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Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu or BJJ is a martial arts form that teaches how to overpower the opponent using their own weight against them by the art of grappling. It focuses on gaining the dominant position through various techniques.
Though originated in Japan, this combat sport has gone through various reformations and finally got its current standard in Brazil. This sport demands a certain degree of physical and mental fitness in order to master it.
The techniques taught in Jiu-jitsu include a lot of gripping, such as pant grips, lapel grips, sleeve grips, etc. As a result, the uniform which is called Gi is made sturdily in order to make it even harder for the opponent to grip. This causes a lot of pressure on the finger joints of the player and often the whole finger gets broken or the joints start swelling.
Many people do not realize the importance of using tapes when they initially start practicing BJJ. But 2-4 years down the line, they face some major physical damages.
In Jiu-Jitsu, the players have to do a lot of grappling. This puts a lot of pressure on their finger joints. Sometimes the whole finger breaks due to unwanted pulling and tugging.
It also causes the cartilage in the finger joints to dry up which is a prime cause of arthritis. Arthritis is a painful physical ailment. Often the patients feel constant pain in their bones. The more they train for Jiu-Jitsu, the worse it gets.
Other than arthritis, one can also experience swelling of bones, redness, irregularity in their finger bone shape, etc.
But the ones who are aware of this problem always use finger tapes while training for BJJ. The finger tape provides support to the joints making it shock-resistant. As a result, it helps to prevent a lot of damage. The quality of the tape plays a vital role in this case. A high-quality product will definitely save you from a lot of damage and pain. By using finger tape you can keep training for BJJ and also have healthy bones in the later part of your life.
When you go for buying finger tapes, you need to keep a couple of things in mind. Don’t just buy any finger tape for the sake of buying. Since it’s a health concern, you must invest your time and energy in buying something which will provide you with the necessary protection. The quality of the tape will also affect your performance in certain ways. So, it is very important to make a conscious choice.
Look for products that are flexible enough to bend your fingers. Otherwise, you will lose your grip. Also, the material needs to be sweat-proof or water-resistant. Often the sweat causes the adhesive to wear out. Which causes the tape to come off. It can cause a distraction for you.
It is better to use cotton based and latex-free tape. It is better for your skin and safe to use on sensitive skin as well.
So, you can see that adhesive strength, flexibility, and comfort are the key features to check out while buying your finger tapes.
There are various ways of wrapping the tape around your finger while performing BJJ. We will discuss the methods in brief in this article. It is important to note that, each way of wrapping has a different purpose to serve.
The X taping method is used to give more support to your bones and mobility. It creates a cross on your fingers while wrapping and that is why it’s named as the X-taping. This X shape created around the top and bottom of a finger resists maximum damage to the joint due to motion. That is why it is a popular method of taping used.
In the buddy taping method, you bind two fingers together with the tape. You can use X taping as the base in this case for extra support. It is used to protect badly damaged finger joints. When you tie two fingers together, it stops the movement of the adjacent fingers, which protects the damaged fingers from additional damage.
The restrictive taping method is used when a finger is badly injured. Its main purpose is to let the injured fingers heal rather than providing support. This method is used in critical conditions when one must perform despite the injury. Other than such emergencies, it is advised to stop the practice until the injury is healed. Because further pressure may permanently damage the bones.
Often people tape their thumbs to protect them from injuries since it is easy to get the thumb stuck into the Gi. Thumb injuries are serious and it is important to take necessary precautions.
The death grip finger tape made by TapTape ranks 10th in our list of best tapes for BJJ stripes. This is made specifically for Brazilian Jiu-jitsu with sweat-resistant fabric and strong adhesive which is safe to use on sensitive skin and will also stick to your fingers for a long time. It is made of 100% cotton and its dimensions are 3.9×3.9 inches. It comes in a pack of 5 tapes. It is a product of the US and available in black color.
Product Features:
The Gold BJJ finger tape is used in different forms of martial arts training. It has a strong adhesive that does not wear out even after profuse sweating. It is suitable for use on the fingers and toes as well. It comes in 3 different packs with 3,6 or 12 rolls per pack. Each roll measures 10 yards long. Its dimensions are 1/2”x 30’. It is designed perfectly for grappling.
Product Features:
The power splint finger tape is one of the longest finger tapes available in the market with a length of 44 feet. Its width is 1/3 inch which means it’s quite thin but also very strong. It will give you a good grip and stick for a long time. It is one of the best tapes for BJJ stripes because of its durability and thinness. It comes in a pack of 3 rolls.
Product Features:
This product is used by professional athletes in different fields including Jiu-Jitsu. It is latex-free and made of 100% cotton. Its Zinc Oxide based adhesive is safe to use on sensitive skin. Its dimensions are 1.5’x10-yards and come in a pack of 32 rolls. It is wider in comparison to most finger tapes which makes it versatile to use for taping ankles, wrists, and feet. It will provide good tensile strength as well. The high quality provided by this product makes it one of our top picks for the best tapes for BJJ stripes.
