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You've *got* to wrap your hands and wear gloves if you're going to do any serious bagwork.
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There is no question that this is the second most important protective measure. I found that the best way to learn handwrap is to search for a good tutorial on youtube (it was from a kickboxer from Fairtex).
What's the first?
Simply punching technique. Honestly, I've tried video's and books before--I suggest you throw them to a corner of your room or sell them. There is no substitute for being taught well and I recommend you go to your local boxing/ Muay Thai gym before continuing.
For the bag itself, try the kind that does not need to hang on the wall (it requires water to fill up the bottom). I was a skeptic at first when using what I recommend below because when I first began Muay Thai on it using book/video instruction it hurt my hands and my legs could not handle it well either. When I joined a local gym, after a few months I got the jab down pat. Now, I can consistently make the solid "sound" with minimal energy and can confidently do it even without the glove, on my bag, without hurting my hand; when the technique is done well you have much less risk of damaging your wrist.
This is the bag that I use and highly recommend:
Century Original Wavemaster - $147.95
Don't mind the slightly poor reviews. Those people have no technique and miss the point of using such a bag. When you have technique you can train and make good hits using only 10% of your energy--the TaeKwonDo reviewer is using 60% to 100%. Ajahn at my gym recommends never going all out on the bag. Doing so doesn't deliver maximum power, proper technique and continuous practice does.
Though I thought one could only use it for punching it can also be used for kicking as well. Again, there is no substitute--this cannot be emphasized enough--for proper, formal training so I actually suggest you stop what you are doing completely before getting at least 3 lessons.
If I haven't convinced you here's the math
Lessons: ($40 to $50) x 3 = X
Hospital Bill and permanent wrist damage = A
Therefore, X is cheaper and better than A.
Anyways, I really hope you get someone who knows what they are doing if you follow my advice. Nowadays I get taught by the founder of the gym who used to compete at a high level in Thailand. I originally trained with his highly skilled former student of 16 years because the student was $5 cheaper per hour--but thankfully switched over to Ajahn (Muay Thai Master).
Ajahn taught the basics with such detail and ability that 5 minutes spent with him was worth half an hour of the time with the highly skilled former student. Though, if you had the same experience you might not get the same result; I naturally have very good muscle memory. But generally, value for money, go with the trainer with the most experience/reputation.