap on the palm side of your wrist pointing toward the floor.
4. Bring the hand wrap up diagonally across the back of your hand as shown.
5. Bring the hand wrap down across your palm and wrap it a minimum of 3 times completely around your knuckles.
6. Flip your hand over so your palm faces away from you and bring the hand wrap diagonally towards your wrist.
7. Wrap once around your wrist finishing with the hand wrap pointing down.
8. Do another half wrap around your wrist so the hand wrap is pointing up with your palm still away from you.
9. Bring the hand wrap diagonally across the back of your hand and put it between your thumb and forefinger. The wrap will kind of roll into a thin strand, this is okay.
10. Flip your hand over so the palm is facing towards you and bring the hand wrap diagonally across your palm towards your wrist.
11. Bring the hand wrap down around your wrist and finish with it pointing up.
12. With your palm still facing towards you, bring the hand wrap diagonally across your palm. Do not wrap it around your hand.
13. With your palm facing you, bring the hand wrap directly across and betwen your thumb and forefinger.
14. Flip your hand over and run the wrap towards your wrist as in the picture above.
15. Wrap the hand wrap once around your wrist finishing with it pointing up.
16. Flip your hand over so palm is facing towards you and bring the wrap down diagonally away from you.
16.1 (forgive my numbering, I screwed up and missed 3 pics, had to insert them in the sequence) Okay, wrap the hand wrap once around your knuckles and finish with it on the palm side diagonally towards you. From here you are basically making a bunch of figure 8's to cover any remaining parts of your hand.
16.2 Flip your hand over so palm is away from you and bring the wrap diagonally towards you across the back of your hand.
16.3 Bring the wrap down and around your wrist, finishing with it pointing up.
17. Bring it diagonally across the back of your hand.
18. Flip your hand over and wrap it around your knuckles again.
19. Bring it around between your thumb and forefinger.
20. Bring down diagonally across your palm towards you.
21. Wrap the wrap around your wrist and put it diagonally away from you across your palm.
22. Wrap around your knuckles again and bring towards you.
23. You'll have to guage how much wrap you have left. If you have lots, continue making figure 8's around your knuckles/wrist until you have just enough left to wrap a couple of times around your wrist and finish it off.
24. Wrap around your wrist and attach the velcro to hold it securely in place. If you find that the velcro is on the wrong side, simply twist the hand wrap so it is right side up and then fasten it. The twist doesn't matter.
And finally, you have a finished product. Now switch hands and do the other one exactly the same way.
Wrapping your hands takes practice and it will be awhile before you get the hang of it. Just keep practicing and you'll get it eventually. Have a good one. You are now ready to smack someone or the heavy bag around. Enjoy.