Product Features:
The Armadillo Skin BJJ tape is one of the cheapest ones on our list. It is once again made of 100% cotton and easy on your sensitive skin. It comes in a pack of 6 rolls and its dimensions are 0.3-inch x 15 yards per roll. It has a strong adhesive which makes it perfect for grappling. It is easy to tear and does not leave residue on your fingers. It provides your joints with maximum support to your fingers with its high-grade latex-free adhesive. It is available in white color.
Product Features:
This tape is perfect for grappling in BJJ due to its great tensile strength. It is made of 100% cotton and breathable for the skin. Its minimalist packaging will surely grab your attention. It comes in the color black only. The adhesive used in it has water-resistant properties which help the glue to stay put for a longer time. It is sturdier than other tapes and has very little elasticity. As a result, it can provide superior support and protection to the joints and ligaments. It is a great choice as a tape for BJJ stripes in terms of quality and price.
Product Features:
In this list, we have another product made by TapTape. The Fission tape has high thread count and tensile strength. The low-slipping materials used to make it helps to survive through the pulling and tugging during a Jiu-Jitsu fight. Due to the high thread count, it is almost impossible to tear the TapTape. As a result, taptape is so widely used.
Product Features:
This is a premium quality athletic tape used by BJJ stripes. It comes in 3 different colors and each roll is 15 yards long. It is made in a flexible manner so that it does not hamper blood circulation. Its amazing grip makes it last through all sorts of situations. Considering the harmful effects of latex on our skin, its adhesive is completely latex-free. Its superior quality will amaze you and you’ll experience the difference once you use it.
Product Features:
The Mueller Athletic Tape is undoubtedly one of the best tapes for BJJ stripes. It has got some amazing reviews due to its high-quality performance. It comes only in white color. This is a hospital-grade product made of 100% cotton. It is easy to tear and comfortable to wear. It is cheap and versatile. You can use it for taping fingers, wrist, ankle, and other body parts as well.
Product Features:
And the top pick for our list of best tapes for BJJ stripes is the Power Train Finger Tape. It is also made of 100% cotton and free of latex. It is very easy on your sensitive skin due to its breathable and flexible material. It is also water-resistant which makes the adhesive last longer even after intense sweating. It will provide great support to your joints and comes at an affordable price. Its amazing quality and affordability make it the number one choice for many BJJ practitioners.
Product Features:
Ans: No, they are not the same. Finger tape is specifically designed to give support to your finger joints to protect them from injuries. It is used in physical activities which involves a lot of gripping like BJJ.
On the other hand, a kinesiology tape is a therapeutic tape that helps in fast healing of your wounds. It can be worn for up to 5 days whereas finger tapes are used only once.
Ans: Even though finger tape is also a kind of athletic tape, it has some differences from other types of athletic tapes. The finger tapes are usually thin which makes it easier to wrap around the fingers specifically. Also, it does not obstruct the movement of the fingers which is extremely important in BJJ.
Other athletic tapes used in different parts of the body such as ankle, wrists, or knees are wider and serve different purposes.
Ans: It is highly recommended to use cotton as a backcloth for finger tapes. Since cotton is very comfortable on the skin and breathable. That is why it helps the athlete to wear it even under intense sweating.
Ans: Certain companies that use latex in their adhesive can be harmful to the skin. It causes allergic reactions to some people. But the latex-free adhesive is usually safe for all skin types.
BJJ is a popular form of combat sport all over the world. The hype is real! Once you get started with it, you will keep wanting to get better. The more you practice, it is going to get harder on your body. So you must take precautionary steps from the early days of your practice. Since BJJ is not just a sport but also a form of self-defense training, many parents enroll their kids into these BJJ training programs. The kids have weaker bones which makes them more susceptible to damage. As a result, finger tapes can be of great use for them as well.
You can purchase a good quality finger for a couple of bucks which will last you for some weeks. Using it will save you a lot of money in the future which you will have to pay for treatments of your deformed bones. To help you choose the most suitable tape for you, you have our list of best tapes for BJJ here. This will definitely help you out in finding a quality product at an affordable rate.
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I'm Timmy and I'm the chief-editor and co-founder of Jiu-Jitsu Street. You'll usually find me on the mats and also cross-training Muay Thai. Besides martial arts I'm also into functional fitness and all things health. Jiu-Jitsu Street was created to provide useful information for BJJ beginners and seasoned practitioners alike to help you on your journey and love for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Oss!
Jiu-Jitsu Street is a community of fun loving and hard rolling BJJ enthusiasts. Born out of our passion for the gentle art, we have decided to create this blog and help you on your journey. Let’s grow and learn together on this never-ending journey. Oss!
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