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Finally got a review of the Tokushu gloves up! The MMA gloves to follow.
Introduction
If you've been following the latest developments from Hayabusa, you'd be well aware of their new Tokushu series that refreshes their glove line, quoting university research to back up their latest technological advances. Technical jargon aside, how does it fare from a layman's point of view? Let's find out!
Official Specs:
Aesthetics
At first glance, the Tokushu gloves come in an amazing 10 sets of colourways! How's that for customisation! This is one of the most varied offering I've seen to date, Thai brands aside. However, these colourways are linked to their respective glove weights, with each weight getting one primary colour paired with a secondary colour of either black or white, except for the 10oz gloves which features two possible primary colour options.
It's a real pity, as I'd love to get the black/crimson combination offered with the 10oz gloves, but stayed with a 140z for the purposes of this review. For the 14oz, the primary colour is what Hayabusa calls Steel Blue, which essentially looks like some sort of bluish gray to me.
Colour distribution aside, the gloves feature a printed Hayabusa's word logo running from the knuckle area to the fingers. Odd position seeing as how this area can receive a lot of wear, but so far I've yet to see any fading on my gloves. There's also a smaller logo with the glove weight at the bottom of the inside palm. It's a nice touch to enable quick identification if you have a number of gloves.
Beyond that, there's also the Hayabusa kanji word embossed on the outside strap and a another word logo on the rubber tab of the inside strap. Of the entire glove so far, it's only the kanji word that shows any real signs of wear. The white painted over the character has rubbed off a bit, revealing a small speck of black and some darkening. More of it will probably rub off in time.
Overall, the two-toned design of the gloves brings a sharp and distinct look to the gloves, and the unusual colour options will be sure to delight those who want something different.
Form & Fit
The gloves run the range from 10oz to 16oz, though I can't comment on the size and compartment differences since I only have one pair. For the 14oz that I have though, the compartment fits quite snugly for my hands, with the more room at the knuckle area but gradually tapering off, getting slightly cramped at the fingers. This means that there's room for handwraps while still keeping the glove snug even without.
The inner lining features Hayabusa's Ecta technology, which is basically some fancy bamboo lining with anti-fungal and thermal regulation properties. Mumbo-jumbo aside, the lining is soft and comfortable, but has a textured surface to provide some degree of grip that helps minimise shifting. Compared to the original Hayabusa gloves, the material here has somewhat more traction.
One of the things I loved about the original gloves was the dual strap system, and the Tokushu gloves see a reincarnation of that. Taking on the Dual X label now, the strap doesn't seem all that different from the previous iteration. It does have one minor but useful change though - the inner strap now sports a rubber tab that is ribbed on the underside. This makes it immensely easier to undo the inner strap, even with gloved hands. Regardless, the dual strap system allows for a super tight fit, though you might want to keep the inner strap on the looser side if you don't want to run the hassle of undoing both straps when switching in and out of gloves during training.
The engineered Vylar leather and Deltra EG foam is extremely pliable out of the bag, and requires no breaking in at all. Compared to the original version which had a much stiffer foam, the Tokushu gloves are a big improvement.
Functionality
Hayabusa claims that its new Deltra EG foam core does not degrade or bottom out with use. While I would have to put the gloves through months of testing to make any decent comment on this, the core does seem to hold its shape pretty well despite being soft and springy. Those who complained about the the stiffness of the original gloves will be delighted to find that these are leaps and bounds better than the former.
In terms of padwork and bagwork, the gloves perform excellently. Most of the shock is absorbed, but I can still feel the point of impact on my knuckles, allowing me to correct for poor technique. Thanks to the dual strap system, there is barely any shifting of the gloves due to the snug fit.
For sparring, the gloves work just as well in protecting both partner and user. The profile of the glove is slightly rounder than the original version, but still fairly compact. As a multi-purpose glove, these will do just fine. However, these are designed more for boxing than Muay Thai, and the gloves do not open much for clinch work.
One other notable feature is the mesh lining at the inside palm area of the glove. Instead of leather with breathing holes, a large section is replaced with mesh, allowing for greater breathability. Great for those who find their hands getting stuffy in normal gloves.
Construction for the gloves are top-notch. The stitches are all in place and the general feel of the product is just one of quality.
Conclusion
The new Tokushu gloves are a great quality product, although the price may not be for everyone. Regardless, if you have the cash to spare, this might be worth considering on your shopping list.
More photos at:
SEA MMA Gear Guide: Hayabusa Tokushu Gloves Review
Add us on Facebook to stay updated with new reviews!
SEA MMA Gear Guide | Facebook
Introduction
If you've been following the latest developments from Hayabusa, you'd be well aware of their new Tokushu series that refreshes their glove line, quoting university research to back up their latest technological advances. Technical jargon aside, how does it fare from a layman's point of view? Let's find out!
