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A cutman is an important asset to a boxer, using tools to stop bleeding and swelling, allowing the fight to continue. No specific education or certification is required, but the National Association of Trainers and Cutman offers seminars and requires 5,000 hours of supervised work experience for membership. Proper hand wrapping and knowledge of the fighter are important skills. Medical knowledge is not necessary, but building a reputation for skill and reliability is important.
Boxing is a physically traumatic and bloody sport; therefore, a good cutman is one of a boxer’s greatest assets. A cutman uses the various tools in his tool kit to stop the bleeding and swelling, allowing the fight to continue, rather than a referee or ring doctor stopping the fight prematurely because of a boxer’s injuries. In some locations, a license is required for a cutman to legally practice his trade, but in general there is no need for specific education or certification. The time-honored method for becoming a cutman is to learn the trade and the necessary skills alongside an already experienced cutman.
The National Association of Trainers and Cutman is an organization formed to lobby for legal and financial protection for cutmen, who are usually employed under an informal agreement. A related Junior Cutman association offers seminars for people who want to learn how to become a cutman. Membership requires 5,000 hours of supervised work experience before a cutman can work independently in the boxing ring or in mixed martial arts matches. The association also says that to become a cutman, a trainee must earn certifications in first aid and CPR, as well as learn how to properly wrap a boxer’s or wrestler’s hands in addition to traditional cutwork.
It is important for someone who wants to become a cutman to learn the art of hand wrapping, because this is one of his main duties. Proper hand wrapping can help prevent serious injury. Another useful skill for a cutman is knowing the fighter he is working with, being able to read his body, face and personality, and discerning the signs of injury. Professional cutmen consider themselves not only insurance against injury and having a fight prematurely stopped; they also boost the confidence of a martial arts fighter or boxer. Some professionals say that to become a cutman, you also need to have a passion for the job, an ability to care for the person whose well-being you are tasked with protecting, and a desire to learn best practices for fulfilling your responsibility.
There is some medical knowledge required to become a cutman, but it is definitely not necessary to be a doctor or paramedic. A medic’s responsibility is to heal, while a cutman’s duties include trying to maintain the fight while impeding blood flow and decreasing bruising. A cutman needs to build a reputation for skill and reliability. Cutman careers are often built on word of mouth.
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