When it comes to any combat sport whether it be boxing, kickboxing, karate, jujitsu or mixed martial arts, you need to make sure to protect yourself when training and sparring. If you do not take proper care in protecting yourself at the gym or dojo during training, your injuries will severely hamper your progress. A harsh reality in combat sports is that you need to hit and get hit to improve, so you want to make sure you can feel comfortable in either situation. Here are some essential pieces of martial arts equipment that should keep your training intensity high, yet injury free.
Head Guards
Although different combat sports and martial arts have different styles of headgear, protection of the head remains constant across the board. The basis of headgear is obviously to protect your brain and prevent concussions and other head trauma. In addition to protecting the head, most quality headgear pieces, like the ProForce Lightning Sparring Head Guard, protects the ears, forehead and jaw as well. Mouth Guards
Mouth guards are recommended not only in combat sports but also in most other competitive sports. There is good reason why everyone from football players to skateboarders wear mouthpieces...because they work. Mouth guards protect the teeth, gums and tongue, which is very necessary because you will get hit. Mouth guards are crucial in preventing concussions and jaw injury as well. Chest Guards
Chest guards are as pivotal in combat sports and sparring as head gear. A chest guard is especially crucial for female practitioners. If you've ever had broken, bruised or cracked ribs, you know how painful and debilitating that injury can be. In training, your sparring partner is going to be striking to your body as well as your head, and it is important to protect your ribs as well as your vital organs. A clean shot to the torso without protection can have disastrous results, so make sure to use a chest guard. Gloves or Punches
What is a combat sport without gloves? There are few martial arts that don't use gloves in competition, but even fewer that don't protect their hands in training or sparring. Whether you train with boxing gloves, fingerless grappling or MMA gloves or karate gloves and punches, your hands need to be protected. There are many small bones in your hand and wrist that, if broken, will put you on the sidelines for a while. Gloves and punches also ensure the safety of your training partner. Cups
Cups and groin protectors are an overlooked, but extremely important piece of equipment when training. Groin protection isn't just for men, but women too. Both gender needs to make sure this particular area is protected because a groin injury can be very painful and complicated. Shin and Instep Guards
Since many foot and leg strikes in martial arts like Taekwondo, Muay Thai, Kickboxing, Mixed Martial Arts and certain Karate disciplines use the shin as a weapon, shin and instep protection is necessary in maintaining training intensity without getting injured. There are combination shin and instep guards if you train barefoot and want to protect your legs, and there are also instep-less guards to use when wearing kicks. Foot Guards or Kicks
There are martial arts where you compete without foot protection, but proper equipment is very necessary while sparring. Much like your hands, your feet are composed of many small bones that are easy to fracture or break. Giving your feet proper padding will ensure the safety of your sparring partners head, arms, body and legs as it will your own feet and ankles. Sparring Video
Martial Arts Links
- Martial Info
- The World's Martial Arts Information Center
- AWMA
- Martial arts equipment and sparring gear.
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