Essential Gear for Training Martial Arts

Martial arts gear is a necessary tool when doing any type of training, whether it be ground fighting or striking disciplines, the correct equipment will make training more effective and efficient. Keep in mind that the more the martial arts gear costs does not mean it is automatically the best piece of equipment for you.

Take safety into consideration when choosing equipment, the proper martial arts tools play a major role in preventing injury's to yourself or your partner. Do a little bit of research and don't base your decision solely on equipment costs.

There are many different martial arts disciplines that require a whole array of equipment. Let us go ahead an look at the pieces of gear that the majority of martial arts styles have in common. It will basically come down to you picking the equipment that is unique to the type of training you'll be doing.

Gear Essentials:

Mouth Shield

The mouthpiece will protect your teeth from a direct hit and prevent a tooth from cutting the inside of your lip. Stick with a mouth piece that will fit snug to both the top and bottom rows of teeth. The mold should be tight enough to make it a little difficult to take off.

Groin Protective Cup

A needed item for men that should be chosen for the specific sport they are playing. Martial artist want to get a tucked-under contoured cup to provide the best protection from stray punches and kicks.

Uniform

Many traditional disciplines have the students wear a Kimono (GI) with a belt for ranking. Other uniform alternatives are plain shorts and an academy rash guard or T shirt. It is common to go barefoot or wear a light shoe that is suitable to the surface they are training on. No matter what the uniform is, it needs to be kept clean and replaced if ripped or torn.

Gloves

Gloves come in the average sizes and are as small as 4 oz. for MMA, and all the way up to 20 oz. in boxing. You want to have a glove that fits tight and doesn't allow your hand to move around. Pick the appropriate glove for the style of training and invest in hand wraps to aid in the prevention of injury to the wrists.

Leg Padding

Leg padding focuses on the shin area where most of the contact is made with a kick. Pads have different thicknesses and some will cover the top of the foot as well as the front of the leg. Shin pads use straps or a sleeve to hold the padding in place.

This list covers the principal pieces of martial arts gear required in the students daily training. All protective gear help to make training effective and safe.

The gear you'll need can be purchase at the academy your training at, in any chain sporting goods stores, or online through a reputable site. Make sure to purchase martial arts gear that is best suited for your training style and provides adequate level of protection. Make your training enjoyable with the correct choice in equipment.