The Difference Between Kickboxing Gloves and Boxing Gloves

Often many fighters wonder if there really is a difference between kickboxing gloves and boxing gloves. Quick answer, yes there is.  However, for most situations the answer really depends on what you wish to do. Kickboxing, or Muay Thai as it is traditionally referred to, is a great support. The fusion of various martial arts and boxing resulting in lethal kicks, punches, and knee and elbow strikes makes a deadly arsenal of fighting skills. In modern competition kickboxing uses gloves very similar to that of boxing gloves, which is a testament of how much of boxing is integrated into kickboxing. The question still remains, are kickboxing gloves really that different from boxing gloves? And if so, how and what does it matter?

Yes, there is a difference between kickboxing gloves and boxing gloves. Kickboxing gloves have more flexibility and grip, allowing a fighter to actually grab at something with kickboxing gloves on. This is done to allow a kick boxer to clinch his opponent to direct his or her movement. Furthermore, as a result of this functionality, kickboxing gloves' thumb is part of the glove structure, unlike boxing gloves that have the thumb stitched separately.

Boxing gloves on the other hand are much more rigid and due to the fact that boxing solely relies on punching boxing gloves have a more pronounced fist for proper placement of the knuckles for striking.

So which should you use? It really depends. If you plan to be a professional kick boxer or which to learn the various techniques using gloves, get kickboxing gloves. However, if you plan to simply learning as a hobby, use boxing gloves.

One should also use boxing gloves if you are competing professionally in kickboxing but are a heavy puncher. Unlike kickboxing gloves, boxing gloves are padded different based on punching style. Boxer who are heavy punchers tend to use thinly padded gloves.

A lot of different fighting styles are combined into kickboxing, including boxing. Kickboxing gloves are technically different from boxing gloves but those differences really only matter in specific scenarios. One should opt for kickboxing gloves if he or she specifically training and competing in kickboxing.