But as with other contact sports, they come with a risk of injury, especially if you’re not wearing the right gear. To help protect the body properly, here are five types of protective gear for martial arts that should go on before stepping into the gym or onto the mat.
A Mouthguard Shields the Teeth
Martial arts can be risky for the teeth. It’s not uncommon for strikes and accidental contact to cause cracks. If you want to prevent teeth from cracking or sustaining other damage while training, wear a mouthguard. A mouthguard is a fitted guard that sits over the teeth and provides a cushioning layer between the upper and lower jaw. Boil-and-bite options from a sporting goods store work well for most people, though a dentist can create a custom fit for better protection.
Headgear Protects Against Strikes
Repeated blows to the head without protection add up fast. Headgear wraps around the skull and covers the temples, forehead, and sometimes the cheeks. It won’t absorb every impact, but it significantly reduces the force that reaches the head during sparring. Practitioners of striking arts like boxing and kickboxing tend to rely on it the most, though it’s also common in grappling when headbutts and accidental collisions are a concern.
Hand Wraps and Gloves Guard the Knuckles
The hands take a beating in striking-based training. Wrapping the hands before putting on gloves keeps the small bones and joints stable under pressure. Gloves themselves add an outer layer of padding that protects both the person wearing them and whoever is on the receiving end of a strike. Skipping wraps is where a lot of beginners pick up wrist injuries that stick around longer than expected.
A Groin Protector Is Non-Negotiable
Accidental low blows happen. They happen in drilling, they happen in sparring, and they happen to people who thought it would never happen to them. A groin cup or compression protector absorbs that impact before it becomes a painful training interruption.
Shin Guards Prevent Bone Bruises
Kicking arts like Muay Thai and taekwondo put a lot of stress on the shins. When two practitioners check kicks against each other, the shin takes a direct collision. Shin guards pad that contact zone and reduce the bruising that builds up from consistent training. They’re especially important for beginners whose shins haven’t conditioned yet to the repetitive impact of sparring.
Suiting Up Is How Training Stays Consistent
Protective martial arts gear is what stands between a good session and a week on the couch with an injury. Always suit up before stepping on the mat.
Image Credentials: kipp74, 114081410
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