Official Specs:
- Developed From World-Leading University Research
- Patented Dual-X™ Wrist Close and Fusion-Zone™ Wrist Splinting Designs for Perfect Hand/Wrist Alignment
- Provides state of the art injury prevention
- Maximizes Punching Power by Removing Energy Leaks
- Exclusive Engineered Leather Vylar™ for Unmatched Performance and Durability
- Unique Ecta™ Activated Carbonized Bamboo Lining for ultimate comfort a, thermo regulating properties and powerful deodorizing effects
Aesthetics
At first glance, the Tokushu gloves come in an amazing 10 sets of colourways! How's that for customisation! This is one of the most varied offering I've seen to date, Thai brands aside. However, these colourways are linked to their respective glove weights, with each weight getting one primary colour paired with a secondary colour of either black or white, except for the 10oz gloves which features two possible primary colour options.
It's a real pity, as I'd love to get the black/crimson combination offered with the 10oz gloves, but stayed with a 140z for the purposes of this review. For the 14oz, the primary colour is what Hayabusa calls Steel Blue, which essentially looks like some sort of bluish gray to me.
Colour distribution aside, the gloves feature a printed Hayabusa's word logo running from the knuckle area to the fingers. Odd position seeing as how this area can receive a lot of wear, but so far I've yet to see any fading on my gloves. There's also a smaller logo with the glove weight at the bottom of the inside palm. It's a nice touch to enable quick identification if you have a number of gloves.
Beyond that, there's also the Hayabusa kanji word embossed on the outside strap and a another word logo on the rubber tab of the inside strap. Of the entire glove so far, it's only the kanji word that shows any real signs of wear. The white painted over the character has rubbed off a bit, revealing a small speck of black and some darkening. More of it will probably rub off in time.
Overall, the two-toned design of the gloves brings a sharp and distinct look to the gloves, and the unusual colour options will be sure to delight those who want something different.
Form & Fit
The gloves run the range from 10oz to 16oz, though I can't comment on the size and compartment differences since I only have one pair. For the 14oz that I have though, the compartment fits quite snugly for my hands, with the more room at the knuckle area but gradually tapering off, getting slightly cramped at the fingers. This means that there's room for handwraps while still keeping the glove snug even without.
The inner lining features Hayabusa's Ecta technology, which is basically some fancy bamboo lining with anti-fungal and thermal regulation properties. Mumbo-jumbo aside, the lining is soft and comfortable, but has a textured surface to provide some degree of grip that helps minimise shifting. Compared to the original Hayabusa gloves, the material here has somewhat more traction.
One of the things I loved about the original gloves was the dual strap system, and the Tokushu gloves see a reincarnation of that. Taking on the Dual X label now, the strap doesn't seem all that different from the previous iteration. It does have one minor but useful change though - the inner strap now sports a rubber tab that is ribbed on the underside. This makes it immensely easier to undo the inner strap, even with gloved hands. Regardless, the dual strap system allows for a super tight fit, though you might want to keep the inner strap on the looser side if you don't want to run the hassle of undoing both straps when switching in and out of gloves during training.
The engineered Vylar leather and Deltra EG foam is extremely pliable out of the bag, and requires no breaking in at all. Compared to the original version which had a much stiffer foam, the Tokushu gloves are a big improvement.
Functionality
Hayabusa claims that its new Deltra EG foam core does not degrade or bottom out with use. While I would have to put the gloves through months of testing to make any decent comment on this, the core does seem to hold its shape pretty well despite being soft and springy. Those who complained about the the stiffness of the original gloves will be delighted to find that these are leaps and bounds better than the former.
In terms of padwork and bagwork, the gloves perform excellently. Most of the shock is absorbed, but I can still feel the point of impact on my knuckles, allowing me to correct for poor technique. Thanks to the dual strap system, there is barely any shifting of the gloves due to the snug fit.
For sparring, the gloves work just as well in protecting both partner and user. The profile of the glove is slightly rounder than the original version, but still fairly compact. As a multi-purpose glove, these will do just fine. However, these are designed more for boxing than Muay Thai, and the gloves do not open much for clinch work.
One other notable feature is the mesh lining at the inside palm area of the glove. Instead of leather with breathing holes, a large section is replaced with mesh, allowing for greater breathability. Great for those who find their hands getting stuffy in normal gloves.
Construction for the gloves are top-notch. The stitches are all in place and the general feel of the product is just one of quality.
Conclusion
The new Tokushu gloves are a great quality product, although the price may not be for everyone. Regardless, if you have the cash to spare, this might be worth considering on your shopping list.
More photos at:
SEA MMA Gear Guide: Hayabusa Tokushu Gloves Review
Add us on Facebook to stay updated with new reviews!
SEA MMA Gear Guide | Facebook
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