Wrist taping

[rayjag]

Just wondering if anyone could explain the significance of some schools/martial artists who tape their wrist before performing a cinder block break with a palm heel strike and why some other schools/martial artists do not?

[Toptomcat]

Okay, just to be certain- we're talking athletic tape on the wrist and nowhere else here? Not boxers' handwraps or MMA-style short wraps? That's unusual, I've never heard of it- but then I've never been heavily into tameshiwari.

A failed palm-strike break can put a lot of strain on the wrist- particularly if you hit higher than you intended to on the hand and end up flexing the palm back into the arm- and I suppose it might make sense to tape it up beforehand.

[ps1]

Generally, taping of any kind is used to add stability to a joint. In this case, it adds to the stability of the wrist joint, which can be especially fragile due to the sheer number of parts that make it up.

[rayjag]

Yes I am just talking about a strip of tape that would get wrapped around the wrist joint. I guess it just helps reduce the impact on that joint.

[sensei8]

Yeah. I've never seen nor have I ever heard of this before. I too, would guess that the tape would add support to the wrist. How much? I don't know that either. I personally have never used any type of tape on myself before doing any tameshiwari.

I take that back. I now remember having seen that before when I was watching an ISKA breaking competition. Still, I don't know why they'd wear the tape. Possibly for looks.

[Kuma]

I think ps1 is spot on. In knockdown tournaments you're allowed to use athletic tape to support the wrists for both the kumite and the tameshiwari. Most do just because a sprained wrist from either hurts a lot.

[rayjag]

Sounds an experiment I may have to pursue!

[Rateh]

We do concrete breaks at black belt tests. Everyone gets their wrists taped. I never asked why, I just assumed it was to add stability. And having it done, it DID add stability to my wrist.