Boxing basics: How to warm up and wrap your hands

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You've found a boxing gym that works for you. You've picked out the perfect pair of gloves and the right hand wraps. What's next? It's time to jump start your workouts, literally.

To get your muscles loose and ready to move, spend 5-8 minutes, or approximately three rounds, with the jump rope. You don't want to hit yourself or the person next to you, so choose a rope that's the right size. The quickest way is to measure the rope by standing on it with both feet and holding the ends in your hands. If it's the right length, the ends of the rope should come up to your armpits.

Don't worry about looking like Rocky as you get started--you'll learn how to double time and cross the rope later. Focus instead on bouncing rather than jumping, so you don't burn out your legs. 

Once you've warmed up with the jump rope, you're ready to start swinging. But you can't perfect your jab if you break a pinky the first time you hit the heavy bag. Bruce Willis might box with bare hands, but the pros wrap their hands before they start a workout.

Think of your hands as a bundle of sticks. It's easy to snap one stick, but bound together, the bundle is much tougher to break. The tiny bones in your hands work the same way. Wrapping your hands ensures that you'll be safe during every workout, and if you decide to step into the ring down the road.

Like Cat's Cradle, hand wrapping looks a little complicated at first, but once you get the motions down it becomes second nature. Follow these step-by-step instructions, and after a few practice rounds, you'll be ready to go.