Designing the perfect boxing glove is what makes us the leader in the industry. After over a decade of pioneering ground breaking research on hand and wrist protection, we know how boxing gloves should perform to prevent injury. We have funded University studies, partnered with independent labs and developed and tested extensive materials and compositions.
Hayabusa dissected and analyzed every element related to hand and wrist injuries from boxing. Hands are intricate, made for dexterity and need to be properly protected.
Overuse of the hands with lack of support is the root of the problem. These injuries stem from poor design and construction to low quality material selection with inadequate impact properties. The hands and wrists are bombarded with impact stresses during training and if they are not properly protected, it will lead to things such as redness, swelling/inflammation, bruising, tenderness and pain. This should not happen and should definitely not be the norm. RSI may force a cease to the activity altogether and can even lead to longer term damage.
These serious problems come in many forms. Boxer’s fracture (fracture of the fifth metacarpal), boxer’s thumb (a tear to the ulnar collateral ligament), boxer’s knuckle, (injury to the metacarpophalangeal joint) and also torn or stretched ligaments of the wrist are all extremely common and significant injuries The large number of hospital visits due to acute hand and wrist injuries attest to this.
A pivotal point in boxing glove research was Hayabusa’s partnership with the University of Waterloo’s Department of Kinesiology. This led to extensive testing and analysis of both protective and performance aspects of boxing glove materials and designs.
The research team lead was Dr. McGill: Professor of Biomechanics of theFaculty of Applied Health Sciences, who specializes in injury mechanics.
The research studies focused on:
• Force dissipation & resilience to deformation of gloves
• Degradation and performance over time
• Mechanical Tolerance
• Wrist Support
We tested a multitude of materials and core combinations using specialized testing machines that allowed us to put them through thousands of strike cycles.
To achieve this, the first striking machine was developed which allowed us to accurately evaluate foam impact characteristics. Hayabusa was able to test and fully understand:
Impact Properties - energy transfer / absorption and force output - for all types of boxing glove materials.
Impact attenuation/force dissipation properties of foam materials by understanding the effect of their unique characteristics - thickness, density, combination ratios & reset rate.
Quality/Durability - Resistance as to how it performs against impact stress and maintained over time.
Properly understanding what is required to maintain wrist alignment is critical. Hayabusa set out to design, test, evaluate and patent a boxing glove design and closure system that would protect and perform as a boxing glove should. No detail was overlooked given any small deviation of the wrist can lead to injuries.
When the dual strap is tightened, it engages the splint on the back of the hand, allowing it to curve around the wrist, maximizing support strength and alignment, thereby preventing unwanted flex.
Hayabusa partnered with one of the most prominent hand and wrist specialists, Dr. J Knight of the Hand and Wrist Research Institute. Board Certified Orthopedic Surgeon Dr. Knight specializes in hand, wrist and upper extremity injuries and disorders and has treated high profile actors, musicians and professional athletes, all of whom rely on their hands and wrists every day
[Hayabusa's] wrist Fusion splinting design is perfectly suited to maintaining the proper alignment of the wrist and hand in order to minimize the potential of injury.
- Dr. Knight (2013)To test the efficacy of Hayabusa’s boxing glove to prevent wrist deflection, a biofidelic wrist/fist model was constructed. This model incorporated a hinge joint to mimic the flexion/extension of the human wrist.
Hayabusa partnered with one of the most prominent hand and wrist specialists, Dr. J Knight of the Hand and Wrist Research Institute. Board Certified Orthopedic Surgeon Dr. Knight specializes in hand, wrist and upper extremity injuries and disorders and has treated high profile actors, musicians and professional athletes, all of whom rely on their hands and wrists every day
[Hayabusa's] wrist Fusion splinting design is perfectly suited to maintaining the proper alignment of the wrist and hand in order to minimize the potential of injury.
- Dr. Knight (2013)
To test the efficacy of Hayabusa’s boxing glove to prevent wrist deflection, a biofidelic wrist/fist model was constructed. This model incorporated a hinge joint to mimic the flexion/extension of the human wrist.
HAYABUSA GLOVES INCREASE ANATOMICAL ALIGNMENT OF THE WRIST AND HAND and protect from musculoskeletal injury against misfired punches (i.e. wrist extension). This design combines wrist splinting with a secure closure system.
THE WRIST SUPPORT DESIGN OF HAYABUSA SHOWED WRIST DEFLECTION WAS BELOW 5 DEGREES – proof the gloves did a very effective job at absorbing energy, given the mass and velocity of the impact.
Most gloves have large inner pockets that allow the hand to move freely about. When the pocket is too wide or loose, it fails to keep the hand secure and aligned properly which can lead to injuries. A tailored pocket design and customizable fit ensures your glove will fit the way you need, so you can focus on your training and technique.
Thumb ergonomics is also critical. The design must ensure proper placement with a natural thumb position across the various hand and glove sizes.
Most gloves have large inner pockets that allow the hand to move freely about. When the pocket is too wide or loose, it fails to keep the hand secure and aligned properly which can lead to injuries. A tailored pocket design and customizable fit ensures your glove will fit the way you need, so you can focus on your training and technique.
Thumb ergonomics is also critical. The design must ensure proper placement with a natural thumb position across the various hand and glove sizes.
Hayabusa continuously funds research studies with universities, and other third-party laboratories. In addition to these projects, we built our own Hayabusa Research Facility to test and explore cutting edge technologies and materials.
2020 marks the launch of the Hayabusa Research Unit at Hayabusa HQ. This Lab is dedicated to furthering the research and understanding of boxing gloves and combat equipment with the latest and greatest testing capabilities and technologies. Our unwavering commitment to develop only the very best requires constant exploration, evaluation and development. This internal laboratory marks another milestone in the Hayabusa timeline and ensures we continue to lead the industry with the most innovative and effective products in terms of protection and performance.
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